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79% of Americans agree they would benefit from having basic financial education and information.

Source: The 2018 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey, The National Foundation for Credit Counseling

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

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.
Paying Estate Taxes

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

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

Retirement

SIMPLE IRAs

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

A “stretch” or “multigenerational” IRA may be a useful approach to extend tax-deferred savings that can benefit your heirs for generations.
Profit-Sharing Plans

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

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

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

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

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

If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.
401(k) Plans

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

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

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

Tax Planning

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.
Estate Tax

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

While stable, CDs can create quite an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.
Tax-Free Investments

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

Diversification

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

Risk Management

Annuities as 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.
Disability Income Insurance for Business Owners

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

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