ICS Financial

About half of Americans spend more time planning for their annual vacation than thinking about retirement funding.¹
1. Boston Globe, November 6, 2005

Will you outlive your retirement income? How much liability insurance should you have? Should you add stocks to your portfolio? 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 to the side to read the article in its entirety.

October	September
Fiduciary Kid Stuff Today’s children are the investors, consumers, homebuyers – and retirees – of tomorrow, but many don’t understand basic financial concepts. Step on the Bond Ladder Because of the unpredictable nature of interest rates it’s important to have a method to help protect your portfolio from changes that may occur. Retirement Overconfidence Your retirement may be marked by financial ups and downs, but a well-thought-out strategy can possibly help you adjust to unexpected bumps on the road. Long-Term Care Long-term-care insurance can provide some financial protection, as well as help shield a family’s financial assets in the event that long-term care is needed. Continuing Family Business When it comes to leaving a legacy for their children, many entrepreneurs expect to pass on the family business. Population Clock Ticking Upward The U.S. population is expected to hit 300 million in October. Population is a key piece of the financial outlook. Some economists also believe that the population also can be used to help predict economic cycles.	Procrastination: Your Costly Foe When it comes to your financial future, procrastination is one mistake you may never recover from. Life Insurance for Living When your need for a life insurance death benefit changes, a permanent life insurance policy might play a different role in your life. Wealth in Retirement Careful preparation can help increase your chances of living out the type of retirement you envision. College Funding Options As college costs continue to climb, tax-advantaged investment vehicles may help you send your child or grandchild to school. Understanding the Laffer Curve The Laffer Curve is a theoretical depiction of the law of diminishing returns that helps the government decide tax rates, but may also aid you in decisions about your own financial situation. Got Life Insurance? Most people have at least some life insurance. But do they have the right type and the right amount of coverage?
August	July
Cash, Now What? With interest rates climbing steadily over the past two years, now may be a good time to consider certificates of deposit and money market funds. Retire Your Mortgage Today’s retirees are challenging conventional wisdom by questioning whether paying down the mortgage still makes sense. Get Something in Return Use charitable remainder trusts and charitable lead trusts to benefit charities and help reduce tax obligations. He Said, She Said When it comes to investing, studies suggest that men and women are quite different. Surviving a Disability A disability income insurance policy could help make the difference between financial security and financial hardship. When Housing Markets Cool Housing inventories are up and prices are falling in some parts of the country. The good news is that the market remains orderly with no collapse in sight. It's up to you to decide whether there's any bad news.	Don’t Leave It to Luck Investors who are willing to commit themselves to the time-tested practice of compounding may receive a much better payout in the end. Mutual Funds It may help to remember that in good times and bad, market fundamentals and the overall economy can have a direct effect on stock prices. A New Chapter for Retirement Many companies are shifting away from traditional defined-benefit pensions and moving to defined-contribution plans like the 401(k). FAQs About Annuities About $18 billion of annuities are sold each month, yet these popular retirement savings vehicles are often misunderstood. Record Dividends and Buybacks Companies in the S&P 500 stock index paid out $200 billion in dividends and a record $315 billion in share repurchases to shareholders in 2005. Will the Inflation "Cure" Kill the Markets? The U.S. and world economy are growing at a rapid pace, with many fundamentals pointed toward continued strong growth. So why is the stock market so volatile?
June	May
