Insurance and Financial Services for Employers, Employees & Individuals

Welcome to our Web site, where you’ll find a wealth of information in the form of newsletters, articles, calculators, and research reports - all pertinent in today's fast paced and ever-changing world.

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 or business financial situation. We have created this Website to help you gain a better understanding of the financial concepts behind insurance, investing, retirement, estate analysis, and wealth preservation. Most important, we hope you see the value of working with skilled professionals.

We’re here to help inform you about the basic concepts of financial services; to help you hear more about who we are; and to give you fast, easy access to market performance data. We hope you take advantage of this resource and visit us often. Be sure to add our site to your list of "favorites" in your Internet browser. We frequently update our information, and we wouldn’t want you to miss any developments in the area of personal finance.

- Michael Otis, Registered Representative

 

 
Calculators

Lease Interest

What's the interest rate on the lease you're considering?

Life Insurance

How much life insurance would you need to produce a sufficient income stream for your family?

Mortgage Refinancing

Determine whether you should consider refinancing your mortgage.

Long-Term Care Self Insurance

Will you be able to afford nursing home care?

More Calculators →

Newsletters

Variable Annuities and Your Retirement Strategy

An insurance product may appeal to pre-retirees who want to invest more of their current incomes for retirement and defer taxes on market gains. A variable annuity enables investors to pursue investment gains with the option to purchase guarantees (for an additional cost) to help protect against the downside risks of investing in the markets.

ETFs for the Conservative Investor

The number of exchange-traded funds has grown rapidly in the last decade. Total ETF assets exceeded $1 trillion in March 2011, an increase of more than $200 million over the previous year. This article explains the potential benefits of ETFs and why some of them might appeal to the risk-averse.

Favorable Dividend and Capital Gains Tax Rates Extended—for Now

The 2010 Tax Relief Act extended the 15% maximum tax rates on qualified dividends and long-term capital gains through December 31, 2012. But without further legislation, dividends will be taxed at ordinary income tax rates and capital gains tax rates will return to 20% (23.8% for investors in the two highest tax brackets) in 2013.

Insurance for Two Could Benefit Your Heirs

Survivorship life insurance offers a way to help a couple's heirs pay estate taxes, probate costs, and other final expenses — and could be especially important after 2012 when the federal estate tax is scheduled to be significantly higher. Even if the estate tax doesn't apply to an estate, the insurance proceeds could benefit heirs or a favorite charity.

More Newsletters →