Financial Planning Perspectives

Below are recent articles to help with your financial decisions.

In Volatile Markets, Investors May Find Comfort In Dividends
As uncertainty at home and abroad roils the financial markets, income-minded investors seeking protection from the bumpy road ahead may find dividend-paying stocks offer an attractive mix of features and warrant a place in their equity portfolios.

Understanding Your Fiduciary Responsibilities: An Erisa Primer
Regulatory complexity and increased scrutiny on compliance arguably has made the task of retirement plan fiduciaries harder today than ever before. Many employers and their delegates may not have a full understanding of their roles and responsibilities to the plan and its participants.

Is Increased Inflation On The Horizon?
Economists and market watchers have been warning investors about the prospect of increased inflation since the housing bubble burst in 2007.

Are Sector Funds Right For Your Portfolio?
Sector funds target specific industries and economic niches to seek above-average returns. With the opportunity for greater returns comes greater risk, as these funds typically are prone to fluctuate in value more than diversified, multisector funds.

Finding Benefits Without An Employer
Although employment trends have improved recently, there remain millions of people who work part time, are employed in temporary jobs, or are self-employed, frequently without employer-sponsored benefits.

Strategies For Financing Your Business
A comprehensive financing strategy, including estimates of the capital required for short- and long-term needs, is a key element in growing your business. A long-term plan reinforces short-term spending discipline and reduces the likelihood your business will burn through capital too quickly.

Stocks In 2012: Look To The Consumer
Following a lackluster year-end performance in 2011, U.S. stocks, as measured by the S&P 500, advanced 8% between December 31, 2011, and February 23, 2012.1 Although an early year surge is no guarantee that stocks will continue to advance for the remainder of 2012, investors appear willing to take more risk.

Tax Tips For 2012
When reviewing the impact of taxes on your investments, it is important to understand that many items currently in the federal tax code are scheduled to expire after December 31, 2012. Although future actions to amend tax rules are anyone's guess, keeping abreast of developments in this area may be to your advantage.