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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.

• Estates & Trusts

  Estate Planning
  Living Trusts
  Avoiding Probate
  Charitable Gifts
  Preserving Your Estate
  Controlling the Distribution
  Paying Estate Taxes
  Gifting Strategies
  Charitable Lead Trusts
  Charitable Remainder Trusts
  Wealth Replacement Trusts
  Property Ownership
  History of the Federal Estate Tax
  

  Retirement

  Future of Social Security
  Social Security Income
  Retirement Plan Distributions
  Managing Retirement Plans
  Save Now or Save Later
  

• Tax Planning

  Tax Deferral
  Mutual Fund Profits
  United States Tax History
  

  Investing

  Diversification
  Types of Bonds
  Bonds
  Stock Indexes
  Mutual Funds vs. Stocks
  Mutual Funds
  Closed-End Funds
  Annuities
  Fixed vs. Variable Annuities
  Asset Classes
  Asset Allocation
  College Savings Plans
  College Investment Options
  Stock and Bond Alternatives
  Dollar-Cost Averaging
  529 Plans
  

• Cash Management

  Cash Management Basics
  Doubling Your Money
  Money Market Funds
  Savings Alternatives
  Effects of Inflation
  

  Risk Management

  Term Life Insurance
  Whole Life Insurance
  Universal Life Insurance
  Maximizing Your Insurance Benefits
  Assessing Disability Income Insurance
  Evaluating Insurance Companies
  Long-Term-Care Costs
  Long-Term-Care Needs