HOT TOPIC: Current Economic Conditions and the Prospect for Inflation

Inflation jumped up to 3.2% in April. That’s still below the 50-year average but it may be little consolation for anyone who has been to a gas station or a grocery store recently.

Keeping Pace with Social Security

In 2012, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 3.6% cost of living increase for the first time in three years. But a recent study suggests that benefits are lagging far behind real expenses. This article explains how Social Security benefits are indexed and what older workers and retirees might expect from the program in the future.

New Opportunity Under the Federal Gift Tax

The 2010 Tax Relief Act raised the lifetime gift-tax exclusion to $5 million. This means it could be a good time to make the most of tax-free gift transfers. If so, it's important to understand the annual and lifetime gift exemption limits, as well as which gifts might not be subject to them.

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.

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College Funding

Use this calculator to estimate the cost of your child’s education, based on the variables you input.

Federal Income Tax

This calculator can help you estimate your annual federal income tax liability.

Savings Goals

How much do you need to save each year to meet your long-term financial goals?

Lifetime Earnings

This calculator is designed to help you attach a dollar figure to your life’s work.

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