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

Beware of These Life Insurance Beneficiary Mistakes

Naming a life insurance policy’s beneficiaries should be a relatively simple task, but there are some situations that can lead to unintended and adverse consequences.
What’s Required of the Executor of an Estate?

Being named as the executor of an estate is generally an honor but settling an estate can be a difficult and time-consuming job. This article provides an overview of typical executor responsibilities.
How a Family Limited Partnership Can Power an Estate Plan

A family limited partnership is a legal agreement that enables business owners and their heirs to address succession, estate, and tax planning needs, all at once.
Fixed Annuities: Retirement Income for Now or Later

Purchasing a fixed annuity shifts the risk for future investment returns to the insurance company and could help create a pension-like income stream for retirement.

March

Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2024

This article presents the IRS’ cost-of-living adjustments for 2024 that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts.
How Savers and Spenders Can Meet in the Middle

Couples who have opposite philosophies regarding saving and spending often have trouble finding common ground. This article offers some tips to learn to work with financial differences.
The Federal Reserve’s Key Meeting Dates in 2024

This article outlines the Federal Reserve’s three main objectives and provides the meeting schedule of the Federal Open Market Committee.
Roth 401(k) News: Is It Time to Rethink How You Save for Retirement?

High-income participants will not be allowed to make pre-tax catch-up contributions to a traditional 401(k) or similar plan starting in 2026, but they will be able to contribute to a workplace Roth.
Can Your Personality Influence Your Portfolio? New Research Points to Yes

The findings of two recent academic studies may offer insight into how investors can make more fruitful financial decisions.

February

HOT TOPIC: Tax Season News and Survival Tips

Taxpayers may want to be aware of important updates as they prepare to file their 2023 federal returns. This article includes information, filing tips, and last-minute opportunities for tax savings.
Do You Have These Key Estate Planning Documents?

This article provides an overview of four estate planning documents that almost everyone should have: a durable power of attorney, a medical directive, a will, and a letter of instruction.
Small Businesses Could Face Borrowing Challenges

Despite tougher lending conditions and higher interest costs, many people who need capital for business purposes may need to borrow money. This article discusses some common financing options.

January

HOT TOPIC: SECURE 2.0 Provides New Retirement Savings Options in 2024

The SECURE 2.0 Act made wide-ranging changes to U.S. tax laws related to retirement savings. This article provides an overview of some important provisions that take effect in 2024.
Understanding Life Insurance

Life insurance can help replace much-needed income after the death of a provider. With the wide variety of policies available, it’s important to understand the basic types of coverage.
Will You Work Beyond Traditional Retirement Age?

Does your income strategy beyond traditional retirement age include receiving a paycheck? This article looks at the advantages and disadvantages of working later in life.
Setting a Retirement Savings Goal

Only 51% of workers or their spouses have tried to estimate the savings they would need to live comfortably in retirement. This article offers a simple worksheet to help calculate a savings target.
SECURE 2.0 Makes It Easier to Give and Receive

The SECURE 2.0 Act modified the rules for qualified charitable distributions to allow funding a charitable gift annuity or charitable remainder trust from an IRA.
How to Kill Your Zombie Subscriptions

With inflation cutting into consumers’ purchasing power, getting rid of a few unnecessary recurring charges could be a painless way to help balance the household budget.

December

Much Ado About RMDs

This article provides an overview of the changes the SECURE 2.0 Act made and a brief explanation of how to calculate required minimum distributions from tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Why the EPA is Focusing on “Forever” Chemicals

In March 2023, the Environmental Protection Agency proposed the first federal limits for six types of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, in public drinking water.
New Medicare Rules Tackle Prescription Drug Prices

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included provisions intended to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees and slow drug spending by the federal government.

November

HDHP/HSA Pairing May Help Control Medical Costs

High-deductible health plans offer potential savings by encouraging cost-effective choices in medical spending, as well as eligibility for a health savings account with tax advantages.
You’ve Received an Inheritance, Now What?

