Be Ready for a Change in Interest Rates
Fluctuating interest rates can be challenging for bond investors who want to reinvest their principal. When rates are low, they may have to accept lower yields; when rates rise when principal is tied up, they may not be able to benefit. One strategy to help manage reinvestment risk is to build a bond ladder.
Protect Your Business with a Disaster Readiness Plan
Most people think of hurricanes, tornados, and earthquakes as events that could seriously affect the operations of a business and result in shortages of goods and materials. But even a fire or a flood in the warehouse can cause operations to come to a grinding halt. By one estimate, one-quarter of businesses never reopen after a major calamity.
HOT TOPIC: The Federal Estate Tax Is Back and May Be Here to Stay
The estate tax has been reinstated after being allowed to lapse in 2010. The new estate tax provisions are the most generous in decades — but they are temporary. A far more stringent estate tax is slated to take effect after 2012. Fortunately, a properly structured trust may help some families reduce their potential exposure to the estate tax.
HOT TOPIC: Looking Ahead in 2012
2011 was a year of slow economic recovery, market volatility, and political conflict over the budget, the national debt, and taxes. All of these challenges continue to face us as we begin the new year. This article presents an overview of some of the issues that bear watching in 2012.
More Newsletters →