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Other Financial Topics
Calculators
- Cash Flow Analysis
This Cash Flow Analysis form will help you weigh your income vs. your expenses.
- Credit Card Debt
How Long Will It Take to Pay my Balance?
- Federal Income Tax
This calculator can help you estimate your annual federal income tax liability.
- Home Affordability
Estimate of the maximum amount of financing you can expect to get when you begin house hunting.
- Lifetime Earnings
This calculator is designed to help you attach a dollar figure to your life’s work.
- Loan Payoff
How much will it cost to pay off a loan over its lifetime?
- Long-Term Care Self Insurance
Will you be able to afford nursing home care?
- Savings Goals
How much do you need to save each year to meet your long-term financial goals?
Flipbooks
- Financial Management Insight: Strategies to Help Build Your Future
The decisions you make about money form the basis for your financial future and can help you pursue your goals.
- Financial Protection: Using Insurance to Help Manage Life’s Risks
Home, auto, life, disability — Protect your financial interests by having the appropriate insurance coverage.
- Time to Get Tax-Savvy: Managing Your Tax Burden
Understanding tax rules and spotting tax-saving opportunities might help you put the money to better use.
- Wealth Preservation: Planning to Leave a Legacy
An estate planning strategy could increase the value of your estate and help avoid potential conflicts and delays.
Newsletters
- A Financial Wellness Plan Can Help Pave the Road to Retirement
This article outlines four elements of financial well-being and offers suggestions to strengthen financial wellness.
- A Steady Strategy
Discover how dollar-cost averaging may help alleviate some market concerns by making regular investments regardless of market movements.
- All-in-One Funds: Targeting Time or Risk?
This article discusses target-date funds and lifestyle funds, with the more common of the two based on time horizon rather than risk.
- Are Value Stocks Poised for a Comeback?
Do you know the differences between growth and value stocks? Find out why value stocks may hold appeal during the economic recovery.
- Asset Protection: Make Sure Your Umbrella Is Big Enough
While standard home and auto insurance may cover personal liability, a personal umbrella policy can help add an extra layer of protection.
- Bankruptcy Changes Throw a Lifeline to Sinking Small Businesses
Many requirements that made it difficult and expensive for small businesses to reorganize using Chapter 11 have been loosened. Learn more.
- Big Data for Smaller Players
Read how small businesses use software services to help streamline operations, understand customers, optimize websites, and find new markets.
- Company Stock and Your Retirement Strategy
This article addresses specific risks and tax implications when acquiring company stock inside or outside of a workplace retirement plan.
- Concerned About Inflation? Consider TIPS
Do you understand how Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities can help mitigate inflation risk? This article provides an overview.
- Considerations When Making Gifts to Children
This article provides an overview of tax provisions and other issues to consider when making significant gifts to children or grandchildren.
- Corporate Debt: Are Juicier Yields Worth the Extra Risk?
This article discusses corporate credit ratings and some differences between investment-grade and speculative-grade bonds.
- Crisis Averted? Financial Help for Struggling Renters and Landlords
Read about programs that help both landlords and tenants by providing direct housing assistance for eligible renters.
- Don’t Let Debt Derail Your Retirement
This article looks at high debt levels among older Americans and why it’s important to analyze and address debt before retirement.
- Five Tips to Follow When Applying for a Mortgage
Historically low interest rates have driven record homebuying. This article provides some ideas to consider when applying for a mortgage.
- Four Things Investors Should Know About Stock Splits
If you’ve wondered what stock splits are and what effect they might have on your investment portfolio, this article covers the basics.
- Home Sweet Home Equity
Owning a home or having substantial equity may offer financial benefits in retirement. Discover five ways to use or increase home equity.
- HOT TOPIC: Antitrust Crackdown Aims to Increase Competition
See how an executive order to curb excessive consolidation of industry might affect consumers, small businesses, investors, and the economy.
- HOT TOPIC: High-Frequency Indicators: Where to Look for Signs of Recovery
This article discusses various high-frequency indicators economists use to monitor the pandemic’s impact and the economic recovery’s progress.
- HOT TOPIC: Hostage Data: Ransomware and Protecting Your Digital Information
This article provides an overview of high-profile ransomware attacks and offers tips to help consumers protect their own data.