Receiving an inheritance might promote spending without planning, but it’s not wise to make hasty decisions. This article provides suggestions that could help manage an inheritance.
Tax-Loss Harvesting Offers Chance at Silver Lining

Stock market downturns can be rough on a portfolio’s bottom line, but selling losing investments may offer the potential to reduce an investor’s tax liability.
Breaking Down Clean Vehicle Tax Credits for Business Owners

Business owners may be able to claim one of two new federal tax credits to help offset the cost to purchase certain clean vehicles.

October

Time to Bulk Up Your Emergency Fund

A financial crisis can strike when least expected, so it’s important to have a sufficient emergency fund. This article offers some suggestions to help increase a fund before it’s needed.
Four Key Objectives of a Sound Retirement Plan

A sound retirement plan should be based on personal circumstances, and no one strategy is suitable for everyone. This article looks at four goals that a retirement strategy should address.
Managing Medicare Out-of-Pocket Costs

This article looks at the two different and mutually exclusive options Medicare beneficiaries have to help control retirement health-care spending: Medigap and Medicare Advantage.
New FAFSA Favors Grandparent College Giving

Changes to the 2024–2025 Free Application for Student Aid (FAFSA) allow grandparents to help with college expenses without affecting financial aid eligibility based on the FAFSA.
Enriching a Teen with a Roth IRA

A teen with a part-time job can contribute to a Roth IRA, which is a flexible way to accumulate funds for college, retirement, and other long-term needs.

September

Coming in 2024: New 529 Plan-to-Roth IRA Rollover Option

The SECURE 2.0 Act includes two new provisions related to college savings and funding. Learn more in this article.
Leave a Lasting Gift with an Ethical Will

An ethical will, also called a legacy letter, can tell a personal story and communicate beliefs and life lessons to family, friends, or community.
New RMD Rules Give Retirement Savings More Time to Grow

This article explains the rules for required minimum distribution from tax-deferred retirement accounts with an emphasis on the new provisions of the SECURE 2.0 Act.
Social Security 101

Social Security is complicated, and the details are often misunderstood even by those who are already receiving benefits.

August

Home Energy Tax Credits

There are two separate federal tax credits available for home installation of certain energy efficient or clean energy property. Learn more.
SECURE 2.0: Big Impact for Small Businesses

This article discusses provisions in the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 that may be of particular interest to small business owners.

July

Why Buy Life Insurance During Unsettled Economic Times?

This article looks at four good reasons why life insurance can be especially helpful in a challenging economy.
SECURE 2.0 Act Expands Early Withdrawal Exceptions

Discover exceptions to the federal income penalty for early withdrawals from tax-advantaged retirement accounts, including new exceptions added by the SECURE 2.0 Act.
REITs, Rates, and Income

This article provides an overview of REITs, including how they can offer a consistent income stream and why changing interest rates can affect REIT performance.

June

HOT TOPIC: Will Artificial Intelligence Upend the American Workforce?

This article discusses the race between tech companies to monetize AI and how widespread adoption might affect workers, the economy, and society in general.
How Taxes Impact Your Retirement-Income Strategy

Retirees face unique challenges when managing their income, particularly when it comes to taxes. This article provides an overview of tax-related issues, from taxing Social Security to the new RMD rules and determining when to tap taxable and tax-advantaged accounts.

May

HOT TOPIC: Rescuing America’s Safety Net

This article looks at the current fiscal outlook for the Social Security and Medicare programs and presents some potential changes that might help to strengthen them.
Keep an Eye Out for IRS-Related Scams

Although IRS scams are especially prevalent during tax season, they also take place throughout the year. This article identifies some common tax scams and offers tips to help avoid becoming a victim.
Municipal Bonds: A Tax-Advantaged Way to Put Capital to Work

Muni bonds and tax-exempt funds have long been a mainstay in the portfolios of income-focused investors who want to manage their tax burdens.
Bear Market Emotions: Strategy vs. Reaction

Staying disciplined in building a well-constructed portfolio over time can help carry investors through the market’s rough spots.

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