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 | 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
- Outlook 2022: Passing the Baton
Estates & Trusts
-
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.
-
How Can a Living Trust Help Me Control My Estate?
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
-
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.
-
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.
-
How Can I Control the Distribution of My Estate?
If you haven't taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of the assets of your estate.
-
How Will I Pay Estate Taxes?
If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.
-
Can I Benefit from an A-B Trust?
An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.
-
What Gifting Strategies Are Available to Me?
Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.
-
How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Lead Trust?
Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.
-
How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Remainder Trust?
A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.
-
How Can I Benefit from a Wealth Replacement Trust?
A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.
-
Could My Family Benefit from a Family Limited Partnership?
One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.
-
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.
-
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
-
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.
-
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.
-
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.
-
Should You Bank Your Retirement on Your Business?
Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.
-
What Is a Self-Employed Retirement Plan?
Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.
-
What Is a Traditional IRA?
If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
-
What Is a 401(k) Plan?
401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.
-
How Should I Manage My Retirement Plan?
Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.
-
Save Now or Save Later?
If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.
-
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
-
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.
-
What Is the Estate Tax?
Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.
-
What Is the Gift Tax?
The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.
-
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.
-
What Is a Required Minimum Distribution?
Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.
-
What Are the Tax Benefits of Charitable Trusts?
For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.
-
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.
-
What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½
Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty.
-
What Is Tax Deferral?
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
-
How Can I Benefit from Tax-Advantaged Investments?
Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.
-
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.
-
What Tax-Advantaged Alternatives Are Available?
While stable, CDs can create an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
-
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.
-
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.
-
How Can I Keep More of My Mutual Fund Profits?
Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.
Investing
-
What Are Dividends?
It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.
-
How Are Growth and Value Stocks Different?
The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.
-
How Are Mutual Funds Taxed?
Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.
-
What Is Stock?
Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.
-
What Is Diversification?
An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.
-
What Is a Stock Index?
Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.
-
How Do Mutual Funds and Stocks Differ?
The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.
-
What Is a Mutual Fund Load?
It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.
-
What Investment Risks Should I Know About?
Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.
-
What Are the Different Classes of Assets?
There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.
-
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.
-
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.
-
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
-
What Are Some Tips for Managing My Money?
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
-
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.
-
What Cash Management Tools Are Available?
Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.
-
How Can I Better Manage My Short-Term Cash?
There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.
-
What Are Some Smart Ways to Refinance?
Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.
-
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.
-
What Savings Alternatives Are Available?
There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.
-
How Does Inflation Affect Me?
Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.
-
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
-
Why Purchase Life Insurance?
If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.
-
Why Are Annuities Considered an Insurance Product?
An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.
-
What Is Life Insurance for Business Owners?
Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.
-
How Can I Insure My Future?
To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.
-
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.