Welcome!  Thank you for visiting our Web site. We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. This Web site was created to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning, and wealth preservation. Most importantly, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals. We're here to help educate you about the basic concepts of financial planning, to help you learn more about who we are, and to give you fast, easy access to market performance and data. We hope you take advantage of this resource and visit us often. Be sure to add our site to your list of "favorites" in your Internet browser. We frequently update our information, and we wouldn't want you to miss any developments in the area of personal finance. 

Life Expectancy

Knowing your likely life expectancy is an important factor in making long-term financial plans.

Risk Tolerance

This calculator is designed to help you clarify your comfort level with investment risk.

Cost of Retirement

Use this calculator to estimate how much income and savings you may need in retirement.

Retirement Portfolio Lifespan

How Long Will Your Funds Last?

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Diving into Dividends

Dividends have traditionally been considered a source of income, but they also can be a powerful way to help build savings. A recent study found that dividends contributed 44% of S&P 500 total returns from 1930 through September 2010. This article explains how dividends work and the role that dividends could play in an investor's savings strategy.

HOT TOPIC: European News Causes Market Mood Swings

In recent weeks, the yields on Italian bonds spiked to more than 7%, suggesting the sovereign debt crisis was spreading to a much larger economy and eluding the European Union’s efforts to contain it. The U.S. stock and bond markets have responded to the headlines coming out of Europe. This article explores the role of political risk in U.S. financial market volatility.

Be Ready for a Change in Interest Rates

Fluctuating interest rates can be challenging for bond investors who want to reinvest their principal. When rates are low, they may have to accept lower yields; when rates rise when principal is tied up, they may not be able to benefit. One strategy to help manage reinvestment risk is to build a bond ladder.

Tax Changes for 2012

Mandatory annual inflation adjustments generally affect federal income tax brackets, retirement plan contribution limits, and estate tax exemption levels. Here are some of the major changes that could affect readers in 2012, with a table showing 2012 income thresholds for the six federal income tax brackets.

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