Inflation Happens: Don’t Let It Derail Your Long-Term Plans A penny saved is a penny earned, right? Not necessarily. Thanks to inflation, over time that penny could be worth less than when it was first dropped into the piggy bank. That’s why if you’re investing-especially for major goals years away, such as retirement-you can’t afford…

Federal and State College Financial Aid Programs The cost of financing a college education can be daunting to many families. Although most colleges agree that the family should be the primary support vehicle, financial assistance does exist. In addition to private sources such as trade unions, fraternal or service organizations and professional associations, there are…

Enhancing Charitable Gifts With Life Insurance If you are a regular donor to charity, life insurance could help you to make a much larger gift to your cause of choice.1 Instead of making periodic cash contributions to a charity, you could use the same amount to pay the premium on a life insurance policy to benefit…

Managing Health Care Costs: Tips for Small Businesses Employer-sponsored health insurance is considered by business owners and employees alike to be one of the most important benefits available in the workplace today. Yet skyrocketing costs are making it more difficult for small businesses to attract and retain skilled workers with the promise of health insurance.…

Understanding Your Retirement Income Replacement Ratio Although the term retirement income replacement ratio sounds formidable, it’s actually a simple, understandable concept that doesn’t require any fancy math. The ratio helps you zero in on your retirement savings goal and periodically measure your progress as you move toward your target. Will you need 60%, 75%, 90%…

Investing Through Life’s Stages Generally speaking, how you allocate your investment portfolio among different types of investments will depend largely on your unique investment goals, time frame and tolerance for risk. Yet most investors will experience some common life events–getting married, buying a first home, starting a family, becoming an empty-nester and retiring–that will require…