When it comes to creating an investment portfolio to help you maintain your quality of life during retirement, most experts agree that portfolio diversification is a good option for achieving desired returns while managing risk.
Education Center
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The importance of portfolio diversification03-15-2024Written byRead More
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Savings Goals Calculator
03-04-2024Try ItWhat will it take to help reach your savings goals? This financial calculator helps you find out. Enter in your savings plan and view graphically your financial results. Click the report button to get more information about your plan, and what you can do to make sure that it is on track.
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Net Worth Calculator
03-04-2024Try ItYour net worth is the value of all of your assets, minus the total of all of your liabilities. Put another way, it is what you own minus what you owe. If you owe more than you own, you have a negative net worth.
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Debt Calculator03-04-2024Try It
Interactive calculators
Our interactive tools can assist you in your unique financial planning needs. Interactive calculators are made available as self-help tools for independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax advice, either expressed or implied.
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Rent vs. Buy Calculator
03-04-2024Try ItShould you rent or should you buy your home? It takes more than looking at your mortgage payment to answer this question. This calculator helps you weed through the fees, taxes and monthly payments to help you make a decision between these two options.
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Estate Tax Planning Calculator03-04-2024Try It
Estate tax planning is very important to preserving your wealth for future generations. Knowing your potential estate tax liability is a great place to start your estate tax plan.
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Mortgage calculators03-03-2024Try It
Interactive calculators
Our interactive tools can assist you in your unique financial planning needs. Interactive calculators are made available as self-help tools for independent use and are not intended to provide investment or tax advice, either expressed or implied.
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Roth IRA Calculator03-03-2024Try It
Contributing to a Roth IRA could make a difference in your retirement savings. There is no tax deduction for contributions made to a Roth IRA;
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Roth after-tax vs. traditional pre-tax Calculator
03-03-2024Try ItIf available in your employer's plan, the 401(k) Roth allows you to contribute to your 401(k) account on an after-tax basis - and pay no taxes on qualifying distributions when the money is withdrawn.
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How a financial professional can help you reach your money goals
01-31-2024Written byRead MoreIf better financial planning has been a long-term goal for you, you’ve probably run into some common issues along the way: deciding how much you need to save for retirement, balancing debt and long-term goals, and simply covering day-to-day expenses are all common challenges most Americans face.
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4 simple steps to take control of your budget01-30-2024Written byRead More
If you’re similar to the average person, you probably have a budget that you made years ago sitting in an excel spreadsheet somewhere untouched.
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The best times to up your retirement contributions01-29-2024Written byRead More
Although it’s true there’s really no bad time to start investing, it can be tricky to figure out how to siphon off funds from other areas of your budget and redirect them to your future needs.
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Saving for college: The Child Tax Credit and tips for new parents11-29-2023Written byRead More
For many parents, the idea of setting aside savings for their young child’s college education on top of all their family’s current essential financial needs can feel like a daunting task. But it doesn't have to be, and here’s why. You don’t need to plan on saving to pay the full sticker price for your child’s education.
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How much per paycheck will go toward your retirement?10-19-2023Written byRead More
You’ve heard the advice that you should try to contribute as much as possible to your retirement plan, but experts tend to speak in percentages. More important to you is what will be the real-life impact of saving for retirement.
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How big of a threat does inflation pose to your retirement?10-18-2023Written byRead More
As America’s economy reopens, we’re seeing higher inflation rates, and this unwelcome surge should prompt retirees to consider the threat it could pose to their financial security.
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How to retire early-Part 110-16-2023Written byRead More
It’s never too soon to start saving for retirement but if you want to retire early, you’ll likely have to do some extra planning.
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Your account beneficiary designations could be more important than your will10-02-2023Written byRead More
Remember the "pinky swears" - the silly promises you made to your friends back in grade school? What if someone came back to you decades later as an adult and expected you to abide by those promises? It's unlikely they would ever prevail in a court of law.
