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Fifty-seven percent of American workers have saved less than $25,000 for retirement, and 28% have saved less than $1,000. ¹
Source: Employee Benefit Research Institute, 2013

Will you outlive your retirement income? Are your financial expectations for the coming year realistic?

Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide variety of financial topics. Simply click on one of the newsletter topics below to read the article in its entirety.

• September

  HOT TOPIC: When the Fed Speaks, Markets Listen. Should You?
  Some decisions facing Fed officials in the coming months, and how policy changes might affect the economy and investor portfolios over the short and long term.

  Teach Your Children Well
  This article explains why it is important to teach young people about finances and offers tips to help develop children’s financial knowledge.

  How a Pension Could Affect Social Security Benefits
  The Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset could reduce Social Security spousal or survivor benefits in certain situations

  Women and Retirement Investing
  Focusing on education and the prudent management of retirement plan investments could help many women improve their financial prospects.

  Evaluating the Need for Long-Term-Care
  Certain insurance products could be used to help prevent retirement savings from being wiped out by the escalating cost of long-term care.

• August

  HOT TOPIC: The Potential Effects of Airline Consolidation
  This article examines the potential effects of airline consolidation for investors, consumers, and the broader U.S. economy.

  Making Sense of Auto Financing
  Buyers who intend to finance a new car purchase should generally shop carefully for the best price and terms.

  A Will to Help Your Children
  This article explains the importance of a will, and why families who have children with special needs might also consider a special-needs trust.

  Shunning Stocks May Come with a Cost
  Why avoiding stocks altogether could prevent a portfolio from keeping pace with inflation.

  Orchestrating an Exit
  Devising a written business succession plan could ultimately benefit the owner, the owner’s family, and possibly the employees.

• July

  HOT TOPIC: Cybercrime Update
  This article focuses on debit- or credit-card fraud and identity theft, including steps you can take to help safeguard your personal information and financial accounts.

  Investors as Corporate Citizens
  Sustainability has become a fundamental business goal for many corporations throughout the world, driven in part by investors.

  Keeping Talent On Board
  An executive bonus plan funded with cash-value life insurance could be used to reward and help retain a company’s most valuable employees.

  America’s Pension Problems
  This article takes a closer look at how pensions operate and why it might not be wise to rely solely on a pension when assessing retirement income needs.

  Energy Update: Natural Gas Boom May Help Power the Economy
  This article focuses on the potential implications of how shifts in energy production, consumption, and policy could affect supplies and prices in the future.

  Target-Date Funds Keep Retirement in Sight
  This article examines target-date funds and explains why funds with the same target date are not all the same.

• June

  HOT TOPIC: Putting Market Records in Perspective
  This article presents some key issues for investors to consider regarding the market in the context of the broader economy.

  Investing Without Borders
  International investing offers an opportunity to pursue potential economic growth outside the United States, but it carries additional risks.

  Save as Much as You Want — Tax Deferred
  There are other savings options available for those who want to contribute more to a tax-advantaged retirement plan than annual limits allow.

  Disability Income Insurance
  Proper insurance coverage can help ensure your income, assets, and lifestyle are not at risk from a potential disability.

  Sandy Delivered Hard Knocks
  Superstorm Sandy demonstrated the importance of adequate insurance protection and the need to reduce uninsured losses.

  Expanding a Student’s College Options
  To help students cover rising higher-education costs, it may be wise to start saving as early as possible.

• May

  HOT TOPIC: Sequester Under Way
  The sequestration (mandated federal budget cuts) could affect you, your community, and the U.S. economy in general.

  Fraud Never Sleeps
  Fraud accounted for more than half of the 1.8M consumer complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission in 2011.

  Moving On and Rolling Over
  Transitioning workers must decide what to do with savings accumulated in their employer-sponsored retirement plans.

  Signs That You May Not Be Ready to Retire
  Some warning signs that you might not be ready to go full speed ahead with the transition from worker to retiree.

  Sector Investing
  The composition, risks, and portfolio roles of sector funds typically differ from broader-based stock funds.

  Businesses Face Health-Care Decisions
  Both large and small business owners may want to pay attention to the Affordable Care Act’s tax implications.

• April

  HOT TOPIC: The Recovering Housing Market
  The housing recovery might become an engine for the broader U.S. economy in 2013 and beyond.

  How Much Do You Need To Save?
  Some variables to consider in determining how much a worker needs to accumulate for retirement.

  An Opportunity to Build Retirement Savings?
  How workers could accumulate extra retirement savings by maximizing contributions to retirement plans when children leave home.

  Understanding Beneficiary Designations
  The implications of per stirpes and per capita designations when designating primary and contingent beneficiaries.

