Our Articles

last updated: February 2012

• 1035 Exchanges for Annuities
• Boomers and Hybrid Annuities
• Cash for Annuity Structured Settlements
• Charitable Gift Annuities
• Dollar Cost Averaging with Variable Annuities
• Annuities Explained
• Equity Indexed Annuities
• Finding the Best Annuity
• Using Variable Annuities to Fund a Qualified Plan
• Annuities as an Investment Vehicle
• Joint and Survivor Annuity
• Securing Returns From Fixed Term Annuities
• Split Funded Annuities
• Annuitization vs. Systematic Withdrawal
• Variable Annuities
• Variable Annuity Buying Tips
• Who should have an Annuity
• A Comprehensive Guide to Annuities and Annuity Investing
• Top 10 Annuity Myths Exposed
• Annuities: the Good, the Bad & the Confusing
• The 'New' Investment Pyramid: Think in Reverse to Move Forward
• Rating and Comparing Annuities
• The Insurance Companies with the Highest Annuity Company Ratings
• Annuity Riders
• Strategic Planning with Annuity Riders
• Variable Annuities: What You Should Know!
• Creditor Protection: The Annuity Option
• The Benefits and Drawbacks of Immediate Annuities: Retirement Planning 101
• Selecting a Beneficiary: Making the Right Choice
• Don't Get Stuck With Low Annuity Rates: Manage Your Annuity!
• Why Annuities Are So Important
• Know Your Annuity Contract: Nursing Home Waiver
• Annuity Beneficiary: An Important Decision
• Annuity Payouts: Are You Informed About Your Options?
• Split Annuities: Can They Work for You?
• What is The Best Annuity?
• Death Benefits and Annuities: Tips and Hints, To Find The Best Option for You
• Security is Spelled A-N-N-U-I-T-Y
• Stop Watching the Volatile Market: Look at Fixed Annuities
• The Glorious History of Annuities
• Annuities Vs Bank CDs: How Do They Compare?
• Promises Made, Promises Kept: The 'Cross Your Heart' Investment
• The Power of Zero……Can It Be An Advantage?
• Annuity Calculators and Retirement Planning
• Fixed Indexed Annuities
• The Annuity Guarantee: Safety and Security
• Immediate or Income Annuities?
• The Tax Deferred Annuity
• Understanding Variable Annuities: Pros and Cons
• Equity Linked Indexed Annuities (EIAs)
• Tips to fully understanding variable annuities: What you should know!
• Retirement Planning 101 – The Benefits and Drawbacks of Immediate Annuities
• Make the Right Choice in Selecting a Beneficiary
• Tips to Understanding Variable Annuities: Pros and Cons
• Tax Deferred Annuity
• Insurance Company Annuities Vs Bank CDs
• Stop Financial Paper Losses….Look at Fixed Annuities
• Safe Investments...…Sleep Well Tonight
• Great Benefit for Annuity Owners: Nursing Home Waiver
• The Case For Annuities: Why They Are So Important
• Asset Protection Trusts: A Basic Overview
• Avoiding Probate With a Living Trust
• The California State Death Tax Laws
• Family Business Estate Tax Reduction
• Health Care Directives: What You (And Your Loved Ones) Need To Know
• Living Trusts: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
• Living Wills: Frequently Asked Questions and Answers
• Need To Probate An Estate?
• Options for Avoiding Estate Tax
• Postponing and Avoiding Taxes: Good News for Smart Estate Planning
• Protecting Your Family's Inheritance With A Beneficiary-Controlled Trust
• Roth IRA Estate Planning Strategies
• Want More Control Over Your Tax Dollars? Consider a Private Charitable Foundation
• What a Basic Living Trust Should Contain
• Estate Planning Issues for Non Traditional Families - Part I
• Estate Planning Issues for Non Traditional Families - Part II
• Estate Planning Issues For Non Traditional Families - Part III
• Probate Conservatorships - Estate Planning Issues - Part I
• Probate Conservatorships - Estate Planning Issues - Part II
• Why Make A Will?
