Articles

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.

• Living Trusts

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

• Charitable Giving

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

• Paying Estate Taxes

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

• Wealth Replacement Trusts

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

Retirement

• IRA Rollover

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

• Roth 401(k)

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

• Why Purchase Annuities

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

• How Much Do I Need to Save?

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

• 1035 Exchanges

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

• Planning Options

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

• 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.

• 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.

Tax Planning

• Estate Tax

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

• Retirement Plan Limits

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

• Charitable Trust Tax Benefits

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

• Retirement Plan Taxes

  With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

• Withdrawing Before Age 59.5

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

• Tax Strategies for Retirement Plans

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

• Tax-Free Insurance Upgrades

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

Cash Management

• Doubling Your Money

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

• Cash Management Tools

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

• College Financial Aid

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

Risk Management

• Why Purchase Life Insurance

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

• Business Owner Policies

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

• Life Insurance for Business Owners

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

• Last-Survivor Life Insurance

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

• 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.

• Term Life Insurance

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

• Whole Life Insurance

  Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

• Universal Life Insurance

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

• Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits

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

• 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?