  A Legacy with a Special Purpose
  Parents can use certain trust provisions to arrange care for underage or disabled children.

  Setting the Stage for Retirement Income
  In a 2012 survey, 63% of respondents said market volatility makes them more likely to consider buying an annuity.

• March

  HOT TOPIC: Fiscal Cliff Deal Settles Tax Issues
  Some key federal tax policies were changed, extended, or made permanent by the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

  A Closer Look at Closed-End Funds
  The potential benefits and risks of closed-end funds.

  Are You Ready for E-Social Security?
  How the Social Security electronic payment system can help protect your account from fraud and other benefits.

  Making Distribution Decisions in Retirement
  It’s important to follow a sound portfolio withdrawal strategy to help you live comfortably in retirement.

  Considering the Costs of Long-Term Care
  About seven out of 10 people over age 65 are expected to need some form of long-term care during their lifetimes.

  Tablets May Help Simplify Small-Business Tasks
  Innovative apps for touch-screen tablets are changing the way some companies conduct business on a daily basis.

• February

  HOT TOPIC: The Affordable Care Act Goes into Action
  The Affordable Care Act’s next phase of implementation in 2013 may affect taxpayers and consumers.

  Updating Heirs on Your Accounts
  The beginning of the year is a good time to review beneficiary designations to make sure they reflect current wishes.

  Libor Levels
  An introduction to the London Interbank Offered Rate (LIBOR), a global benchmark for short-term interest rates.

  Here Comes Another Earnings Season
  Publicly traded companies are required to report their financial results to regulators and shareholders quarterly.

  Making Your Own Retirement Opportunities
  This article focuses on the potential tax benefits and contribution limits of solo 401(k) plans and SEP IRAs.

• January

  HOT TOPIC: Disastrous Sandy: The Financial Effects of a Historic Storm
  The financial effects of Sandy, the largest tropical weather system ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean.

  The Risk of a “Flight to Safety”
  While money market funds could play a role in your financial strategy, it’s important to understand their limitations.

  Cost of Early Retirement Plan Withdrawal
  Why early retirement plan withdrawals could be more costly than they might seem.

  Having a Backup Plan
  A look at the potential benefits of an individual disability income insurance policy.

  Understanding High-Deductible Medical Plans
  A look at HSA rules, tax implications, and maximum coverage levels, as well as potential benefits and drawbacks.

  Adding Exports to Growth Strategies
  Some reasons why more small firms are incorporating exports into their business plans.

• December

  HOT TOPIC: QE3: Is the Third Time the Charm?
  The potential benefits and risks of QE3, and how it differs from QE1, QE2, and Operation Twist.

  Big, Medium, and Small: Spreading the Risk
  Comparing large-, mid-, and small-cap stocks and how they can be used in a portfolio.

  An Introduction to Trusts
  This article presents some trust basics and describes how a trust could help reduce or avoid the costs of probate and estate taxes.

  Family Limited Partnerships
  Family Limited Partnerships: How they work and their potential role in business succession and estate planning.

• November

  End of Year Tax Tips
  Now may be a good time to consider some steps that could help reduce your 2012 income tax liability.

  The Dow Then and Now
  A brief history of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and how it has evolved with the American economy.

  The Attraction of Bonds
  The fundamentals of bond and bond mutual funds and the role they can play in an investment portfolio.

  Looking Beyond Your Credit Score
  Baby boomers and people aged 66 and older typically have higher credit scores, but may still face credit challenges.

  Business Builder or Time Waster?
  Social media trends impacting business owners and some tips for using social media effectively.

• October

  HOT TOPIC: Potential Impact of the 2012 Drought
  This article examines the potential implications of the 2012 drought for consumers and the U.S. and global economies.

  More Affordable than You Might Think
  The appropriate amount of life insurance coverage to help provide for loved ones is an important consideration.

  Graduating with Debt
  Consider going to college as an investment and saving up to go can help reduce potential debt.

  Take Advantage of Medicare Open Enrollment
  Medicare open enrollment extends from October 15 to December 7. Examine plan benefits and consider your options.

  Small Firms Still Face Credit Challenges
  This article takes a look at how small businesses are coping with today’s challenging credit environment.

Securities and Investment Advisory services offered through Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., Member FINRA, SIPC, and Registered Investment Adviser, PO Box 64284, St. Paul, MN 55164 (800)800-2638 Heritage Investors LLC and Woodbury Financial are not affiliated entities. Heritage Investors, LLC is an Independently Owned and Operated Company. Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP®, CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and CFP (with flame logo)® in the U.S., which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements. Neither Woodbury Financial Services, Inc., nor its registered representatives or employees, provide tax or legal advice. As with all matters of a tax or legal nature, you should consult with your tax or legal counsel for advice. Privacy Policy