Investments can play a key role in any financial plan. For individuals, a mix of investment products, income and pension plans can help achieve short- and long-term goals.

For employers, I can offer advice on savings and pension plans.

• Individual Retirement Accounts
• Fixed and Variable Annuities
• Mutual Funds
• Certificates of Deposit
• U.S. Treasuries Securities
• Business retirement  plans

 

Individual Retirement Plans TOP

Another option for retirement planning is to contribute to an Individual Retirement Plan (IRA). IRAs allow a variety of investment options, including variable annuities, stocks, and government securities. There are several types of IRAs, including the Traditional IRA, Non-Deductible IRA, or Roth IRA.

A traditional IRA is funded through after-tax dollars, and can be contributed to even if a client holds another retirement plan, such as a 401(k). A traditional IRA has several tax advantages: all income tax is deferred until money is withdrawn, and the growth of contributions and earnings is generally tax-deferred. The non-deductible IRA is similar to the traditional IRA except that contributions are made with after-tax dollars, and there is no income tax deduction allowed. In contrast to those two options, contributions to a Roth IRA include income tax payments, but when money is withdrawn, it is distributed tax-free.

Other Retirement Planning Options

Depending on the nature of your employment, you may be eligible for other kinds of retirement planning options. For example, 457 plans are designed for independent contractors or employees of a state or local government or a tax-exempt organization. These plans allow participants to exclude certain specified types of salary from their gross income. Other options may include Deferred Compensation Plans and 403(b) plans, which are designed for employees of non-profit corporations.

Contact us today to discuss alternative retirement planning options.

 

Fixed and Variable Annuities TOP

Annuities offer an extremely flexible, customizable long-term investment option that can be tailored to fit almost any lifestyle and financial plan.

Annuities, which are available through insurance companies, share similarities to mutual funds. Some can minimize risk by guaranteeing all or part of the principle amount invested. Since they are designed for retirement, compound earnings are tax-deferred until withdrawn, and contributors can choose to make contributions and receive returns in either a single lump-sum amount, or through a regular stream of payments.

There are several types of annuities. A non-qualified annuity is bought individually with post-tax dollars, while a qualified annuity is part of an employer-sponsored retirement plan and is funded with pre-tax dollars. The two types have differences in limits of withdrawals and contributions.

Annuities are also different in the ways they generate earnings. A Fixed Annuity is designed around regular fixed interest rates, while a Variable Annuity is managed by a professional money manager, who invests in a portfolio of mutual funds that might be in stocks, bonds or other instruments. Variable annuities are best suited for long-term investments, since taxes and insurance company charges can apply if money is withdrawn early. Depending on the performance of the annuities selected, an investment’s unit values will increase or decrease.

Depending on the specific annuity chosen, benefits can include:

• Tax-deferred growth
• Access to professional money managers
• Lump-sum or periodic payments
• Choice of fixed or variable annuity types
• Some annuities offer guaranteed returns of principal investment
• Hundreds of variable annuities to choose from

Contact us today to discuss how annuities might strengthen your investment portfolio, and to receive an information package.

Note that any amount allocated to an annuity may increase or decrease in value, and is invested at the risk of the policyholder. Guarantees are based on the claims paying ability of the issuing company.

 

Mutual funds TOP

Mutual funds can be a key component of a diversified investment portfolio. Managed by registered investment agents, mutual funds allow individual investors with common objectives and risk profiles to pool their savings in a portfolio of investments. This allows for an investment portfolio that is diversified among different companies and industries in the United States and around the world. Advantages of this strategy include:

• Liquidity
• Diversification
• Potential for increased returns
• Expertise of registered investment agents who are registered with the state they practice in
• Increased purchasing power from pooled savings

Here is an overview of some of the mutual funds available:

Money Market Funds

Money market funds are a relatively low risk choice. By law, they invest only in specific high-quality short-term investments issued or guaranteed by the U.S. government, its agencies or instrumentalities. They generally pay dividends that reflect short-term interest rates, and so returns are historically lower than those for bond or stock mutual funds.