• Advance Directives: "The Living Will" and other issues
• What You Need to Know About Probate
• What is Probate How does it work
• Are Revocable Living Trusts for You Basic Information
• Wills and Trusts Defined
• Estate Planning – Get Organized!
• Questions & Answers Regarding Probate
• Avoiding Probate: A How To Guide
• 10 Estate Planning Success Tips
• How to Choose an Attorney
• Estate Executor: Duties and Obligations
• Get Started with Basic Estate Planning
• Financial Survival Tips for Small Businesses Part II
• 401(k) Rollovers for a New Job
• Alternative-Retirement-Plan-Options
• Exchange Traded Funds (EFT) and Your 401k
• Answers to Common 401k Questions
• 401k Asset Allocation Strategies
• 401k Options Before Retirement
• Know Your Options: Borrowing From Your 401k Plan
• Common 401(k) Fee Structures
• Common Roth 401k Questions and Answers
• Exchange Traded Funds (EFT) and Your 401k
• Introducing the Roth 401(k)
• Investing in Your 401k
• 401k Investment Tips: Essential Tools for Informed Choices
• Lump Sum Distributions: FAQ and Facts
• Seven Ways to Improve Your 401k
• Strategies for Overcoming an under-performing 401(K)
• The Latest 401k Trends
• What You Should Know About Investing your 401k in Your Company's Stock
• What Your 401k Provider Doesn't Want You to Know
• Why you should consider a Solo 401k if you are Self Employed
• 1035 Exchanges for Annuities
• 401(k): A Good Idea for Retirement Planning?
• Market Fears and Retirement Planning: One Category is Not Affected
• Tips To Lower the Property Taxes on Your Home
• What is a Roth IRA and is it right for you?
• Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Is a Traditional IRA right for you?
• What Is an IRA Rollover?
• What Is a 403(b) Plan?
• Understanding "Simple" 401(k)s: an Overview
• Should You Withdraw from Your 401(k) Early? Be Informed!
• Required Minimum Distribution for Your IRA
• Social Security, an Overview of Benefits
• Where is Your Pension Plan?
• Operation 401(k)
• The Big Rollover: Your Options
• How Fees Can Negatively Impact Your 401(k)
• SHOULD YOU BORROW AGAINST YOUR 401(K)? THINK TWICE
• IN-SERVICE 401(k) WITHDRAWALS & INCOME PLANNING
• In-Service 401 (k) Rollovers: Changes
• THE DB(k)
• Which Retirement Plan is Best for You?
• In-Plan Roth Conversions, 401 (k), 403 (b) 457 Plans
• The Tax Relief Act of 2010: The 2% Opportunity
• Max Out Your 401(k)
• Small Fees Can Mean Big Impact on Your 401(k) Growth
• Tax Issues: Early Distributions from Retirement Accounts
• New Rules for Retirement Plan Fiduciaries: What this means to the investor.
• Financial Planning for the Divorced Woman: You are in Control!
• The New Retirement Age
• Redefining the American Dream
• Customized Retirement Plans
• Health Planning For Retirement
• Retirement Planning Strategies
• Retirement Planning: Common Investor Mistakes
• Tax-Advantaged Retirement Plan Options
• Tips For Pre Retirement Planning
• Tips For Reducing Taxes During Your Retirement Years
• Six ways to use your Home Equity for Retirement
• Retirement Planning for Singles and Unmarried Couples
• 457 Retirement Plan Options
• Thrift Savings Plan (TSP)
• Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT): Pros and Cons?
• 10 Retirement Planning Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
• Q&A on IRA's (Individual Retirement Accounts)
• Do I Need Dividends in My Retirement Portfolio?
• Social Security Retirement Benefits: Be Informed and Know Your Options!
• Social Security 101
• Social Security Survivor Benefits: Understand Your Rights
• What is a Prohibited Investment in an Individual Retirement Account? (IRA)
• 5 Ways To Afford Early Retirement
• Retirement Planning In A Changing World
• Will Social Security Live To See 80?
• 7 Shortcuts for Major Money Hassles
• Questions and Answers
• Five Smart Financial Planning Tips
• Helpful Tips For Improving your Credit Score
• Money Management Mistakes To Avoid
• Money Savings Strategies
• Choosing A Financial Advisor
• Your Guide To Choosing A Tax Professional
• College Funding Strategies
• The Top 7 Common Financial Mistakes made by most people
• Charitable Remainder Trusts (CRT): Pros and Cons?