The Insurance Test A recent survey asked participants which one of five fictional characters was most in need of life insurance. Roth IRAs Only 13 percent of U.S. households own a Roth IRA, a retirement investment vehicle that offers tax-free qualified withdrawals. Growth vs. Value Investing Growth and value investments tend to run in cycles, so you may want to consider including both types in your portfolio. Make the Most of Gift Giving Two popular ways to structure planned giving are a charitable remainder trust and a charitable lead trust. Sizing Up Your Salary It’s important to make financial decisions based on what is best for the company first. Outlook 2006 The headlines often carry messages of doom and gloom, but if you focus only on the challenges facing the economy, you might miss the good news.	Stick with It By formulating a strategy to help your portfolio endure market cycles, you may be able to take advantage of gains wherever they occur, without taking on unnecessary risk. Preserve Privacy and Property Although some trusts can be set up to help manage estate taxes, trusts have many more uses than you might imagine. A Portfolio to Retire On If you find yourself looking for ways to increase your portfolio’s cash flow, an income mutual fund may be worth a second look. Reduce Your Risk You may not be able to control whether you become a victim of identity theft, but you can take steps to protect yourself. Jobs Outlook It’s instructive to keep an eye on the nation’s employment situation — even when times are good. Interest Rates All the Talk These Days Anyone with a credit-card, a home equity line of credit, or an adjustable mortgage knows that interest rates are on the rise. But interest rates have a far greater influence than increasing monthly payments. They play a role in employment, inflation, the housing market, and many other variables within the U.S. economy.
April	March
Save More, Make More Sometimes the obvious is worth revisiting. For example, a recent study found that people can increase their wealth by saving and investing more money. The Longevity Paradox As people live longer than ever before, retirees could spend more years in retirement than they ever imagined. Protecting Your Wealth An umbrella liability policy sits over your homeowners and automobile liability policies to provide extra protection. Inflation Keeping You Up? As energy and health-care costs continue to edge higher, inflation looms heavy on many consumers’ minds. Buy-Sell Agreements Without a buy-sell agreement, your heirs could be stuck with a business they don’t want and can’t sell, and your business partners could end up with a co-owner they didn’t plan to have. Rethinking Cash With interest rates on the rise, many people may want to reconsider where and how they are keeping the cash in their portfolios.	Work, Retire, Repeat? Investment returns can significantly affect how long retirement savings will last. Preparing for Long-Term Care Most people realize that nursing home care is expensive, but not everyone has taken steps to prepare for the risk of needing such care. Risk of Disability Could your family cope well if you lost your income in the event of an accident or chronic illness? Where Is Your Money? If you have multiple retirement accounts spread out among several former employers, you may want to consider consolidating the funds. Oil and GDP What is the impact of oil prices on the nation's gross domestic product? Are you paying more than your fair share? This article highlights of some of today's tax-cutting opportunities.
February	January
Investing In Your Business Strategic spending on your business could help increase revenues, reduce costs, and reach even higher profit levels. Managing Your Mutual Funds If you’re like most people, you may not have the energy or expertise to effectively monitor your investments around the clock. For many investors, mutual funds can help. Single or Steady? Some people like to jump in with both feet. Others prefer to ease in slowly. Regardless of which way you like to go, there may be an annuity program that suits you. Protect Your Legacy Survivorship life insurance is a popular estate conservation tool for couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes. A Matter of Maturity After watching interest rates rise, many bond investors may be unsure about what action, if any, they should take. Is It Really Over? A growing number of companies are shifting away from defined-benefit plans to defined contribution plans like the 401(k). Read this article to learn what some corporations and the government are doing to help ease the transition.	Get Ready for 2006 Don't want to wait for the end of 2006 to see how the year turns out? Take a look at what the experts are forecasting in the areas of economic growth, interest rates, and retirement planning. Dividend Investing Pays Dividends are back in a big way. That's great news for shareholders because a company's ability to pay dividends usually means that it is in good financial health. Return of the Long Bond After a four-year suspension, 30-year U.S Treasury bonds will be issued again beginning in early 2006 as the federal government moves to lock in low rates and meet market demand. Collecting Social Security Although you may begin collecting Social Security benefits at age 62, your benefit amount will be lower than if you wait until reaching "full retirement age." Making Sense of the Medicare Drug Benefit The first-ever federal prescription drug benefit has produced more head-scratching than jubilation. Here's why you should get to know the new program even if you won't be eligible for Medicare for years.