In addition to making wonderful memories during the holiday season, almost two-thirds of Americans – including people of all income levels – make the gifts they give to family and friends. It will come as no surprise more women than...
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Holiday Greeting - Make Something Memorable
May 22, 2018Holiday Greeting - What Do You Know About St. Patrick?
May 22, 2018St. Patrick, the apostle of Ireland, is one of the most well known and popular Catholic saints. Of course, he wasn’t actually Irish and his birth name wasn’t Patrick! Maewyn Succat was born to Calpurnius and Conchessa, a Roman couple...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - The Future is Almost Here!
May 22, 2018Before you know it – thanks to smart phones, tablets, and wireless technology – your home will be connected to the Internet of Things. Sure, home automation costs a few shekels, but just imagine it! You could be the envy of Jane Jetson...
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Holiday Greeting - What is a Father’s Role?
May 22, 2018Modern dads are a diverse bunch. They may go to work or stay at home with the kids. They may be single, married, or dating. They may be birth parents, adoptive parents, or step-parents.1 They may be expected to teach children morals...
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Paying for College
May 22, 2018While your high school student is taking standardized tests, parsing college choices, and raring for graduation, you’ll probably find yourself spending some time with net income calculators on college websites. Whether your family’s...
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Holiday Greeting - What Do You Know About America?
May 22, 2018Achieving U.S. citizenship can be life changing, but it is not easy. Those who aspire to become American citizens must pass a 100-question naturalization test and answer six of 10 questions correctly during their naturalization...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - What is Character?
May 22, 2018People think about character in many different ways. You have probably heard or may have commented on someone else’s character by saying:• She is a woman of good character.• What a character!• That was really out of character.• He has...
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"Plan Smart My Friends"
May 22, 2018Our finances are the most pervasive influence in our lives. It's the means that determines what groceries we buy, what happens when you flip the lights switch and the electricity comes on or what if it doesn't, whether you worry about...
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Stock Buybacks
May 22, 2018How Do You Make Money in Stocks?Have you ever watched Family Feud? Perhaps you were a child when Richard Dawson hosted the game show or maybe you enjoy the current version. No matter, take a moment and:• Name a three-letter word that...
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Stay Calm and Open a Health Savings Account
May 22, 2018Healthcare. Retirement. Those may be two of the most stressful words in the English language today. Especially when you include them both in the same sentence. For instance, a married couple that saves $326,000 has a 90 percent chance...
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Holiday Greeting - Food for Thought at Your Labor Day Picnic
May 22, 2018Workers are essential to innovation and success. According to the London School of Economics (LSE), they’re a source of ideas for new products, new services, new approaches to work, and new business models.1Worker-led innovation must...
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Holiday Greeting - Food for Thought at Your Labor Day Picnic
May 22, 2018Workers are essential to innovation and success. According to the London School of Economics (LSE), they’re a source of ideas for new products, new services, new approaches to work, and new business models.1Worker-led innovation must...
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A New Tool for Parents of Children with Special Needs
May 22, 2018Twenty-five years ago, the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed into law, guaranteeing disabled Americans – people with mental, physical, or emotional disabilities – equal opportunity in employment, transportation, government...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Uncommon Knowledge: Prescription Interactions
May 22, 2018If you’re 57 or older, it’s a pretty good bet you take at least one prescription medication. If you take more than one, it’s really important to understand how the drugs may interact with one another in your system – particularly, if...
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Holiday Greeting – By the Numbers
May 22, 2018A number you’re probably not looking for is 1.5 billion. That’s the number of pounds of pumpkins grown every year. History.com said that’s more than twice the weight of the Empire State Building. Here are a few other interesting...
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The Basics of Tax Loss Harvesting
May 22, 2018You may have heard of tax loss harvesting. Some people harvest losses every year, while others do so only when they have taken significant capital gains or have received more income than expected during a given year (perhaps they sold...
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Holiday Greeting - It's Veterans Day!
May 22, 2018Veterans are skilled leaders and problem solvers who have a lot to offer in and out of the service. Got Your 6, a campaign to empower veterans in America, offered some interesting insights about the men and women who have chosen to...
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Where everybody knows your name - Boston Trip
May 22, 2018I normally get 5-6 opportunities each year to travel to educational symposiums designed for investment professionals. Many of the breakout sessions and courses are taught by renown experts within their particular field, some are...
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Holiday Greeting - What Do You Know About Thanksgiving?