• What Is an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)? Would They Make Sense for You?
• Is Your Bank Safe? A Look at Size & Guarantees.
• Sleep Tight Knowing Your Investments are Safe.
• Higher Education Savings Plan: Real Options for College
• Save for College with a 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan
• Coverdell Education Savings Account: College with Tax Advantages
• Critical Care Insurance: Could Be of Great Benefit
• Medicare Part C Medicare Advantage
• The Facts about Life Insurance
• How to Choose an Insurance Company
• Avoid Mistakes When Buying Life Insurance
• The Need for Health Insurance
• Life Insurance Plans and Options: The Basics
• Term Life Insurance: Advantages and Disadvantages
• The Truth About FDIC Insurance
• The 'New' Investment Pyramid: Think in Reverse to Move Forward
• Risk is a Four Letter Word
• Term Life Insurance: Advantages and Disadvantages
• Health Insurance: A Necessary Expense
• How to Avoid Mistakes When Buying Life Insurance
• Do You Need Critical Care Insurance?
• FDIC Insurance: The Basics
• Investing: An Overview to Risk & Reward
• Closed-End Mutual Funds: Understand How They Work
• Municipal Bonds: Basic Information You Need
• What Is an Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF)? Would They Make Sense for You?
• The Perfect Investment: Is There Such a Thing?
• 7 Questions to Ask Yourself Before You Invest
• Defining the Stock Index & How Its History Can Make You A Smarter Investor.
• Sleep Tight Knowing Your Investments are Safe.
• The 'New' Investment Pyramid: Think in Reverse to Move Forward
• Hedge Funds: Pros and Cons.
• Buying Stocks and the Stock Market. How it works.
• Risk is a Four Letter Word
• Higher Education Savings Plan: Real Options for College
• Save for College with a 529 Prepaid Tuition Plan
• Coverdell Education Savings Account: College with Tax Advantages
• Treasury Inflation Protected Securities
• Balanced Investment Strategy Guide
• Growth Stock Investing Secrets
• How To Handle Your Inheritance Wisely
• Important Investment and Financial Planning Terms To Know
• Investing: A Basic Overview
• Make Sure Your Savings Outlast You
• Market Timing Strategies
• Paper Trading Benefits & Pitfalls
• Winning Investment Strategy
• Investments That Will Help You Sleep Well Tonight
• Promises Made, Promises Kept: The 'Cross Your Heart' Investment
• The Power of Zero……Can It Be An Advantage?
• A Basic Guide To Mortgage Refinancing
• Home Equity - Reverse Mortgage Loans
• Mortgage Info 101: Your Basic Guide
• Simple Interest Mortgages 101
• Investment Real Estate
• Long Run Investments – Stocks vs. Real Estate
• Real Estate Tax Tips
• Introduction to REITs
• Self Directed Real Estate IRA
• Tax Breaks for Home Buyers
• 7 Ways to Finance a Start-up
• Tips To Help Small Business Owners Protect Their Investments
• Small Business Grants – Tips
• Small Business Funds - Earn Money by Investing
• Small Business Equity Financing Options
• Small Business Equipment Leasing
• Raising Money Using a Self-Directed IRA
• Financial Survival Tips for Small Businesses - Part II
• Financial Survival Tips for Small Businesses - Part I
• Joint Ownership: Does it make sense for you?
• Tax Harvesting Tips for Investors
• Coverdell Education Savings Account: College with Tax Advantages
• The Child Tax Credit – Eligibility & Claim Procedure
• The Best Time for Tax Planning
• Tax Savings Tips For Parents
• Tax Planning and Tax Reduction Strategies
• Five Essential Ways To Manage Your Taxes
• Federal Solar Energy Tax Credits
• Essential IRS Related Tax Tips and Answers
• Easy Ways to Save Money on Your Next Tax Bill
• Common Tax Credits
• Capital Gains Tax Strategies
• Advantages of the 1035 Exchange IRS Code