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There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.

It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.

There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.

An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.

Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.

While stable, CDs can create an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.

The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.

If you haven't taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of the assets of your estate.

An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.

Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.

Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.

Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.

There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.

A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.

A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.

Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.

Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.

With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.

Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.

Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

A 1035 exchange allows you to exchange your life insurance policy for one from another company without tax liability.

A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.

Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.

The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.

Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.

When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.

Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.

529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.

There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.

It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.

With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.

401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.

Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.

To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.

When it is time to make an insurance claim, it helps if you are familiar with your policies and the steps you should take to file a claim.

A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.

The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.

Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.

A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.

Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.

Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.

There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.

Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.

A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.

The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

Greater demand is being placed on the Social Security system as the baby boom generation has begun to retire.

ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.

Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.

Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.

Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

Bond ratings gauge a bond issuer’s financial ability to repay its promised principal and interest payments.

Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.

If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.

One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.

Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% federal tax penalty.

Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.