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

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

It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.

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

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.

The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.

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

Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.

Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.

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

There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.

A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.

Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.

A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.

Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.

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

Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.

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

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

Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.

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

With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.

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

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

Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.

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

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.

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

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

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

A money purchase plan is a retirement plan where employer contributions are based on a fixed percentage of compensation.

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

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

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

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.

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

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

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

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

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

Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.

Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.

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

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

529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.

There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.

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

It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.

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

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

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

Property and casualty insurance can help protect a variety of assets. Find out what it does and doesn’t cover.

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

401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.

Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.

Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.

The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

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

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

A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.

Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

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

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

When it is time to make an insurance claim, it helps if you are familiar with your policies and the steps you should take to file a claim.

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

A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.

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

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

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

Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.

A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.

Even if your state doesn’t require certain types of auto insurance, it may be wise to purchase multiple types to ensure you are covered for a variety of situations.

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

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

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

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

An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.

Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.

Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.

Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.

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

It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.

The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

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

Zero-coupon bonds represent a type of bond that does not pay interest during the life of the bond.

A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.

ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.

Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.

There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.

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

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

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

Bond ratings gauge a bond issuer’s financial ability to repay its promised principal and interest payments.

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

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

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

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

There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.

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

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

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

Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.