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Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.

There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.

A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.

Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.

Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.

The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.

Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.

A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.

Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.

An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.

Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.

With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.

An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.

A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.

The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.

There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.

If you start saving for retirement sooner, the more money you are likely to accumulate and possibly retire sooner.

Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.

If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?

Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits.

Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.

Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.

Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.

To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.

Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.

Even if your state doesn’t require certain types of auto insurance, it may be wise to purchase multiple types to ensure you are covered for a variety of situations.

While stable, CDs can create an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.

Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.

Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.