May 22, 2018Thanksgiving traditions aren’t quite as straightforward as the elementary school plays about Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a feast would have us believe. History.com suggests that’s because Thanksgiving is,...
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Holiday Greeting - There is A Lot to Celebrate During December!
May 22, 2018December is full of high spirits and good cheer. If you browse online, you’ll find some surprising holidays amidst more well-known celebrations. Just in case you need more reasons to celebrate the season, here is a list of major...
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Holiday Greeting - How Do You Celebrate the New Year?
May 22, 2018From early Babylonians to present-day Americans, people have been celebrating the beginning of every new year for almost four thousand years!1 Here are a few ways people celebrate the holiday in the United States:2 61 percent of...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Understanding 2016’s Higher Medicare Part B Premiums
May 22, 2018Understanding 2016’s Higher Medicare Part B PremiumsOne-in-seven Medicare enrollees will pay higher Medicare Part B monthly premiums during 2016. Their premiums will be $121.80 each month, an increase of 16 percent. While...
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Holiday Greeting - Acts of courage: Martin Luther King, Jr.
May 22, 2018Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a complex man who took an unconventional approach to a difficult problem. He used non-violent protests to focus attention on civil rights in the United States. While he fought the status quo, he...
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Why is the Federal Reserve So Controversial?
May 22, 2018The world’s first central bank offered unprecedented convenience. It gave 17th century Swedes the option to pay with paper notes rather than 40-pound copper plates, which were the currency units of the Swedish empire at the time....
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Holiday Greeting - Saying ‘I love you’ on Valentine’s Day
May 22, 2018Are you looking for just the right Valentine’s Day message for someone you love? Here are a few suggestions that have a decidedly financial twist from 14 Ways an Economist Says I Love You by Liz Fosslien. The messages are...
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7 Reasons a Roth IRA May Be a Good Idea for You or Someone You Love
May 22, 2018It’s almost tax time. During April, many people take advantage of the opportunity to reduce taxes by funding a Traditional IRA. While that makes sense for some Americans, others may benefit by contributing to a Roth IRA that...
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Holiday Greeting - If Wars Were Fought with Words…
May 22, 2018If wars were fought with words, Ireland would be ruling the world. --Irish proverb1 The wit and humor of the Irish is legendary, as is their ability to weave words into poems, prose, folk tales, and song. On this St. Patrick’s...
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College Loan Confusion
May 22, 2018College students have steep learning curves. In high school, they were tasked with doing well academically, participating in extracurricular activities, complying with the rules of their parents’ homes and, possibly, having a job...College students have steep learning curves. In high school, they were tasked with doing well academically, participating in extracurricular activities, complying with the rules of their parents’ homes and, possibly, having a job...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Beware Scammers Claiming to Be the IRS
May 22, 2018If you receive a voice or email message from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), or you field a phone call from an IRS agent informing you “you owe back taxes” and “you better pay now or be arrested (or deported)...
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Stock Markets and Election Years
May 22, 2018Super Bowl winners, the length of hemlines, and Sports Illustrated covers – all of these have been used to develop theories about the direction in which stock markets may be headed. Presidential elections and terms have also inspired a...
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Holiday Greeting - The Neuroscience of Motherhood
May 22, 2018Scientists have been mapping our mothers’ brains! They haven’t found eyes in the back of her head, or a way to help her worry less, but they are beginning to understand the mother-child bond better:1 “After centuries of observing...
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Holiday Greeting - Put the Memorial Back Into Memorial Day!
May 22, 2018Before the big barbecue, take time this Memorial Day weekend to honor the men and women who gave their lives fighting for our country. If you’re looking for a way to remember those brave Americans, here are a few suggestions:1 • Raise...
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Retirement Alchemy: Turning After-Tax Plan Contributions into Roth Savings
May 22, 2018In medieval times, alchemists sought methods for transforming ordinary metals into gold. Today, just about every adult searches for a means of transforming savings into a retirement’s worth of income. Recently, they received help from...
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Holiday Greeting - Dad: Breadwinner and Caregiver
May 22, 2018For several years, researchers at Boston College have been studying the experiences and expectations of fathers. As you might suspect, the way in which men understand the role of ‘Dad’ has been changing. While some still believe their...
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When Your Children Leave Home, Will You Save More for Retirement?
May 22, 2018You may be asking yourself whether that’s a trick question. After all, almost one-third of 18- to 34-year-olds are still living at home with their parents. It is, in fact, the most common living arrangement for this age group and a...
