Articles RSS

Try a Low Risk Strategy Instead of a Low Risk Investment

Mon, 03 Nov 2008 10:45:35 -0800

Try a Low Risk Strategy Instead of a Low Risk Investment

Today's Market Condition - Sept. 29 ,2008

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 10:33:35 -0700

Today's Market Condition - September 29 ,2008

Surviving a Bear Market

Mon, 29 Sep 2008 10:16:51 -0700

Surviving a Bear Market

Market Volatility and Your Retirement

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:30:24 -0700

Market Volatility and Your Retirement: Can Timing Alter Your Plans?

Estate Planning Checklist

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 11:13:23 -0700

Estate Planning Checklist

Buying Life Insurance: What Kind and How Much?

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 10:48:27 -0700

Who needs life insurance? If there are individuals who depend on you for financial support, or if you work at home providing your family with such services as child care, cooking, and cleaning, you need life insurance.

Managing Debt and Credit

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:25:12 -0700

Credit was once defined as “Man’s Confidence in Man.” But in fact, the definition of credit today is more like “Man’s Confidence in Himself.” Using credit today means you have confidence in your future ability to pay that debt. Forty years ago, your parents may

Naming Beneficiaries of Insurance Policies and Retirement Plans

Wed, 07 May 2008 08:02:03 -0700

A major issue in estate planning is who to name as beneficiaries on life insurance policies, pension plan accounts, and IRAs. Often this important decision is given too little consideration.

How Much Do You Need to Retire?

Wed, 07 May 2008 07:43:21 -0700

Picturing yourself as a retiree may be hard if not impossible. But if you could envision those future years, you’d probably see a life full of activity and decades of health, happiness, and prosperity. No rocking chairs and lap shawls need apply.

Will Your Money Last? Risks to Retirement Income

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:42:21 -0700

With so much at stake when planning a retirement income stream, it pays to take a step back and see whether your plan takes into account the major obstacles to retirement income adequacy. When you take this big-picture view, consider the five major challenges most retirees face: the potential for outliving one’s assets; the threat of rising living costs; the impact of increasing health care costs; uncertainty about the future level of Social Security benefits; and the damage to long-term financial security that can be caused by excessive withdrawals in the early years of retirement.

Redefining Retirement in the 21st Century

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 07:17:38 -0700

The days may be over when a gold watch is a less-than-useful gift for a retiree. If the experts are on target, retirement in the next century will scarcely resemble the conventional image of lazy days spent on cruise ships and golf courses. You might plan to open a business of your own. Or perhaps you’ll return to school for that graduate degree you never had the chance to complete.

Surviving a Bear Market

Wed, 02 Apr 2008 06:33:14 -0700

Not that long ago, the idea of a bear market seemed almost inconceivable. For an entire generation of investors, the great bull runs of the 1980s and 1990s were the only markets ever experienced. But the new millennium brought with it a dose of reality, and even novice investors have learned that markets can — and do — go down as well as up.

Weekly Market Commentary—March 10, 2008

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:14:36 -0700

For much of February signs of healing were evident; aggressive policy actions by the Fed helped to lower liquidity premiums and contain the widening in credit spreads – and even helped the stock market to stabilize.

Make The Most of Your 401K

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 09:02:22 -0700

As more Americans shoulder the responsibility of funding their own retirement, many rely increasingly on their 401(k) retirement plans to provide the means to meet their investment goals.

Articles for December 2007

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:35:26 -0800

PRESERVING WEALTH: PLANNING STEPS FOR YOUR STAGE OF LIFE

Announcements for December 2007

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:32:51 -0800

Announcement 1

Look for December announcements here very soon.

Announcement 2

Understanding the Risks of Bonds

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 07:00:14 -0800

The first wave of Baby Boomers turned 60 this year, which means that investing for retirement is taking on a new sense of urgency for these individuals. When making decisions about their asset allocation, preretirees and retirees typically find themselves paying more attention to bonds as an asset class, which may help to reduce a portfolio's volatility while providing a source of income.

Retirement Income Planning: Why an Appropriate Withdrawal Rate Matters

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:57:36 -0800

Accumulating enough assets for retirement may be the top priority for investors. However, the amount that is withdrawn from a portfolio each year during retirement is what may ultimately determine how long retirement assets will last. That is why calculating the annual withdrawal rate from personal savings and investments is so critical for retirees and people about to retire. It's also a helpful exercise for younger investors who would like to gauge how much they will need to accumulate in order to provide adequate income during retirement.

Preserving Wealth: Planning Steps for Your Stage of Life

Thu, 06 Dec 2007 06:52:17 -0800

The current tax law calls for a gradual increase in how much you can leave behind to loved ones over the next several years. Then, in 2010, the entire estate tax is scheduled to be repealed, only to revert back to 2001 levels in 2011 and beyond. That is, unless Congress alters the law. As it turns out, there is a long-running debate in Congress about whether or not to change the existing law, extend the repeal beyond 2010 or even get rid of estate taxes altogether. So what does this mean for you? Be proactive and review your own estate planning efforts and intentions or the distribution of your wealth, regardless of your stage in life. Through proper planning on an ongoing basis, you may help ensure that your financial affairs are in concert with current laws and, perhaps more importantly, your goals and specific needs.

Announcements for November 2007

Wed, 07 Nov 2007 10:44:08 -0800

Maximizing Your Retirement in the "Red Zone" Seminar

Join us November 29th, 2007 for our latest educational lunch seminar Maximizing Your Retirement in the "Red Zone" in Raleigh. If you can't make it in person, please call us to discuss Prudential's "Red Zone" concept which offers solutions to the issues you face 5 years before, to 5 years after retirement. Our lunch seminar, Maximizing Your Retirement in the "Red Zone", will be held at Sullivan's Steakhouse from 12:00pm to 1:30pm. You must RSVP to attend at 919-881-2850, or by completing the form on our reservations page.