Articles
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.
Market Commentary
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 12, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 5, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 29, 2021
- Outlook 2021: Powering Forward
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 22, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 1, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 22, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 16, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 1, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 25, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 19, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 11, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary - January 4, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 21, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 14, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 7, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 30, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 23, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 16, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 9, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 2, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 26, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 19. 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary - October 12, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 5, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 28, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 21, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 14, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 8, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 31, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 24, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 17, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 10, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 8, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 27, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 20, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 6, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 29, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 22, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 15, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 8, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 1, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 18, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 27, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 13, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 4, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 20, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 6, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 30, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 23, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 16, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 9, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 2, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 24, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 18, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 3, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 27, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 13, 2020
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 6, 2020
Estates & Trusts
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What Key Estate Planning Tools Should I Know About?
Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
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How Can My Gift Benefit Me and the Charity?
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
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What Gifting Strategies Are Available to Me?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
Retirement
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What Is a SIMPLE?
The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.
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What Is a Roth 401(k)?
A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.
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Don’t Bank Your Retirement on Your Business
Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.
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What Is a Traditional IRA?
If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
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What Is a 401(k) Plan?
401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
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How Should I Manage My Retirement Plan?
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
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Save Now or Save Later?
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
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What Is a Roth IRA?
Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.
Tax Planning
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What Is the Capital Gain Tax?
Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.
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What Is the Estate Tax?
Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.
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How Much Money Can I Put Into My IRA or Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan?
IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.
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How Can I Benefit from Tax-Advantaged Investments?
Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.
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What Tax Deductions Are Still Available to Me?
Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.
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What Is the Most Tax-Efficient Way to Take a Distribution From a Retirement Plan
Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.
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Is There Such a Thing as a Tax-Free Investment?
It's important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.
Investing
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What Is Diversification?
An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
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What Is a Mutual Fund?
A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.
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What Investment Risks Should I Know About?
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
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What Is Asset Allocation?
Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.
Cash Management
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How Long Will It Take to Double My Money?
Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.
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How Can I Better Manage My Short-Term Cash?
There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.