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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.

Retirement Planning

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

Investment Planning

Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.

Tax Planning

Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

Transferring Wealth

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

Personal Finance

Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

Tax Planning

Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.

Transferring Wealth

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

Tax Planning

Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% federal tax penalty.

Personal Finance

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

Tax Planning

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

Tax Planning

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

Personal Finance

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

Retirement Planning

There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

Tax Planning

The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

Tax Planning

Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

Tax Planning

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

Personal Finance

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.

Investment Planning

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.

Tax Planning

There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.

Retirement Planning

Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

Tax Planning

United States tax law is a constantly changing landscape. The latest major piece of tax legislation is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Tax Planning

It's important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.

Personal Finance

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

Transferring Wealth

One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.

Transferring Wealth

If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.

Transferring Wealth

Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.

Tax Planning

With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

Personal Finance

When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.

Retirement Planning

There are key dates after you turn 59½ that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.

Transferring Wealth

An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.

Personal Finance

As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.

Personal Finance

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

Transferring Wealth

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

Retirement Planning

With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.

Transferring Wealth

Life insurance can be used to help preserve the value of your estate for your heirs.

Transferring Wealth

A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.

Transferring Wealth

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

Retirement Planning

Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.

Tax Planning

While stable, CDs can create an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.

Personal Finance

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

Personal Finance

If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?

Tax Planning

Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.

Personal Finance

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

Personal Finance

Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.

Transferring Wealth

Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Tax Planning

Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

Tax Planning

For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

Personal Finance

If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

Personal Finance

Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

Transferring Wealth

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

Transferring Wealth

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

Personal Finance

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

Retirement Planning

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

Transferring Wealth

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

Retirement Planning

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

Transferring Wealth

If you haven't taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of the assets of your estate.

Tax Planning

A 1035 exchange allows you to exchange your life insurance policy for one from another company without tax liability.

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