Bond Funds

Bond funds typically pursue strategies aimed at producing high investment yields, but for this reason carry higher risks than money market funds. Bond funds are not restricted to high-quality or short-term investments. Given the variety of bond funds available, there is a wide range of choice.

Stock Funds

When held over the long term, stock funds can historically perform well. However, their value can rise and fall quickly over the short term for a variety of reasons, such as shifting demand for products and services or the overall strength of the economy. There are several different types of stock funds available, including growth funds, income funds, and index funds.

• Growth funds have the potential for large capital gains, but may not pay a regular dividend
• Income funds pay regular dividends
• Index funds invest in all or some companies included in a market index to achieve the same level of return as that index

Learn more about how mutual funds can build your financial plan—contact us today.

Always remember the importance of careful decision-making when choosing investments. Before investing, carefully read through a mutual funds’ prospectus for important information. Remember that commissions, trailing commissions, management fees and expenses, and taxes (personal capital gains when you sell your shares and potential annual taxes on a fund's capital gains) may all be associated with mutual fund investments. Mutual funds are not guaranteed or insured by the FDIC or any other government agency, and since their values change frequently, past performance may not be repeated. Investment returns and unit values will fluctuate.

 

Certificates of Deposit TOP

Many investors are careful when choosing where to invest their hard-earned money, particularly given the recent economic downturn.

For this reason, Certificates of Deposit (CDs) are a popular low-risk investment, since they can feature federal deposit insurance. A CD is a deposit account that generally offers a higher rate of interest than a regular savings account. Investors put a fixed sum of money into a CD for a fixed period of time, and when the CD is redeemed, gain the accrued interest, plus the principal amount invested. Several different kinds of CDs are available, including variable rate and long-term CDs.

If a CD is redeemed before it matures, the issuing institutional may enforce an “early withdrawal” penalty or forfeit a portion of the interest.

Contact us today to learn about how Certificates of Deposit can benefit your investment portfolio.

 

U.S. Treasuries Securities TOP

In today’s uncertain investment environment, U.S. Treasuries Securities offer a safe, secure, government-guaranteed option for investors worried about the impact of the recent economic downturn on their savings.

The federal government issues U.S. Treasury securities to raise funds and help pay off its debt. The U.S. government guarantees that interest and principal payments will be paid on time, making securities a source of dependable cash flow.

There are several different kinds of Treasuries Securities, which range from short- to long-term investments. Securities are sold at Treasury auctions, and include treasury bills, notes, bonds, TIPS, and U.S. Savings Bonds.

• Treasury Bills mature in a year or less, and are sold at below par (face) value. When matured, owners can sell them and receive their par value.
• Treasury Notes and Bonds pay a fixed rate of interest on a semi-annual basis until they mature. Treasury notes mature between two to 10 years, while longer-term bonds mature in 30 years.
• Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) pay interest on a semi-annual basis, and their principal value is adjusted twice a year to reflect inflation rates.

Contact us today to learn about how U.S. Treasuries Securities can benefit your investment portfolio.

 

Group retirement and savings plans TOP

Business owners can use group retirement and savings plans to help attract and retain quality employees.

Both business owners and their dedicated employees are working towards a safe, secure future. Either provided independently or paired with group benefits, a group savings plan is a convenient, flexible and affordable way for employers to help employees reach their long-term financial goals.

Employees gain instant tax savings for their retirement plan contributions, since they are made using pre-tax payroll deductions. They also receive the peace of mind that comes from knowing every month they are building towards retirement.

A financial planner can help business owners and their valued employees choose group retirement and savings products. Choose from products like:

• 401(k) Plans
• Simplified Employee Pension Plans
• Qualified Retirement Plans
• Other retirement savings plans designed specifically for employee groups

Contact us today to learn about how group retirement and savings plans can benefit your business.