Articles

Seventy-five percent of Americans agree they would benefit from having basic financial education and information.
Source: The 2016 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey, The National Foundation for Credit Counseling

Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.

Simply click on one of the general financial topics below and you'll find a selection of easy-to-understand information sheets about related financial concepts and strategies. This information is updated regularly to reflect the latest facts, figures, legislation, and economic trends.

• Estates & Trusts

  What Gifting Strategies Are Available to Me?
  How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Lead Trust?
  How Can I Benefit from a Charitable Remainder Trust?
  How Can I Benefit from a Wealth Replacement Trust?
  

  Retirement

  What Is a Roth 401(k)?
  How Much Do I Need to Save?
  What Is a Self-Employed Retirement Plan?
  What Is an Indexed Annuity?
  What Are My Retirement Plan Distribution Options?
  

• Tax Planning

  What Is the Capital Gain Tax?
  How Much Money Can I Put Into My IRA or Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plan?
  What Is a Required Minimum Distribution?
  What Are the Tax Benefits of Charitable Trusts?
  When Must Taxes Be Paid on IRA and Employer-Sponsored Retirement Funds?
  What Happens If I Withdraw Money from My Tax-Deferred Investments Before Age 59½
  How Can I Benefit from Tax-Advantaged Investments?
  What Tax Deductions Are Still Available to Me?
  What Tax-Advantaged Alternatives Are Available?
  Is There Such a Thing as a Tax-Free Investment?
  

• Investing

  How Are Common and Preferred Stocks Different?
  What Are Dividends?
  What Is an Exchange-Traded Fund?
  What Is a Closed-End Fund?
  What Investment Risks Should I Know About?
  What Are the Different Classes of Assets?
  What Stock and Bond Investing Alternatives Do I Have?
  

  Cash Management

  What About Financial Aid for College?