Books
Download these Booklets on important retirement topics to get a basic understanding of concepts and tools that you can integrate into your own customized retirement strategy.
My Social Security Booklet~~~ My Social Security Booklet outlines the basics of our system and how you might maximize Social Security to maintain your retirement income. [...]
My Life Insurance Booklet ~~~ My Life Insurance Booklet provides an overview of the various types of Life Insurance and their uses, including how you might employ Life Insurance to [...]
My Annuity Booklet ~~~ My Annuity Booklet covers the types of annuities and their basic features, as well as how to learn how you might employ Annuities to ensure a [...]
Articles: Annuities
Learn more about different types of annuities, including specific features that can affect your payout, how women can use annuities to set up a more secure retirement, and how to decide where an annuity might fit into your retirement estate plan.
Fixed Indexed Annuities ~~~ These conservative investments have become a popular alternative to bonds. Fixed indexed annuities can be very useful investments. As the name implies, FIAs are fixed annuities with a rate of return [...]
Understanding the Difference Between Fixed And Variable Annuities ~~~ Do you know how much the fees and expenses associated with your retirement investments are? Annuities offer tax sheltered growth which can result in significant long-term [...]
What Are Annuities? ~~~ An annuity is a tax-deferred savings vehicle set up using a contract between a person or entity (contract owner) and an insurance provider or broker. The contract owner then contributes money [...]
Guaranteed Lifetime Income Rider and Living Benefits Basics ~~~ Over a little more than a decade, guaranteed lifetime income riders have become all the rage as an attached benefit to deferred annuity policies. A deferred [...]
Articles: Social Security
Get an overview of how the Social Security program works and the risks of it defaulting on future payments to retirees. Weigh the pros and cons involved in claiming your benefits at different ages. See how health care costs could take a big chunk of your Social Security income later in life.
Should You Apply For Social Security Now...or Later? ~~~ When should you apply for benefits? Consider a few factors first. Now or later? When it comes to the question of Social Security income, the choice [...]
The Latest on Social Security ~~~ Social Security payments and thresholds are adjusted every year to keep pace with inflation, and benefits may also be adjusted to comply with legislative policy changes. Benefits: Qualified Americans [...]
Social Security Survivor Benefits ~~~ How do you claim them? How much can you receive? About 5 million widowed Americans get Social Security survivor benefits. If your spouse has passed, you may be eligible to [...]
Verifying Social Security Records to Maximize Your Benefits ~~~ Verifying your personal and earnings information with the Social Security Administration will help ensure that your future Social Security income is calculated correctly. In addition to [...]
Articles: Life Insurance
Understand the key features of a life insurance policy. Learn about the types of life insurance and how they can help you achieve your financial goals in different phases of life.
Basics of Life Insurance ~~~ Are you considering a life insurance policy? Review these life insurance basics which can help you get started as you examine the many options available to you. Life Insurance Defined [...]
Using Life Insurance To Meet Your Financial Goals ~~~ Life insurance can be a key part of a well-structured estate plan, an important business strategy, and a wealth-building tool. When was the last time you [...]
Term Life Insurance: Advantages and Disadvantages ~~~ Term life insurance is the simplest form of life insurance. It offers death protection insurance at a fixed rate of payment for a limited, specific period of time. [...]
It’s Time to Review Your Life Insurance When was the last time you looked at your life insurance coverage? Why not do it now? Life insurance can be a remarkable estate planning and tax-saving tool. [...]
Articles: Financing Your Retirement
When should you retire? How much savings is enough? What can you do to ensure that you’ll have an income for the rest of your life? Don’t forget to include inflation in your planning. Women can take steps now to avoid financial insecurity later in life.
Stealth Retirement Expenses ~~~ A look at some surprise expenses in retirement that may come your way -- and how you can prepare for them. In 2017, the Society of Actuaries put together a survey [...]
Your Credit Score in Retirement ~~~ Retirement may not affect your credit scores directly, but how you manage your finances during retirement can impact your credit and borrowing power. Your credit reports track your personal [...]
Retirement Planning With Health Care Expenses in Mind ~~~ It is only wise to consider what Medicare won’t cover in the future. As you save for retirement, you also recognize the possibility of having to [...]
Recession In Retirement ~~~ Recessions have been compared to forest fires . . . small ones are healthy for the forest, as they get rid of dead wood and convert it to fertilizer. Larger fires [...]
Articles: Tax Efficiency in Retirement
Brush up on when and how to prepare for tax day. Learn about tax-reducing credits and investment strategies. Explore tax consequences and potential uses of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs).
Tax Loss Harvesting - An Overview ~~~ Turn a portion of your investment losses into tax offsets, making a little lemonade out of investment "lemons." Tax-loss harvesting is a strategy of incurring capital losses to [...]
What "1031 exchanges" are, and how they work ~~~ A 1031 exchange, as described in section 1031 of the IRS Code, is an effective way for a real estate investor to defer capital gains taxes [...]
Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Next Tax Bill ~~~ If you have some spare cash available at the end of the year, consider investing in tax savings. Regardless of the current season, everyone [...]
Which Financial Documents Should You Keep On File? ~~~ You might be surprised how many people have financial documents scattered all over the house – on the kitchen table, underneath old newspapers, in the hall [...]
Articles: Estate Planning
Learn how to set up your estate plan and put in place strategies for minimizing probate and also conflicts between your heirs. Do a deeper dive into living trusts and beneficiary designation.
10 Estate Planning Success Tips ~~~ Though the terms have changed dramatically over the past decade, estate taxes continue to be in force. In 2001, legislation was made to phase-out estate tax by raising exemption [...]
Minimizing Probate When Setting Up Your Estate ~~~ What can you do to lessen the impact of probate for your heirs? For some estates, probate takes very little time and few financial resources, for others, [...]
How Can LTC Insurance Help You Protect Your Assets? ~~~ Plan to create a pool of healthcare dollars that will grow in any market. How will you pay for long term care? The sad fact [...]
Reduce Family Conflicts Over Your Estate ~~~ Strategies to transfer your assets without confusing or upsetting your heirs. Relying on a will to pass along your wealth after you die may not be enough to [...]
Calculators
From estimating how much to set aside each month, how long your projected nest egg will last you, what to expect from the effects of inflation as well as predictions for your Social Security income – these calculators can help!
What are the tax advantages of an Annuity? ~~~ Understand [...]
Social Security Retirement Income Estimator ~~~ Estimate your monthly Social [...]
How long will my money last? ~~~ Calculate how long [...]
How much should I save to reach my goal? ~~~ [...]
How does inflation impact my retirement income needs? ~~~ Calculate [...]
What is the value of a bond? ~~~ Calculate the [...]