Estates & Trusts

• Estate Planning

  Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

• Avoiding Probate

  The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

• Charitable Giving

  To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

• Charitable Lead Trusts

  Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.

• Charitable Remainder Trusts

  A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.

• Wealth Replacement Trusts

  A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.

• 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

• Future of Social Security

  Greater demand is being placed on the Social Security system as the baby boom generation has begun to retire.

• Social Security Income

  The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.

• Retirement Plan Distributions

  When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.

• Save Now or Save Later

  If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.

Tax Planning

• Tax Strategies for Retirement Plans

  Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.

Investing

• Annuities

  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.

• Asset Classes

  There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

• Dollar-Cost Averaging

  Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.

Cash Management

• Cash Management Basics

  A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.

• Doubling Your Money

  Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.

• Smart Financing Ideas

  Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

• Effects of Inflation

  Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.

Risk Management

• Term Life Insurance

  Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.

• Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits

  Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.

• Insuring Your Future

  To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.

• Assessing Disability Income Insurance

  Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.

• Additional Liability Coverage

  Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits.

• HMOs and PPOs

  Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?

• Evaluating Insurance Companies

  Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.

• Long-Term Care Costs

  The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.

• Medicare Coverage

  Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?