Welcome to Financial Indpendence, where you’ll find a wealth of information in the form of newsletter articles, calculators, and research reports.

We hope your visit will help you understand the opportunities and potential rewards that are available when you take a proactive approach to your personal financial situation. We have created this Web site to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate planning, and wealth preservation. Most important, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals to pursue your financial goals.

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Federal Income Tax

This calculator can help you estimate your annual federal income tax liability.

IRA Eligibility

Use this calculator to determine whether you qualify for the different types of IRAs.

Cost of Retirement

Use this calculator to estimate how much income and savings you may need in retirement.

Impact of Inflation

Estimate the future cost of an item based on today’s prices and the rate of inflation you expect.

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HOT TOPIC: American Manufacturing: Rebound or Renaissance?

During the last decade, U.S. manufacturing lost millions of jobs to foreign competition. The sector appears to be coming back strong, adding almost half a million jobs since 2010 as productivity rises. This article examines the conditions that originally caused the exodus of U.S. industrial production and those that may bode well for its future.

HOT TOPIC: Will Federal Reserve Tactics Help the Ailing U.S. Economy?

This article looks at policy tools that the Federal Reserve has used in the past and may use going forward in its attempts to spur economic growth. It also explains the possible implications of a long-term, low-interest-rate environment for investors, savers, and retirees.

HOT TOPIC: Why Global Investors Are Worried About European Debt

European officials are working on a bailout deal to help debt-laden Greece avoid default, but some are worried a broader eurozone financial crisis may be waiting in the wings. How likely is a Greek sovereign debt default, and how could it affect European and U.S. financial markets?

Using Living Benefits for Retirement Income

Many Americans are finding it difficult to predict how much they can save by retirement. Because traditional pensions are available to just one out of three workers today, a potential way of creating a guaranteed income stream in retirement is to purchase the guaranteed living benefits that are available with some variable annuities.

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