Posted by cskadmin on September 13, 2012
The majority of Americans lack basic knowledge about the likelihood of a disability and are unprepared to cope with this type of life-altering event. Women across all age groups are at higher risk than men of becoming disabled at some point during their working lives. For millions of Americans, purchasing adequate disability income insurance is a […]
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Posted by cskadmin on September 6, 2012
Over the past year, consumers’ knowledge about credit scores and what they can mean to their overall financial outlook has improved significantly, but there is still much room for improvement. Americans have become more informed about certain aspects of their credit scores during the past year, but most still don’t know enough about the risks […]
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Posted by cskadmin on August 31, 2012
Strategies for exiting a business can include a buy-sell agreement, a cash sale to a third party, a buyout or recapitalization, or an employee stock ownership plan. If you are like many of your peers, the road into your business was more clearly laid out than your exit route from involvement. However, a well-drawn road map […]
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Posted by cskadmin on August 24, 2012
Socially responsible investing (SRI) uses nonfinancial screening criteria as part of the stock selection process. SRI criteria could potentially include corporate governance, environmental practices, employment policies, or health issues. When building portfolios, certain investors consider their personal values as part of the investment selection process. Sustainable and responsible investment (SRI) accounted for more than $3 trillion […]
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Posted by cskadmin on August 17, 2012
Electing periodic payments or a lump sum will affect a retiree’s financial situation for years to come. News that two large automakers have offered retirees the option of a lump sum payment, instead of receiving regular income from their pension plans, has garnered much media attention. Although many workers do not have pension plans, defined contribution […]
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Posted by cskadmin on August 10, 2012
REITs present an opportunity to make real estate investments that could include shopping centers, office buildings, and hotels. For most Americans, an investment in real estate begins and ends with the purchase of a home. Yet investments in shopping centers, office buildings, and hotels may be available to investors, thanks to real estate investment trusts […]
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Posted by cskadmin on July 23, 2012
Managers of index funds do not employ defensive mechanisms during a stock market downturn. One of the most basic distinctions among mutual funds is whether the fund manager employs an active or a passive management approach. An active management style means the fund manager uses analytic or forecasting tools to select individual stocks for the […]
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Posted by cskadmin on July 16, 2012
Donor-advised funds, family foundations, and charitable trusts are available to donors and their loved ones. When choosing the most advantageous charitable giving strategy, individuals must evaluate a number of factors, such as their need for current income, their desire to control and preserve assets during life and after death, their specific charitable intent, as well […]
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Posted by cskadmin on July 9, 2012
Life insurance policies typically fund buy-sell agreements. The loss of critical personnel can be life threatening to small businesses; however, it is a risk that life insurance often can mitigate. Life insurance policies are frequently used in plans aimed at making it possible for a business to survive a change of ownership or the loss […]
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Posted by cskadmin on July 2, 2012
Asset allocation, diversification, and the use of dividend-paying stocks are potential strategies for reducing volatility. Investors are exposed to financial risk in two ways: company-specific risk or market risk. Long-term investors can reduce exposure to company-specific risk by diversifying among many different securities within the same asset class.1 Market risk is managed, but not eliminated, by […]
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