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
- Outlook 2025 | Pragmatic Optimism
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 9, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 15 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 18, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 11, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 4, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 28, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 21, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 14, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 07, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 23, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 16, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 9, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 3, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 26, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 19, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 12, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 5, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 5, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 29, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 22, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 15, 2024
- Midyear Outlook 2024 | Still Waiting for the Turn
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 1, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 24, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 17, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 10, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 3, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 28, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 20, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 13, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 6, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 29, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 22, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 15, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 8, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 1, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 18, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 11, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 4, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 26, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 20, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 12, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 5, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 29, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 22, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 16, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 8, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 2, 2024
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 18, 2023
- Outlook 2024 | Client Letter
- Outlook 2024 | A Turning Point
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 11, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 4, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 20, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 13, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 6, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 30, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 23, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 16, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct 9, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 2, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 25, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 18, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 11, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 5, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 28. 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 21, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 21, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 14, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 31, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 24, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 17, 2023
- Midyear Outlook 2023 | Executive Summary
- Midyear Outlook 2023 | Client Letter
- Midyear Outlook 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 3, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 26, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 20, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 12, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 5, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 30, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 22, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 15, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 8, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 1, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 24, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 17, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 10, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 3, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 27, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 20, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 13, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 6, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 27, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 21, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 13, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 6, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 30, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | Jan. 23, 23
- Weekly Market Commentary | Jan-17-23
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 9, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 3, 2023
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 19, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 12, 2022
- Outlook 2023 | Client Letter
- Outlook 2023 | Finding Balance
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 5, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 14, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 7, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct 31, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 24, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 17, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 10, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | October 03, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 26, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 19, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 12, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 06, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 29, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 22, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 15, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 8, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 1, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 25, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 18, 2022
- Midyear Outlook 2022 | Client Letter
- Midyear Outlook 2022 | Navigating Turbulence
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 5, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 27, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 21, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 13, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 6, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 16, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 9, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 2, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 25, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 18, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 11, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 4, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 21, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 14, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | March 7, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 28, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 22, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 14, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | February 7, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 31, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 24, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 18, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | January 10, 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 27, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 20, 2021
- Outlook 2022 | Executive Summary
- Outlook 2022 | Client Letter
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 13, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 6, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 22, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | A Peek at Peak Inflation | Nov. 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | A Peek at Peak Inflation | Nov. 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 15, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 8, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | November 1, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 25, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 11, 2021 | Answering Top Debt Ceiling Questions
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 4, 2021 | Early Thoughts on 2022
- Weekly Market Commentary | Oct. 18, 2021 | Q3 Earnings Preview: Less Upside
- Weekly Market Commentary | September 13, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Sept. 27, 2021 | To Z Or Not To Z
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 30, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary - September 20, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 23, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 16, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | August 9, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 26, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | Midyear Outlook 2021: Picking Up Speed
- Midyear Outlook 2021 - Client Letter
- Midyear Outlook 2021 - Picking Up Speed
- Weekly Market Commentary | July 12, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 28, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 21, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 14, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | June 7, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 24, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 24, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 17, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | May 10, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary May 3, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 26, 2021
- Weekly Market Commentary | April 19, 2021
- 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
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 30, 2019
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 23, 2019
- Weekly Market Commentary | December 16, 2019
- Outlook 2022: Passing the Baton
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 a Living Trust Help Me Control My Estate?
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
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What Are the Pitfalls of Probate?
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
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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.
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What Is the Best Form of Property Ownership for Me?
Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
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What Is the History of the Federal Estate Tax?
Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.
Retirement
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How Much Do I Need to Save?
Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.
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A New Chapter for Retirement
With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.
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What Is a Self-Employed Retirement Plan?
Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.
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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 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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What Is the Gift Tax?
The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.
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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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When Must Taxes Be Paid on IRA and Employer-Sponsored Retirement Funds?
With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.
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What Is Tax Deferral?
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
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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 Tax-Advantaged Alternatives Are Available?
While stable, CDs can create an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
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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 an Exchange-Traded Fund?
ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.
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What Is Stock?
Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.
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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 Types of Bonds Are Available?
Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.
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How Do Mutual Funds and Stocks Differ?
The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
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What Is an Annuity?
An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.
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What Is the Difference Between a Fixed Annuity and a Variable Annuity?
Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.
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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.
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How Can I Save for My Child’s College Education?
There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.
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What Is Dollar-Cost Averaging?
Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.
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529 Lesson Plan: High Scores for 529 Plans
529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.
Cash Management
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What Are Some Tips for Managing My Money?
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
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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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What Advantages Does a Biweekly Mortgage Offer?
Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.
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What About Financial Aid for College?
It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.
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What Savings Alternatives Are Available?
There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.
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How Does Inflation Affect Me?
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
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Is a Home Equity Loan or Line of Credit Right for Me?
Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.
Risk Management
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Why Purchase Life Insurance?
If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.
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What Is Term Life Insurance?
Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.
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What Is Whole Life Insurance?
Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.
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How Can I Protect My Home?
Since your home is one of your greatest assets, you should make sure it is adequately protected. That's where homeowners insurance enters the picture.