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Holiday Greeting - Fourth of July Quiz
May 22, 2018Our Founding Fathers structured American democracy and left a legacy that has greatly influenced the world. This Fourth of July, see what you know about the Founding Fathers by taking this brief quiz. 1. Who were America’s Founding...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Working While Retired
May 22, 2018Would you accompany a group of high school students studying photojournalism and social change in Argentina? How about a group learning about language and culinary traditions in France? Does working for a season or two in a great place...
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Did You Buy Low After the Brexit Vote?
May 22, 2018Most investors are familiar with the maxim ‘buy low and sell high.’ The unfortunate reality is that it’s a difficult principle to follow. Buying low often means investing in a company when its shares are priced below full value.Of...
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What’s New in the Longevity Market?
May 22, 2018You may not have heard of the Longevity Market but, if you’re older than 50, you’re one of its 74.9 million members.1 It may be easiest to think of the Longevity Market as another way of describing the Baby Boom and preceding...
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Holiday Greeting - It's Almost Labor Day!
May 22, 2018Labor Day weekend — the three days dedicated to celebrating American workers — marks the end of summer and, for some, the start of a new school year. It’s a good time to relax and ponder thoughts about work and play: “No work is...
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Start Talking About Retirement
May 22, 2018If you ask people what creates stress in their lives, money is often at the top of the list. Stress in America: Paying With Our Health found money was a somewhat or a very significant source of stress in the lives of 64 percent of...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - And, the Answer is: More than $260 Billion
May 22, 2018That’s how much Americans had spent on pain relief medications and treatments when the Institute of Medicine (IOM) completed its report in 2011. If you factor in lost productivity, the economic cost of pain rose to more than $560...
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Holiday Greeting - It’s Almost All Hallows’ Eve!
May 22, 2018People of a certain age will remember ‘It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown.’ The animated television special debuted in 1966,1 way back when there were only a few channels and you had to get out of your seat to change them from one...
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The Uncovered Costs of Increased Longevity
May 22, 2018In the 1970s, a TV episode of The Odd Couple taught viewers never to assume.1 It’s a lesson we appear to have forgotten. Many Americans assume Medicare will provide financial assistance to help with long-term care costs in retirement....
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Holiday Greeting - Why Do American Soldiers Fight?
May 22, 2018“American soldiers in battle don’t fight for what some president says on TV. They don’t fight for Mom, apple pie, the American flag. They fight for one another. ”1 Stars and Stripes used the words of Lieutenant Colonel Harold “Hal”...
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Holiday Greeting - Thanksgiving is Almost Here!
May 22, 2018Thanksgiving is America’s second favorite holiday,1 and it offers something for everyone. You can enjoy family togetherness, feasting, football, school plays, parades, gratitude, and, of course, shopping. If you’re a traditionalist,...
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Is the End of the Bond Bull Market Finally Here?
May 22, 2018For about 35 years, investors have enjoyed a bull market in bonds. At the start of 1982, the interest rate on 10-year U.S. Treasury bonds was 14.2 percent. By November 1, 2016, interest rates had fallen to 1.8 percent.1 Since bond...
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Holiday Greeting - Stay Safe Online While Traveling and Shopping
May 22, 2018We hope your holidays will be filled with family, friends, merry-making, and good cheer. One way to ensure a happy holiday season is to stay safe online. Here are a few tips that may help. 1. When using public Wi-Fi at a hotel, coffee...
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Retirement Income
May 22, 2018Retirement IncomeHere’s a million dollar question: How will you transform your savings into income that will last throughout your retirement?1There are probably as many answers to that question as there are retirees. However, all...
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Holiday Greeting - New Year's Day
May 22, 2018Holiday Greeting - The Way You Eat in 2017 What can we expect in the New Year? If international food consultancy Baum + Whiteman is correct, we may find ourselves embracing new food trends including:1 • Restaurants without seats. We...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Retirement Can Be a Bed of Roses…
May 22, 2018…And, it may have some thorns. There’s something you should know about retirement. It’s not as easy as everyone makes it seem. Remember what life was like when you tied the knot? How about once you had children? Or, when you accepted a...
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Holiday Greeting - The Nobel Peace Prize of 1964
May 22, 2018In 1964, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. received the Nobel Peace Prize. He accepted the award and took the opportunity to articulate his hope the civil rights movement would be successful, as well as his hope for all mankind:1 “…I must...
