Six keys to successful investing

A successful investor maximizes gain and minimizes loss. Though there can be no guarantee that any investment strategy will be successful and all investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, here are six basic principles that may help you invest...

Five Keys to Investing For Retirement

Inflation means that you’ll probably need to contribute more to your retirement plan than you think. What seems like a healthy amount now is likely to feel smaller and smaller over time. All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and...

How does Cash Value in Life Insurance Policies really work

When you own cash value life insurance, your premium payments are allocated three ways. First, a portion of each premium pays for the actual insurance costs. Like term insurance, a specific cost is associated with the policy’s death benefit, based on your age,...

LTCI: How does it work

Whether you’ve had a long-term care insurance (LTCI) policy for years or you’re thinking of buying one, it’s critical to understand exactly what set of conditions will trigger coverage. This information is the bread and butter of any LTCI policy. In...

Staying on Track with Your Retirement Investments

All investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal, and there can be no assurance that any investment strategy will be successful. And asset allocation and diversification alone cannot guarantee a profit or eliminate the possibility of loss,...

Working During Retirement

According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute’s 2016 Retirement Confidence Survey, 67% of workers plan to work in retirement, but historically only about 1 in 4 retirees have been able to do so. If you plan to work during retirement, consider how you...

ABCs of Financial Aid

What is financial aid? Financial aid is money distributed primarily by the federal government and colleges in the form of loans, grants, scholarships, and work-study jobs. A student can receive both federal and college aid, and the aid can be either need-based or...

Protect Yourself against Identity Theft

Two types of identity theft Account takeover is what happens when a thief gets your existing credit or debit cards (or even just the account numbers and expiration dates) and goes on a shopping spree at your expense Application fraud is what happens when a thief gets...

Key Estate Planning Documents You Need

Benefits of a will: Distributes property according to your wishes Names an executor to settle your estate Names a guardian for minor children Other benefits of a living trust: Gives someone the power to manage your property if you should become incapacitated Lets a...

Getting Help from a Financial Professional

When considering employing a financial professional, try to determine whether the individual or firm has experience in dealing with situations similar to yours. If you have substantial assets, you may require someone with a broader range of expertise than would be...