Wealth Management

Term life insurance provides life insurance coverage for a specific time period (the term). The face amount of the policy is paid if you die during the term of the policy. When you live longer than the term of coverage, nothing is paid, as there is no cash surrender value. Permanent life insurance provides protection for your entire life, regardless of your age or health, as long as you pay the premium to keep the policy in force...

An estimated 145 million Americans own real estate investment trusts (REITs) in their retirement accounts and other investment funds.1 The primary appeal of REITs is the potential for a consistent income stream and greater portfolio diversification. Of course, like all investments, REITs also have risks and downsides. Pooled Property Investments An equity REIT — the most common type of REIT — is a company that uses the combined capital of a large number of investors to buy and manage residential, commercial, and industrial income properties...

Saving for retirement is not easy, but using your retirement savings wisely can be just as challenging. How much of your savings can you withdraw each year? Withdraw too much and you run the risk of running out of money. Withdraw too little and you may miss out on a more comfortable retirement lifestyle...

In 2020, three companies in the S&P 500 index announced plans for stock share splits, down from 102 companies in 1997 and seven in 2016.1 As an investor, you may wonder what a stock split is and how it might affect your portfolio. Although splitting stock shares has been much less common in recent years, it's usually newsworthy when a high-profile company announces a planned split. 1...

Tax filing season is here again. If you haven't done so already, you'll want to start pulling things together — that includes getting your hands on a copy of your 2019 tax return and gathering W-2s, 1099s, and deduction records. You'll need these records whether you're preparing your own return or paying someone else to prepare your tax return for you. Don't procrastinate...

As we entered 2020, most major economies had entered the COVID-19 pandemic on solid footing. By April, the global economy had plummeted as the novel coronavirus quickly turned into a crisis like no other. Economies and financial markets alike were driven into sharp and deep pandemic-fueled recessions. As 2020 ends, the global economy is exiting the year on a much different trajectory...

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2021. Estate, Gift, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax The annual gift tax exclusion (and annual generation-skipping transfer tax exclusion) for 2021 is $15,000, the same as in 2020. The gift and estate tax basic exclusion amount (and generation-skipping transfer tax exemption) for 2021 is $11,700,000, up from $11,580,000 in 2020...

In early 2020, 61% of U.S. workers surveyed said that retirement planning makes them feel stressed.1 Investor confidence was continually tested as the year wore on, and it's likely that this percentage rose — perhaps even substantially...

As people move through different stages of life, there are new financial opportunities and potential pitfalls around every corner. Here are common money mistakes to watch out for at every age. Your 20s & 30s Being financially illiterate. By learning as much as you can about saving, budgeting, and investing now, you could benefit from it for the rest of your life...

The end of another year provides an opportunity to reflect on your financial accomplishments and focus on those areas which can be improved upon. If you’re not someone who routinely sets New Year’s resolutions it is still worthwhile to spend time to revisit your finances to ensure your financial foundation is not compromised. Even small changes from year to year can culminate in financial risks that aren’t readily apparent. Financial resolutions often center around spending less and saving more...