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Fifty-six percent of American workers have saved less than $25,000 for retirement, and 46% have saved less than $10,000.1
Source: 1) Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2011

Will you outlive your retirement income?  How much liability insurance should you have? Should you add stocks to your portfolio?  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.

  • May

    HOT TOPIC: American Manufacturing: Rebound or Renaissance?
    During the last decade, U.S. manufacturing lost millions of jobs to foreign competition. The sector appears to be coming back strong, adding almost half a million jobs since 2010 as productivity rises. This article examines the conditions that originally caused the exodus of U.S. industrial production and those that may bode well for its future.

    Investing in the Future
    Due to the fiscal struggles of state governments, in-state tuition and fees at public four-year colleges and universities rose dramatically for the 2011-12 school year. The cost of private institutions also continues to increase. This article presents information on the cost of a college education and how a 529 plan may be a helpful savings vehicle.

    Averaging Ups and Downs
    Stock market volatility was the norm in 2011, and that can be hard on an investor’s nerves. Utilizing a dollar-cost averaging strategy may help even out your portfolio’s ups and downs, as explained in this article.

    Designating Retirement Plan Beneficiaries
    IRAs and defined-contribution plans have become an important component of personal wealth for households. Designating account beneficiaries and keeping the designations current can be a complex — but important — process to perform on a regular basis as certain life events and tax situations can necessitate a change.

    Small Companies Face Costly Cybersecurity Threats
    For many small businesses, the Internet is an important tool, but cybersecuity risks are growing. 40% of all targeted Internet attacks are now directed toward companies with fewer than 500 employees, and just over half of small businesses have a basic cybersecurity plan. This article provides tips to the small business owner about how to shore up their online defenses.

  • April

    Tax Changes for 2012
    Mandatory annual inflation adjustments generally affect federal income tax brackets, retirement plan contribution limits, and estate tax exemption levels. Here are some of the major changes that could affect readers in 2012, with a table showing 2012 income thresholds for the six federal income tax brackets.

    Doing Your Heirs a Favor
    Although a will and a trust specify disposition of assets, many other details of an individual’s final wishes might be explained in a letter of instructions. This article offers some topics to consider addressing in the letter to help loved ones make decisions and take care of final arrangements.

    There’s Still Time to Catch Up
    Worker confidence in affording a comfortable retirement fell to a record low in 2011, but investors aged 50 and older may be able to make up for lost time by maximizing contributions to retirement plans and taking advantage of catch-up contribution limits. The accompanying chart shows the potential difference in accumulation by taking advantage of catch-up contributions.

    Preparing to Turn the Corner
    What happens to a multiple-owner business when one of them chooses to retire or must leave suddenly for some other reason? Death, disability, divorce, & bankruptcy are just a few of the events that can affect one owner and threaten the future of the business. This article discusses the reasons why it may make sense for a small business to have a buy-sell agreement in place.

  • March

    Where There's a Will, There's a Way
    Only 35% of Americans have a will, yet it's a relatively simple legal document that every adult should have, regardless of wealth or age. Dying without a will can lead to unwanted outcomes and potential problems for heirs. This article discusses the importance of a will and other estate conservation documents.

    Balancing Stability and Growth
    An investor who is 2 or 3 decades from retirement could decide to be more aggressive in pursuing investment growth than someone approaching retirement. Even though investors address this by transitioning to a more conservative asset allocation, they still need to seek growth while balancing the desire for principal preservation. This article offers some factors to consider.

    Rethinking the Role of Household Debt
    Many people aspire to pay off their home mortgages before retirement, but the housing situation and a weak economy have taken a toll on the finances of many older Americans. There are some compelling reasons why pre-retirees might want to consider maximizing their retirement plan contributions and avoid carrying large amounts of debt into retirement.

    Lessons from a Perilous Year
    In retrospect, 2011 was a formidable year for catastrophes. Small businesses can be hit hard when extreme weather or a natural disaster causes damage or forces a temporary closure. This article considers the importance of adequate insurance protection and ways to help reduce uninsured losses.

  • February

    HOT TOPIC: Why Watch the Employment Situation
    Labor reports showed some signs of improvement in the second half of 2011. This article takes a closer look at the official reports that track employment, factors that held back job creation after the recession officially ended, and whether recent gains are enough to spark more robust growth.

    GDP: Measuring the Economy
    It's likely you've heard a lot about the gross domestic product (GDP) if you follow the news. But what is its impact on the national economy and how has the Great Recession impacted the GDP? This primer explains the numbers behind the GDP and what it ultimately tells us about the economic health of the nation.

    Keeping Pace with Social Security
    In 2012, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 3.6% cost of living increase for the first time in three years. But a recent study suggests that benefits are lagging far behind real expenses. This article explains how Social Security benefits are indexed and what older workers and retirees might expect from the program in the future.

    Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
    With standard 401(k) plans, the amount a company's owners can contribute to their own retirement account is often restricted by how much other employees contribute to the plan. With the safe harbor option, owners may be able to make larger contributions for themselves in exchange for making tax-deductible contributions or "matches" for employees.

  • January

    HOT TOPIC: Looking Ahead in 2012
    2011 was a year of slow economic recovery, market volatility, and political conflict over the budget, the national debt, and taxes. All of these challenges continue to face us as we begin the new year. This article presents an overview of some of the issues that bear watching in 2012.

    For Better, For Worse: Communicating About Retirement
    A recent study indicates that couples are not communicating clearly about retirement goals and strategies, even as they approach retirement age. This article offers suggestions to open a dialogue and encourages couples to discuss their retirement needs and desires with each other and with their financial advisor.

  • December

    Leaving Your Home Out of the Retirement Equation
    Plummeting home prices and increased borrowing cut U.S. home equity by more than 60% during the Great Recession — and housing prices have not yet recovered. This article considers the potential drawbacks of depending on home equity to help fund retirement.

    Another Year, Another AMT Patch
    The 2010 Tax Relief Act adjusted AMT exemption levels for 2010 and 2011 to help prevent an estimated 21 million middle-income taxpayers from being subject to the alternative minimum tax. Will Congress enact another patch for 2012?

    Help Chart the Future of Your Family Business
    The transition from one generation to the next is considered to be one of the biggest risks to the survival of a family-owned business. A thoughtful succession strategy not only outlines when and how ownership should be transferred but also takes tax implications, family relationships, and other sensitive issues into account.

  • November

    To Roll or Not to Roll: It's Your Choice
    Some employers are encouraging departing employees to leave their retirement savings in their employer plans. But employees should make any decisions based on their own needs and concerns, not the former employer's. Read about the pros and cons of rolling over retirement plan assets to an IRA.

    Giving Strategies That Can Give Back
    Americans gave more than $290 billion to charity in 2010, despite the slow economy. About 73% of charitable donations came directly from individuals. This article explains how a charitable remainder trust and a charitable lead trust could be used to provide more control over gifts while potentially benefiting the giver and his or her heirs.

    Is Your Business Ready for a Structure Change
    Periodically, business owners may want to reconsider whether their current business structure is meeting the needs of their companies. For business owners seeking to expand their operations and reduce their exposure to risk, a popular entity has been the limited liability company. This article describes some additional benefits associated with LLCs.