Special Report Library articles are listed by topic. You can scroll through all the articles or go directly to any of the topic areas by clicking on the topic listings below. To view an article, simply click on its highlighted title.
| Retirement | Saving and Investing | Small Business |
| Taxes | Wealth Preservation |
Changing Jobs or Retiring? Don’t Forget Your Retirement Savings!
Choosing a distribution method from your retirement plan when you change jobs or retire can have significant tax implications. This article shows how to keep more of what you’ve saved.
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Choosing Your Annual Withdrawal Rate
It's not just the amount of money you've saved that determines whether you'll have a comfortable retirement; it's also a matter of how quickly you spend it after you retire. That's why setting an annual withdrawal rate is an important decision in retirement income planning.
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Make the Most of Your 401(k)
Your 401(k) plan is your key to a comfortable retirement. This report explains the fundamental features of 401(k) plans and key steps to retirement planning.
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Make the Most of Your Traditional IRA
A traditional IRA can help you build retirement savings while minimizing your tax bill.
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Planning the Withdrawal of Your Retirement Assets
The order in which you draw down different types of retirement assets can affect your taxes, portfolio performance, and how long your nest egg lasts. This article offers suggestions on an efficient withdrawal strategy in retirement.
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Redefining Retirement in the 21st Century
The traditional approach to planning for retirement may well be already obsolete. This article explains the parameters of the "new retirement."
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The Roth Individual Retirement Account
The Roth IRA offers retirement investors potentially tax-free retirement distributions. This article explains many features of the Roth IRA.
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Using a Rollover IRA to Consolidate Multiple Retirement Assets
This article discusses the potential benefits of creating a rollover IRA to consolidate management of the retirement assets accumulated in numerous employer-sponsored retirement plans and individual retirement accounts. It also outlines the important considerations in rollover planning and discusses potential pitfalls and drawbacks.
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A Look at Mutual Fund Categories
Growth, income, tax-exempt? This article looks at the different types of mutual fund categories and what they mean in terms of risk and potential return.
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Asset Allocation: A Sound Investment Strategy
Asset allocation is the single most important determinant of long-term returns. This report includes sample asset allocations and describes characteristics of different asset classes.
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Benchmarks Gauge Investment Markets
This report focuses on using market benchmarks to match investments to your financial objectives and needs.
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Evaluating Investment Risk
Because return is a function of risk, knowing the kinds of risk will help you assess your risk tolerance, based on your goals, financial condition, and time frame. In this report, volatility, diversification, long-term investing, and dollar cost averaging are covered.
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Getting to Know Exchange-Traded Funds
Exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, combine the features of stocks, mutual funds, or bonds. Find out more about this investment vehicle and learn if it may be a suitable component to add to your portfolio.
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Mutual Fund Sales Charges, Fees, and Expenses
What are the different types of mutual fund fees and expenses? What role do they play? This article explains different share classes, sales charges, 12b-1 fees, and administrative fees and expenses.
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Strategies for Exercising Incentive Stock Options
Employee stock options are a popular, yet complex, form of employee compensation. This article explores the benefits and trade-offs of the various exercise strategies for incentive stock options (ISOs).
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The Relationship Between the Economy and the Financial Markets
Economic indicators that historically have affected investment returns include gross domestic product, the unemployment rate, inflation, and housing starts.
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Use Annuities to Plan for Your Future
This unique investment option offers tax deferral for individuals investing for retirement.
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What You Need to Know About ETF Costs
This article discusses the potential cost savings associated with ETF investments and illustrates how lower expenses may lead to higher net investment returns.
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Why Women Need to Save More Than Men
Women are savvy investors. And it’s a good thing, because with longer life expectancies, women need to have significantly more in retirement savings than their male counterparts.
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Understanding and Managing Risk in a Bond Portfolio
While bonds are generally considered less volatile than stocks and are used to diversify investment portfolios as well as to generate income, they involve a variety of risks. Understanding the types of risks that bond investments pose helps investors manage their downside exposure and enhance their income potential.
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Business Succession Issues: Understanding Buy-Sell Agreements
Buy-sell agreements provide an exit strategy for owners who wish to sell shares in a private business. Having an agreement helps businesses avoid conflicts among owners and their families and ensures that the business will continue if the founder or another key person dies or leaves.
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Choosing the Right Retirement Plan for a Small Business
Are you a small-business owner interested in attracting and retaining the best employees, managing taxes, and preparing for a comfortable future? If so, one of the retirement plans highlighted in this article may be an appropriate tool for pursuing your entire range of goals.
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Exit Strategies for Entrepreneurs
Your exit strategy is the key to realizing the full lifestyle potential of your entrepreneurial efforts. It can help you establish your life after business, as well as provide for your heirs, partners and business associates.
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Five Strategies for Tax-Efficient Investing
One area of investing that is often overlooked is the effect of taxes on a portfolio. This article shows you how to improve your portfolio’s bottom line through tax-efficient investing.
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Manage Risk in Your Portfolio
This report will help you understand different types of risk and strategies to manage market risk, interest rate and credit risks, and the risk of not meeting your goals.
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