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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

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

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

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

Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

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

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

A bond ladder is a strategy involving the purchase of bonds that have staggered maturity dates.

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

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

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

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

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

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

There are techniques that can enable older homeowners to use their property to finance their lifestyle.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

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

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

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

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

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

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