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5 ways to avoid overspending this holiday season09-25-2023Written byRead More
It’s a given that Americans will spend outside of their typical budget during the holiday season.
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4 ways to help increase your financial literacy08-31-2023Written byRead More
Finding an employer who cares enough to put together a thoughtful benefits package should be front-of-mind when it comes to deciding which company deserves your valuable services and talents.
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Retirement plan enrollment made simple08-31-2023Written byRead More
Everyone needs to consider their retirement strategy. A great place to start is enrolling in your employer-sponsored retirement plan.
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Yes, Gen Xers, you can meet your financial goals08-03-2023Written byRead More
If you’re a Gen Xer, you’ve likely been facing some major financial demands over the last few years: caring for children and aging parents, dealing with a recession that lasted through some of your highest-earning working years and managing major debt.
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Planning and paying for healthcare in retirement08-01-2023Written byRead More
Those saving and planning for retirement face a lot of important questions. How much will it cost to live comfortably in retirement? How much money is needed in order to pursue travel and other hobbies we enjoy? Importantly, how much is healthcare in retirement?
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How to protect yourself from financial fraud07-21-2023Written byRead More
No matter your age, it's good to know how to protect your financial accounts. As you get closer to retiring, you may need to tap into them, whether they're set up specifically for funding retirement or used for other purposes, such as a liquid savings or money market account.
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Your plans for retirement have been thrown off. Now what?07-21-2023Written byRead More
One of the financial consequences of COVID-19 was that people’s retirement plans were interrupted in various ways.
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Can you prioritize both caregiving and wealth-building?07-18-2023Written byRead More
Women continue to be the primary caregivers in most families with children, but they are also likely to be important breadwinners for their families.
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How to set financial goals07-18-2023Written byRead More
Setting a goal is an important prerequisite for accomplishing almost anything. And without setting clear financial goals, some people are likely to spend their lives aimlessly earning and spending, rather than building wealth and achieving a more financially secure life.
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How to retire early - Part 306-14-2023Written byRead More
More than one income stream can help safeguard your well-thought-out early retirement strategy.
Part three in our how-to-retire-early series will focus on additional retirement income strategies that can help you turbocharge your way to early retirement.
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Getting your retirement savings back on track06-14-2023Written byRead More
During an economic crisis like the COVID-19 pandemic, many people had to put their retirement plans on hold, or even borrow from retirement accounts, in order to afford household bills.
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Interest rates are rising. What’s your next step as an investor?
01-27-2023Written byRead MoreIn 2022, the Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate 7 separate times. Is it any wonder investor concerns are rising, too?
But is it really a time to worry? Or is it an opportunity to capitalize?
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Does your investment mix need diversifying?09-08-2022Written byRead More
Need to fix your mix?
You’ve probably heard of the terms “asset allocation” and “diversification.” They sound complicated, but really, the concepts are quite simple.
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A new change coming to 529 plans08-12-2022Written byRead More
We witnessed a flurry of legislation in 2020-2021 meant to help Americans cope with the financial fallout from the pandemic. While many of the provisions in the CARES Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act and the American Rescue Plan, were focused on immediate assistance in terms of stimulus payments and mortgage and student loan relief, the bills also included changes that can have some long-term effects on long held financial assumptions.
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Should I dip into my retirement savings?05-31-2022Written byRead More
Many people who have had their income adjusted may be panicking and looking for other sources of cash to pay the bills.
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Should you save for retirement or pay off student loans?05-13-2022Written byRead More
An increasing number of people are graduating from college with student loans to pay back. Some 44.7 million student borrowers have an average of $37,584 in student loans each, and 65% of students graduated with student loan debt in 2020.
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Financial literacy: How it affects planning for retirement05-10-2022Written byRead More
The more you understand about money, the better equipped you are to prepare for retirement. That’s the conclusion from a number of studies that have been conducted to explore the link between financial literacy and retirement preparedness over the past decade, by academics and financial experts.
