top of page

Capstone Insurance Inc.

  • LinkedIn
  • Facebook

Articles

Welcome to our research center! We've put together a library of information on important financial topics that we believe you'll find helpful.

Simply click on one of the general financial topics below and you'll find a selection of easy-to-understand information sheets about related financial concepts and strategies. This information is updated regularly to reflect the latest facts, figures, legislation, and economic trends.

Cash Management

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

Cash Management

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

Cash Management

Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.

Cash Management

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

Cash Management

There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.

Cash Management

It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.

Estates & Trusts

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

Estates & Trusts

A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.

Estates & Trusts

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

Estates & Trusts

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

Estates & Trusts

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

Estates & Trusts

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

Estates & Trusts

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

Estates & Trusts

Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.

Estates & Trusts

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

Investing

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.

Investing

One attractive feature of an annuity is tax-deferral but qualified and non-qualified annuities are taxed differently.

Investing

The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.

Investing

Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.

Investing

Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.

Investing

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

Investing

Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.

Investing

529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.

Investing

Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

Investing

It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.

Investing

Zero-coupon bonds represent a type of bond that does not pay interest during the life of the bond.

Investing

ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.

Investing

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

Retirement

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

Retirement

A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.

Retirement

A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.

Retirement

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

Retirement

Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.

Retirement

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

Retirement

A money purchase plan is a retirement plan where employer contributions are based on a fixed percentage of compensation.

Retirement

Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

Retirement

The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.

Retirement

If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.

Retirement

When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.

Retirement

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

Retirement

With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.

Retirement

401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.

Retirement

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

Retirement

A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.

Retirement

Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.

Retirement

There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

Retirement

An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.

Retirement

Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.

Retirement

Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.

Retirement

Greater demand is being placed on the Social Security system as the baby boom generation has begun to retire.

Retirement

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

Retirement

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

Risk Management

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

Risk Management

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.

Risk Management

Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

Risk Management

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?

Risk Management

As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.

Risk Management

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

Risk Management

When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.

Risk Management

There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.

Risk Management

Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

Risk Management

Property and casualty insurance can help protect a variety of assets. Find out what it does and doesn’t cover.

Risk Management

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

Risk Management

Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.

Risk Management

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

Risk Management

The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.

Risk Management

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

Risk Management

A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.

Risk Management

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.

Risk Management

If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

Risk Management

If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?

Risk Management

Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

Tax Planning

There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.

Tax Planning

It's important to understand tax-exempt vehicles when establishing a comprehensive tax planning strategy.

Tax Planning

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

Tax Planning

Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

Tax Planning

Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.

bottom of page