Financial Ink
Full Service 
Financial Ink
Print Only Financial Ink – Editorial CalendarA Newsletter for General AudiencesMarch 2012
SnapSHOTS
After decades of modest growth, middle-class income reversed course after 2000, falling 7% in the last 10 years.
Up FRONT
52 million: Number of American adults with household incomes between $50,000 and $250,000 who do not have life insurance coverage.
Quick HITS
A round-up of facts and figures about the financial world.
Keeping an Eye on ETFs
In a recent poll of investors, 44% of respondents said they plan to buy exchange traded funds over the next year. However, the same study indicated that many investors do not understand ETF costs or how to use ETFs in their portfolios. Here is an overview of how ETFs function and their potential benefits and risks.
Protection When You Can’t Work
Research indicates that three out of 10 workers will become disabled for three months or more during their careers, and one out of seven will be disabled for five years or more. Even a short period of disability could be financially challenging. This article describes how an individual disability income policy could provide supplementary income and help workers avoid life-altering insurance gaps.
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.
-
February 2012
SnapSHOTS
Percentage of U.S. households saving for college, by age of head of household.
Up FRONT
$19,393: Annual cost of health care for a typical family of four in 2011 (including employer and employee expenses) — more than double the cost in 2002.
Quick HITS
A round-up of facts and figures about the financial world.
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.
Where There’s a Will, There’s a Way
Only 35% of Americans have a will, yet it’s a relatively simple legal document that every adult should have, regardless of wealth or age. Dying without a will can lead to unwanted outcomes and potential problems for heirs. This article discusses the importance of a will and other estate conservation documents.
Made in the USA
Although it’s common to see the label “Made in China” on goods in American stores, Chinese imports accounted for only 2.7% of personal expenditures by U.S. consumers in 2010. In fact, 88.5% of U.S. consumer spending was on goods and services produced in the United States. This article offers insights on the balance of imported versus domestic goods and its impact on the U.S. economy.
-
January 2012
SnapSHOTS
How credit-card holders responded when asked: “I only put purchases on a credit card if I can pay the bill in full when it comes.”
Up FRONT
49%: Percentage of American workers who are “somewhat” or “very” confident in having enough money to live comfortably throughout retirement.
Quick HITS
A round-up of facts and figures about the financial world.
A Calculated Look at Retirement
Only 42% of workers have completed a retirement-needs calculation, but those who have feel more confident about reaching their goals than those who have not done the math. This article offers guidelines for anticipating needs in retirement (such as longevity, debt, medical costs, Social Security) and deciding how much to save.
Tracking the Rise of Target-Date Funds
Investments in target-date (lifecycle) funds have grown substantially during the last decade. Target-date funds are often the default choice in employer-sponsored retirement plans and viewed favorably by some investors for their helpful approach to asset allocation. This article explains how they work and cautions readers about several common misconceptions.
GDP: Measuring the Economy
Anyone who follows the news hears a lot about gross domestic product. But what does GDP tell us about the economy, and how does it affect interest rates? This primer explains the numbers behind GDP and what it ultimately tells us about the economic health of the nation.
-
December 2011
SnapSHOTS
Although 43% of retirees said they started planning financially for retirement 20 years before retiring, 22% didn’t start until they were 9 or fewer years away from retirement.
Up FRONT
$462 billion: Retail sales during the 2010 holiday season, a 5.7% increase from 2009.
Quick HITS
A round-up of facts and figures about the financial world.
It’s Raining Lawsuits — You May Need an Umbrella
U.S. tort costs grew at more than double the rate of general inflation from 1951 to 2009. In an increasingly litigious society, it may be even more important to protect assets and income. An umbrella policy adds an additional layer of protection and offers coverage for situations that are excluded from standard homeowners and auto policies.
Growth, Value, or Both
The average annual return for large-cap value stocks was about 2.1% higher than for large-cap growth stocks, yet growth stocks outperformed value stocks in 13 out of 30 years. This article examines the difference between the two approaches and describes why holding both may help investors take advantage of a variety of market conditions.
Keeping Up with Your Credit Score
A consumer’s credit score not only affects his or her ability to obtain credit but the interest rate that will be paid. This article illustrates the formula used to determine most credit scores and offers tips to help readers maintain or potentially improve their scores.
-
November 2011
SnapSHOTS
Financial security appears to be as important to young adults as it is to older Americans (chart).
Up FRONT
35%: Percentage of adults who have personal investments outside of an IRA or a workplace retirement account.
Quick HITS
A round-up of facts and figures about the financial world.
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.
Leaving Your Home Out of the Retirement Equation
Plummeting home prices and increased borrowing cut U.S. home equity by more than 60% during the Great Recession — and housing prices have not yet recovered. This article considers the potential drawbacks of depending on home equity to help fund retirement.
Looking Back to Move Forward
An end-of-year review of retirement progress typically focuses on investment performance, but it’s also possible for job and other life changes to affect an investor’s approach to saving, investing, and risk management. Making appropriate changes to a retirement strategy today may lead to a more comfortable retirement.
-
October 2011
SnapSHOTS
Confidence in retirement security is most strongly associated with having a guaranteed income stream and sufficient savings.
Up FRONT
24%: Percentage of workers with total savings and investments of $100,000 or more.
Quick HITS
A round-up of facts and figures about the financial world.
To Roll or Not to Roll: It’s Your Choice
Some employers are encouraging departing employees to leave their retirement savings in their employer-sponsored retirement plans — enabling the employer to maintain a larger asset base and the leverage that comes with it. This article emphasizes that employees who are leaving their jobs should make decisions about their retirement assets based on their own needs and concerns, not those of a former employer. It also explains the pros and cons of rolling over employer-sponsored retirement plan assets to an IRA.
Time to Consider Capital Gains and Dividends
The 2010 Tax Relief Act extended the 15% tax rate on long-term capital gains and qualifying dividends, but taxes on both are scheduled to revert to substantially higher rates in 2013. This article outlines the current and scheduled provisions and discusses how investors might consider how these potential changes could affect them.
Taking a Long Look at Social Security
Social Security experts have been warning that the program’s obligations to retirees will eventually exceed its income from tax revenues. That moment arrived in 2010, earlier than expected. This article encourages readers to consider the possibility that Social Security could undergo changes that might affect their retirement incomes and lifestyles.
|
|
Financial Ink
Full Service
Financial Ink
Print Only |