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Eighty percent of Americans agree they would benefit from having basic financial education and information.^1
1 The 2009 Consumer Financial Literacy Survey, Harris Interactive, Inc., 2009

Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.

Simply click on one of the general financial topics below and you'll find a selection of easy-to-understand information sheets about related financial concepts and strategies. This information is updated regularly to reflect the latest facts, figures, legislation, and economic trends.

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• Estates & Trusts

  Estate Planning
  Living Trusts
  Avoiding Probate
  Charitable Gifts
  Controlling the Distribution
  Paying Estate Taxes
  Gifting Strategies
  Charitable Remainder Trusts
  Wealth Replacement Trusts
  Property Ownership
  Eliminating the Estate Tax
  

  Retirement

  Planning Options
  Future of Social Security
  Social Security Income
  Self-Employed Retirement Plans
  Retirement Plan Distributions
  Traditional IRAs
  401(k) Plans
  Managing Retirement Plans
  Save Now or Later
  Roth IRAs
  

• Tax Planning

  Tax Deferral
  Tax Deductions
  Tax Strategies for Retirement Plans
  Mutual Fund Profits
  

  Investing

  Diversification
  Stock Indexes
  Mutual Funds vs. Stocks
  Mutual Funds
  Annuities
  Fixed vs. Variable Annuities
  Investment Risks
  Asset Allocation
  College Investment Options
  Managed Investments
  Dollar-Cost Averaging
  529 Plans
  

• Cash Management

  Cash Management Basics
  Cash Management Tools
  Managing Cash
  College Financial Aid
  Savings Alternatives
  Effects of Inflation
  

  Risk Management

  Term Life Insurance
  Whole Life Insurance
  Universal Life Insurance
  Variable Life Insurance
  Maximizing Insurance Benefits
  Types of Health Care
  Additional Liability Coverage
  Evaluating Insurance Companies
  Long-Term-Care Costs
  Medicare Coverage