Articles

Quarterly Recap

• Quarterly Recap 1st Quarter - 2014
• Market Outlook - Mid-Year 2014
• 2014 Fourth Quarter Market Outlook
• Quarterly Recap - 3rd Quarter 2014
• Market Outlook - 2015
• Quarterly Recap - 4^th Quarter 2014
• Annual Market Recap - 2014
• 2nd Quarter 2015 Market Outlook
• Quarterly Recap 1st Quarter - 2015

Market Commentary

• February 5th 2014
• February 18th 2014
• March 3rd 2014
• March 17th 2014
• April 7th 2014
• April 16th 2014
• May 1st 2014
• May 13th 2014
• May 30th 2014
• July 30th 2014
• August 1st 2014
• August 5th 2014
• September 3rd 2014
• September 4th 2014
• September 19th 2014
• September 18th 2014
• September 26th 2014
• October 10th 2014
• October 15th 2014
• October 27th 2014 #1
• October 27th 2014 #2
• November 6th 2014
• November 14th 2014
• November 26th 2014
• December 15th 2014
• December 19th 2014
• December 26th 2014
• Feburary 5th 2015
• March 3rd 2015
• March 11th 2015
• April 9th 2015
• May 4th 2015

Monthly Market Monitor

• February 2014
• April 2014
• May 2014
• July 2014
• August 2014
• October 2014
• November 2014
• January 2015
• February 2015
• April 2015
• May 2015

Estates & Trusts

• What Key Estate Planning Tools Should I Know About?

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

• What Are the Pitfalls of Probate?

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

• What Gifting Strategies Are Available to Me?

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

Retirement

• What Is an IRA Rollover?

  If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

• What Is a Roth 401(k)?

  A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

• What Is an Indexed Annuity?

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

• What Is a Traditional IRA?

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

• What Is a Roth IRA?

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

Tax Planning

• What Is the Capital Gain Tax?

  Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

• What Is the Estate Tax?

  Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

• What Is the Gift Tax?

  The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

• What Is a Required Minimum Distribution?

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

• When Must Taxes Be Paid on IRA and Employer-Sponsored Retirement Funds?

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

• What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½

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

• What Is Tax Deferral?

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

• What Tax Deductions Are Still Available to Me?

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

• Is There Such a Thing as a Tax-Free Investment?

  It's important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.

• How Can I Keep More of My Mutual Fund Profits?

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