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Online Security: Avoiding Account Vulnerability
May 22, 2018How many times did you login to a digital account today? It probably was more than once. Some people access digital sites via computer or tablet, but many others rely on their phones. Deloitte recently reported the essentials of life...
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Holiday Greeting - Valentine’s Day: Why Chocolates?
May 22, 2018The celebration of Valentine’s Day is attributed to Geoffrey Chaucer who wrote a poem about love and St. Valentine in the 1300s. Although this poem did not mention chocolate, the tasty treats have since become a Valentine’s Day...
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Medicare Premiums and Copayments
May 22, 2018More than one-half of working Americans know little or nothing about Medicare costs.1 Not knowing can be expensive. On average, people who haven’t yet retired estimate they’ll spend approximately $50,000 on health care after retirement...
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Holiday Greeting - Everyone is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day
May 22, 2018It has been said everyone in America is Irish on St. Patrick’s Day. Whether you have Irish ancestry or merely enjoy a good celebration, test your knowledge of the old country by taking this quiz. 1. What is Gaeltacht?1a. A region of...
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Beware of Schemes During Tax Season
May 22, 2018It’s tax season! Every year, around this time, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes its dirty dozen – a list of scams criminals use to try and ferret out personal information and/or steal money.1 For example, if you received an...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Name a Device – Any Device – That You Can't Live Without
May 22, 2018Some people may name a medical device or implant, such as a hearing aid, an artificial joint, or a pacemaker. Others may say they couldn't live without their electric bikes, GPS devices, tablets, or food processors. A surprisingly...
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It's Time to Talk About Aging
May 22, 2018We are all, inexorably, marching toward old age. By 2030, 72 million Americans will be age 65 or older.1 The good news is longevity has been improving, and people are remaining healthy and vibrant at older ages. The bad news is...
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Holiday Greeting - The Joys and Doubts of Motherhood
May 22, 2018Changing diapers, arranging play dates, driving car pools, calming squabbling siblings, attending musicals and sporting events, chaperoning proms, coaching teams, helping with college applications…moms have a lot of responsibilities...
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Holiday Greeting - What Do You Know About Memorial Day?
May 22, 2018Memorial Day is a day of remembrance for those who have given their lives in the service of our country. See what you know about Memorial Day by answering a few questions from an AARP quiz.1 1. Memorial Day was created to honor...
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Supersize Me: Here’s a Way to Fatten Up Your Retirement Savings
May 22, 2018Wouldn’t it be something if you could plump up your retirement savings as easily as you can put on a few pounds eating fast food? Here’s one way to do it: Open a health savings account (HSA). It offers a triple tax advantage and you...
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Holiday Greeting - Getting to Know Your Dad
May 22, 2018You’re probably familiar with ‘20 Questions.’ It’s a classic long-distance-car-trip game that encourages creativity and deductive reasoning. On this Father’s Day, try playing a version that can help you learn a lot more about your...
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What Comes Next? Bull, Bear, Correction?
May 22, 2018The bull market in U.S. stocks has been charging ahead for more than eight years.1 While that’s young in people years, it’s ancient in bull market terms. Since World War II, the longest bull market in U.S. stocks lasted for almost...
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Holiday Greeting - Happy Birthday, United States of America!
May 22, 2018On July 4, 1776, the American colonies claimed independence from Britain. This declaration eventually led to the formation of the United States. As we celebrate the birth of our great nation, test your knowledge with this brief quiz.1...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Artificial Intelligence Deserves Some Thought
May 22, 2018The idea of Artificial Intelligence (AI) may bring to mind movies like Terminator, Wall-E, and Transcendence, but the reality of AI is expected to help people find answers to some significant issues. For example, a PwC survey found:1 •...
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Beware of Spam!
May 22, 2018While some may be concerned about the iconic American meat that arrives in a rectangular 12-ounce tin (and is inexplicably popular in certain island states and American territories), more should be wary of its namesake – the spam that...
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After the Diagnosis: Making a Plan for Alzheimer’s
May 22, 2018In a 2002 interview with Mike Wallace, former First Lady Nancy Reagan said she often reread the love letters written by her husband, former President Ronald Reagan. The letters, which had sustained and enriched their relationship,...
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Holiday Greeting - Happy Labor Day!