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Want a fabulous retirement? Start living better now05-09-2022Written byRead More
When Americans think about growing older, many of them feel worried, according to research. They worry about their health, being a burden to their families, and not having a purpose.
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Portfolio diversification and why it’s important05-09-2022Written byRead More
What goes up must also come down. That’s true of Newton’s apples, your favorite wooden roller coaster, and — inevitably — the stock market.
Of course, different investors handle market ups and downs differently. Some are up for riding the drops like a coaster aficionado while others cling to the handlebars, wishing for a smoother ride.
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Making retirement dreams a golden reality - a how-to guide05-09-2022Written byRead More
Whether your idea of golden years perfection is training for an Ironman, launching a business, watching a ball game in every U.S. state, or simply spending more time with family and friends, retirement offers a unique opportunity to replace the nine-to-five with something vivifying, meaningful, and new.
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How to reach a million dollars with just 1%05-08-2022Written byRead More
What’s the value of 1? If you guessed $1 million then it’s likely you’re in on a little-known secret that helps the most savvy of savers effectively prepare for their golden years.
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How to build an emergency savings account05-03-2022Written byRead More
Though many of us will face a significant unexpected expense at some point during our lives, more than half of Americans don’t have the cash or savings on hand* to cover a financial emergency requiring $1,000 or more to resolve.
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Small money moves that make a large impact05-03-2022Written byRead More
For many of us, setting aside the recommended six months’ worth of expenses in an emergency savings account to protect ourselves and our loved ones can feel daunting.
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How to plan financially for starting a family05-03-2022Written byRead More
The prospect of growing your family may fill your heart with butterflies, excitement, nervousness—or, most likely, all of the above.
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3 reasons to have a budget05-03-2022Written byRead More
If you're not following a budget, you're not managing your money correctly. Without a budget, you really have no way of knowing how much you're spending each month, and how much room for savings your expenses and income allow for.
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When is the best time to file for Social Security benefits?04-29-2022Written byRead More
Seniors have a number of tough decisions to make during their golden years, but few could have larger ramifications on their financial well-being than deciding when to file for Social Security benefits.
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What's the best college savings account?04-29-2022Written byRead More
If you have kids or grandkids, you're probably hoping they'll go to college one day. Of course, given the rate at which college tuition and fees continue to rise, you may also be wondering how on Earth you'll be able to pay for it.
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Fit for the future04-29-2022Written byRead More
Life can be full of changes, challenges and opportunities. For every situation, there are ways to cope. Here are a few things to consider when life comes your way.
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Knowing the 403(b) basics04-21-2022Written byRead More
If you’re one of the millions of hardworking employees at a nonprofit, religious group, school district, or governmental organization, the 403(b) is likely your primary retirement vehicle.
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Beneficiary designations: 5 critical mistakes to avoid04-20-2022Written byRead More
Many people might not realize that their will does not control who inherits all of their assets when they die. Many assets pass by beneficiary designation — which is the ability to fill out a form with the financial company holding the asset and name who will inherit the asset upon your death.
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Social Security: 10 smart ways to get more benefits04-20-2022Written byRead More
Without Social Security benefits, 22 million Americans would be poor — per a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
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New parents: Which comes first, saving for kid's college or funding your retirement?04-19-2022Written byRead More
Saving for college before funding retirement seems like a no-brainer for new parents.
When a new baby is born, you may think, “College is only 18 years away, while retirement is way down the line!” You may even think you’ll never retire at all, so why worry about it now? You certainly don’t want your kids burdened with student loans like you were.
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How to retire early - Part 204-08-2022Written byRead More
Small saving moves now can significantly impact early retirement outcomes.
A large influx of funds—an annual bonus, inheritance or capital gains from a property sale—can move the early retirement savings needle, but it’s everyday savings habits that can have the biggest impact.