- HOT TOPIC: Shortages and Bottlenecks Expose Weak Links in U.S. Supply Chains
As a consumer, have you noticed shortages? Here are some of the reasons behind supply-chain problems and how they might impact the economy.
- How Well Do You Understand Retirement Plan Rules?
From IRAs to 401(k)s, qualified retirement plans can be complex. This short quiz tests readers’ knowledge of a few of the finer points.
- International Investing: Opportunity Overseas?
Some analysts believe foreign stocks may be poised for a comeback. Read about opportunities and risks involved with international stocks.
- Is the Medicare Donut Hole Really Closed?
This article explains the four stages of Part D prescription drug coverage and how prices can vary in the coverage gap.
- Is Your Home Office Also a Tax Shelter?
This article explains which taxpayers are eligible for the home office deduction and describes the two methods used to calculate it.
- Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2021
IRS cost-of-living adjustments affect retirement plan contribution limits and certain tax considerations. Explore these 2021 adjustments.
- New Changes to College Financial Aid and Education Tax Benefits
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, included several provisions affecting financial aid and education. Learn more.
- New Fed Policy Suggests Low Rates for the Long Term
The Fed now seeks to control inflation through the benchmark federal funds rate. Find out what this means for investors and consumers.
- Pension or Lump Sum: Which Should You Choose?
Do you know the key factors to consider if offered an option to take a lump sum in lieu of a pension? Read this article to find out.
- Portfolios Get Personal: Growing Interest in Socially Responsible Investing
This article discusses socially responsible investments that may enable the pursuit of financial returns and make a positive global impact.
- Real Estate for Income and Diversification
Are you familiar with REITs and why they can help diversify a portfolio? Read this article to learn more.
- Sequence Risk: Preparing to Retire in a Down Market
This article offers a strategy that may help address sequence risk — the danger of poor investment performance at the outset of retirement.
- Social Security Spousal Benefits
This article offers an overview of spousal benefits, which could make a big difference in funding retirement for a married couple.
- Stock Market Risks in the Spotlight
Find out how inflation and interest-rate fears, regulatory or legislative action, and other factors could influence stock prices in 2021.
- Watch Out for These Financial Pitfalls in the New Year
Financial opportunities and potential pitfalls can appear at any time. Here are common money mistakes to avoid at various stages of life.
- When You Can’t Speak for Yourself
Discover how a living will and durable powers of attorney for health care and finances can help ensure your wishes are carried out.
- Working While Receiving Social Security Benefits
Do you understand the Social Security retirement earnings test and how it may affect your current and future Social Security benefits?
- Your Business: Minimum-Wage Laws in the Spotlight
As more states increase the minimum wage, small businesses may start feeling the economic impact. Read this article for some coping tips.
- Your Business: New Rules for Writing Off Restaurant Meals
The December 2020 stimulus bill lets businesses deduct the full cost of restaurant meals in tax years 2021 and 2022. Get the details.
- Your Business: Reasons to Keep Personal and Business Finances Separate
Find out why it’s important to draw a line between business and personal finances, especially for credit, tax, and personal asset purposes.
Research Articles
- Am I Prepared for Long-Term Care Expenses?
The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.
- Do I Need Disability Income Insurance?
Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.
- History of the Federal Estate Tax
Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.
- How Can a Living Trust Help Me Control My Estate?
A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.
- How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Lead Trust?
Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.
- How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Remainder Trust?
A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.
- How Can I Benefit from a Wealth Replacement Trust?
A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.
- How Can My Gift Benefit Me and the Charity?
To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.
- How Likely Am I to Need Long-Term Care?
If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?
- How Long Will It Take to Double My Money?
Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.
- How Will I Pay Estate Taxes?
If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.
- What Are Some Tips for Managing My Money?
A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.
- What Are the Pitfalls of Probate?
The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.
- What Is Tax Deferral?
There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.
- What Is the Best Form of Property Ownership for Me?
Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.
- What Key Estate Planning Tools Should I Know About?
Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.
- What Savings Alternatives Are Available?
There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.
Videos
- Do You Know Who Your Beneficiaries Are?
Valuable assets will convey directly to beneficiaries, regardless of instructions in a will.
- What Would Happen to Your Estate?
Estate planning documents can help you manage your estate.