May 22, 2018Labor Day is about a lot more than the end of summer and the start of a new school year. The holiday, which celebrates American workers, became a federal holiday in 1894 and was created to recognize the contributions and achievements...
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College is Coming – Have You Started Saving Yet?
May 22, 2018How times change! In 1940, half of Americans finished their education in eighth grade. College degrees were relatively rare. Just 6 percent of men and 4 percent of women had one.1During the past 80 years, college has become far more...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - A Sturdy Case Isn’t All You Need to Protect Your Smartpho
May 22, 2018Smartphones are incredibly handy. That may be why about three of every four Americans own them.1 On average, smartphone users spend almost three hours a day – 86 hours every month – using their phones. They send texts and email,...
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Holiday Greeting - Halloween Trivia Anyone?
May 22, 2018Halloween is almost upon us! Whether you’re wearing a costume, decorating your yard/house, or handing out treats, you won’t be alone. More than 179 million Americans are expected to participate in 2017’s Halloween festivities – and...
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Maximizing Your Social Security Benefits
May 22, 2018Retirement and Social Security are inextricably linked. Not only did Social Security help establish the official U.S. retirement age at 65, it also provides a significant portion of today’s retirees’ incomes. Retirement and Social...
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Holiday Greeting - Fight for the Brave Men and Women Who Fought for Us
May 22, 2018All too often, we assume the men and women who fought for our country can take care of themselves. Unfortunately, that isn’t always the case. There are some important ways ordinary Americans can help those who are returning from battle...
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Holiday Greeting - Let’s Talk Turkey!
May 22, 2018Thanksgiving is the mother of all family dinners. It’s a celebration of our great nation and the many blessings that occur when people unite together in the spirit of communication. As you’re gathered around the table this year, here’s...
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Are You Ready to Retire?
May 22, 2018There is a simple and unsettling reality in the United States. Most Americans are not financially prepared for retirement. There is a simple and unsettling reality in the United States. Most Americans are not financially prepared for...
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Holiday Greeting - Finding Joy During the Holidays
May 22, 2018“The holidays are often seen as a time of joy: ruddy cheeks, festive parties, and twinkling laughter, all wrapped in a warm, tinsel-framed glow. It’s the most wonderful time of the year! It may be the ‘season to be jolly,’ but not...
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Holiday Greeting - 2018: A Really Big Year!
May 22, 2018New years bring new adventures, and 2018 is no different. To paraphrase Ed Sullivan: 2018 could be a really big year. Here are a few of the events we can look forward to:• Men’s World Cup in Russia. CBS’s power rankings put Brazil at...
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Will Interest Rates Move Higher?
May 22, 2018The last bear market in bonds began in the middle of the last century and lasted for about 31 years. Some investors who bought bonds in 1950 locked in relatively low rates of return for a very long time. On January 1, 1950, 10-year U.S...
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LifeStyle Newsletter - Are We Ready for the Baby Boom Retirement?
May 22, 2018Fifteen years ago, a Health Services Research report described the challenges ahead for the United States as the Baby Boom generation aged into retirement. Four issues were paramount: 1) improving payment and insurance systems for...
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Holiday Greeting - What Do You Know About Martin Luther King, Jr.?
May 22, 2018Most Americans know Martin Luther King, Jr. was a Baptist minister and the leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States until he was assassinated in 1968. Test your knowledge with this quiz about Dr. King.1. Before..
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What Would You Do?
May 22, 2018Here’s a riddle for you: Some people are reluctant to start me, unless I’m automatic. I’m frequently exhausted when I don’t roll over. I’m sometimes left behind. Retirees devour me. What am I? Answer: A retirement savings plan.New jobs...
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Holiday Greeting - It’s Almost Valentine’s Day
May 22, 2018If you’re looking for a gift that will express your love better than chocolates or a bouquet of flowers, don’t fret. Trendhunter.com has some innovative and unconventional suggestions:• Literary love tattoos. Perhaps, you’d like Rainer...
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Two Ideas Worth Thinking About When Markets are Moving
May 22, 2018Here’s a number most people would like to see on an annual statement: 21.6 percent. That was the annual return for the Standard & Poor (S&P) 500 Index during 2017. In general, U.S. stock indices did quite well last year – and the year...
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Holiday Greeting - St. Patrick and the Irish
May 22, 2018t’s almost time to don green and gold. That’s right, March 17 is upon us. There’s more to the holiday, however, than eating corned beef and cabbage and celebrating the Irish. For instance, St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland,...
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