Newsletters
Will you outlive your retirement income? Are your financial expectations for the coming year realistic?
Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide variety of financial topics. Simply click on one of the newsletter topics below to read the article in its entirety.
April
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HOT TOPIC: Bank Failures Shine Light on Interest Rate Risks
Read about the reasons some banks are coming under pressure, including the rapid rise of interest rates, financial market effects, and the role of the FDIC.
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Time for a Spring Cleanup: Organizing Your Financial Records
Spring is a good time to clean out and organize financial records. This article offers guidelines on how long different types of records need to be retained.
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Retiring in a Down Market? Don’t Panic
Market volatility makes most investors nervous, but a big downturn can be especially disturbing to those who are approaching retirement or newly retired. This article presents three fundamental concepts that may help investors keep market movements in perspective and maintain their focus on long-term goals.
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Trusts — Not Just for Estate Taxes
In the past, trusts were often used to avoid estate taxes, but that purpose has become less important for most people with current high exemption amounts. However, a properly constructed trust can serve many other purposes for families of more modest means.
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Business Owners: Should You Organize as an LLC?
Establishing an LLC creates a separate legal entity to help shield a business owner’s personal assets from lawsuits brought against the firm by customers or employees.
March
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HOT TOPIC: Red Ink: The Debt Ceiling and Deficit Spending
This report explains the potential consequences of not raising the debt limit in a timely manner and provides an overview of new projections from the CBO for future deficits and the national debt.
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Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2023
Find out about cost-of-living adjustments that affect retirement plan contribution limits and other deductions and threshold amounts.
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The Inflation Experience is Painful – and Personal
This article discusses consumer price index categories, how they’re weighted, and the top drivers of inflation over the past year.
February
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HOT TOPIC: SECURE 2.0 Aims to Brighten the Future for Retirement Savers
This article provides an overview of upcoming changes that could affect workplace retirement plan participants and IRA owners due to legislation passed by Congress at the end of 2022.
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IRA Strategies: After-Tax Money and the Pro-Rata Rule
The pro-rata rule determines how much of a traditional IRA distribution is taxable. Read this article to learn how the rule is applied.
January
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HOT TOPIC: Is the Yield Curve Signaling a Recession?
An inversion of two-year and 10-year Treasury notes has preceded each recession for 50 years. This article looks at the current yield curve and what it might mean for the economy.
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Stretch IRA Alternatives
The 2019 SECURE Act effectively eliminated the stretch IRA. Explore three alternatives to help preserve wealth and pass it to beneficiaries.
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Taking Control of Your Retirement Savings
Leaving a job? Discover four options that are often available for managing funds in an employer-sponsored retirement plan.
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Naming a Trusted Contact
It may be wise to designate a trusted contact when opening or updating an account at a brokerage or other financial firm. Learn why.
December
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HOT TOPIC: ‘Tis the Season for Tax-Friendly Giving Strategies
Donating to charity can make a difference at any time of the year. But taking a strategic approach, possibly as part of your year-end tax planning, could offer tax benefits and potentially increase your ability to give. This article provides an overview of various tax-advantaged giving strategies.
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Sectors: Overweight, Underweight, or Just Right?
Did you know varying performance can change the balance of sectors in a portfolio? Learn how sector funds can be used to shift sector weighting.
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IRA Distributions Can Benefit Your Favorite Cause … and Your Tax Bill
IRA owners who are 70½ or older can give to charity without itemizing and still get a tax break. Find out how.
November
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HOT TOPIC: What Does a Strong Dollar Mean for the U.S. Economy?
This article looks at why the dollar is surging and how the strong dollar may affect U.S. consumers, businesses, and the broader economy.
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Retirement Savings in a Volatile Market
Emotional reactions can be an enemy of sound investing. This article offers perspective and strategies that may help investors stay the course.
October
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HOT TOPIC: CHIPS and Science Act Aims to Preserve U.S. Technology Edge
This article discusses the CHIPS and Science Act’s key provisions, as the U.S. strives to reduce its reliance on semiconductors produced overseas.
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Donor-Advised Funds Combine Charitable Impact with Tax Benefits
This article discusses how a donor-advised fund might be used to time charitable contributions for tax purposes or to gift appreciated assets.
September
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HOT TOPIC: Unpacking the Inflation Reduction Act: What’s in It?
This article provides an overview of provisions that could affect consumers and businesses, including clean energy tax credits, Medicare changes, and new corporate taxes.
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Dividends for Income and Total Returns
Dividend investing can be a dependable source of income for retirees and others. This article provides an overview.
August
June
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Avoiding Probate
Probate can result in added expenses and delays when settling an estate. Read about four ways to avoid the probate process.