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Fourty-seven percent of American workers have saved less than $25,000 for retirement, and 24% have saved less than $1,000.¹
Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2017

Will you outlive your retirement income? Are your financial expectations for the coming year realistic?

Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide variety of financial topics. Simply click on one of the newsletter topics below to read the article in its entirety.

• February

  HOT TOPIC: What Are the Costs of the Government Shutdown?
  Explore the cost of the longest government shutdown in recent history, from its economic impact to its effect on public safety and services.

  Need to Tap Your 401(k)? Proceed with Care
  Explore an overview of rules and tax consequences for 401(k) plan hardship distributions and other early withdrawals.

  Looking Back, Looking Ahead
  See the indicators economists rely on to understand the past, present, and potential future direction of the economy.

  Getting Real About Retirement
  This article features a worksheet and relevant information to help estimate retirement expenses and income.

  Seeking Synergy: Why Mergers and Acquisitions Matter to Investors
  Find out how and why mergers and acquisitions take place (and why they matter to investors).

  A Business Plan Can Be Your Guide to Growth
  A business plan can be an important step toward success. Here are some key components to consider.

• January

  HOT TOPIC: After Rocky Year-End, Risks Follow Investors into 2019
  In the final quarter of 2018, interest-rate fears and unresolved geopolitical issues upset the financial markets and reversed many of the gains notched earlier in the year.

  Are Your Designated Heirs Up-to-Date?
  The New Year might be a good time to review and update beneficiaries on estate documents, insurance policies, and financial accounts.

  Some Small Companies Facing Tariff Troubles
  Small-business owners should watch for trade policy changes that could impact their products, supply chains, or competitors.

• December

  HOT TOPIC: Consumer Nation: Can Confidence Drive the Economy?
  A look at what’s driving the high consumer confidence level and the importance of consumer spending to the broader economy.

  Competing Goals: Pay Off Student Loans or Save for Retirement?
  Some college grads pay off student loans at the expense of saving for the future. See steps that may help them do both.

  Know Your Mutual Funds
  Millions of Americans own mutual funds. This overview can help you review the mix of funds you own.

  Weighing a Wider Range of Health Plan Options
  Association health plans may enable small businesses to save money, but how do AHPs compare to small-group health insurance?

• November

  HOT TOPIC: Monetary Policy: Should Investors Fear the Fed?
  How the Federal Reserve Board’s actions influence interest rates, economic growth, and inflation.

  Is a Roth 401(k) Right for You?
  An overview of the potential benefits, limitations, and rules of Roth 401(k) accounts.

  Community Property Laws: Yours, Mine, and Ours
  Community property laws that apply in nine states and “equitable distribution” laws that apply in other states.

  Help with College: A Gift for Your Grandkids
  Helping a grandchild obtain a college degree could be life-changing for the student. Still, it’s important to consider how a gift could affect student aid and taxes.

  Health Savings Account: Funding an HSA Could Help You Prepare for Retirement
  In addition to setting aside pre-tax income to pay current and future medical expenses, an HSA could play an important role in your long-term retirement strategy.

  Reviewing Business Structure in Light of Tax Changes
  A flat 21% tax rate may seem like a good reason for a pass-through entity to convert to a C corporation, but there are other factors to consider.

• October

  HOT TOPIC: Bear in the Woods: Emerging Markets Credit Crisis
  Looks at some of the reasons behind the big declines in emerging markets, and how these developing economies might affect U.S. investors.

  Seven Classic Investing Quotes
  Seven classic quotes about investing from successful investors, economists, and other insightful thinkers.

  Social Security 101
  An overview of basic Social Security rules and options that are often misunderstood, whether workers are looking forward to claiming benefits in 1 or 30 years.

  Choosing and Using a College Checking Account
  Some tips for parents and college students to consider, whether opening a new checking account or using an old one.

  Dealing with Divorce
  Some considerations for a divorcing couple who are dividing marital assets, such as retirement accounts, and filing for Social Security.

  Key Tax Breaks for Business Owners
  Small-business owners will want to take full advantage of every legal tax break available, such as deductions for a home office and automobile expenses.

• September

  Risk Tolerance Is About You, Not the Market
  An investor’s personal situation should be considered when assessing his or her risk tolerance.

  A Map to Guide Your Family
  A letter of instruction could be just as important as a will to help heirs settle an estate and move forward with their lives.

  Family Limited Partnerships for Estate Planning Purposes
  A family limited partnership is a legal agreement that enables business owners and their heirs to address tax issues, business succession, and estate planning needs.

• August

  HOT TOPIC — U.S. Fiscal Issues: Larger Deficits Are Driving Up Debt
  Why federal budget deficits are rising, and what the current fiscal situation could mean for the future of the U.S. economy.

  An Affordable Insurance Solution
  A new term life insurance policy can be quite expensive as people age. Survivorship life insurance may be a more cost-effective solution.

  Oil Prices and the Economy
  The relationship between oil prices and GDP growth has become more complicated in recent years due to the expanded U.S. presence in the global oil market.

  Reward Workers and Fund Retirement with a Cash Balance Plan
  Cash balance plans can be a powerful tool for employee recruitment and retention, plus they have generous contribution limits that increase with age.

• July

  New Tax Law Expands 529 Savings Plans
  An overview of Section 529 savings plans, including their traditional use for college saving and the new rules for K-12 tuition.

  Good News, Bad News for Boomer Retirement
  Younger baby boomers may be facing a more challenging retirement landscape than older members of the generation, according a recent survey.

  Two Technology Trends to Help Power Growth
  Cloud computing functions could help small companies increase productivity with smaller up-front costs.

• June

  HOT TOPIC — Wage Growth: Watching for a Tipping Point
  The factors that may be restraining workers’ wages and the economic implications of continued weakness or a sudden surge.

  Rules of the Rollover
  Rolling funds from an employer's plan to an IRA enables you to maintain control regardless of your employment situation.

  Chained CPI and Your Taxes
  One change made by 2017 tax legislation, a new way of measuring inflation, may have a significant effect on individual taxpayers over the long term.

  Beyond Medicare: What Are Your Options?
  A Medigap policy or a Medicare Advantage Plan could help provide more stability for health-care spending during retirement.

  New Tax Breaks for Pass-Through Entities
  The new tax law includes several provisions that could benefit business owners, such as the pass-through deduction and write-offs for capital investments.

• May

  Where There's a Will…
  A 2017 survey found that only 42% of U.S. adults had a will or living trust. Here are three basic reasons why everyone should have a will.

  The Cost of Caregiving
  About 40 million family caregivers in the U.S. provide unpaid care to another adult. Understand the associated financial, physical, and emotional costs.

  A Steady Strategy
  Dollar-cost averaging can be an effective way to accumulate shares without focusing on market movements.

  Time to Hire? Consider the Pros and Costs
  Some indicators that it might be time to hire additional employees, and how to weigh the potential benefits in light of the costs.

• April

  Pick Your Plastic: Debit or Credit?
  Some pros and cons for the use of credit cards versus debit cards for purchases.

  Income for the Long Run
  A longevity annuity can bring some stability to a retirement strategy by providing a steady income late in life.

  Guard Against Growing Cybersecurity Threats
  A discussion of some specific cybersecurity threats and tips to help small businesses protect their interests from hackers.

• March

  Four Financial Numbers You Should Know
  Four financial numbers that you should understand (and that could potentially improve your financial situation).

  Phasing Out…or Practice Makes Perfect
  Here are some ideas for arranging a phased retirement program, as well as tips for trying a practice run.

  Preparing to Withstand the Loss of Key Players
  How key-person insurance policies can benefit small businesses.

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