Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.
Simply click on one of the general financial topics below and you'll find a selection of easy-to-understand information sheets about related financial concepts and strategies. This information is updated regularly to reflect the latest facts, figures, legislation, and economic trends.
Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
If you haven't taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of the assets of your estate.
An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.
The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.
A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.
A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.
There are key dates after you turn 59½ that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.
If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.
Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.
Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.
The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.
IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.
Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.
With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.
Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.
It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.
The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.
Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.
An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.
A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.
Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.
There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.
Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.
Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.
It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.
If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.
Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.
When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.