William R. Bessette

Welcome to our Web site, 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.

We’re here to help educate you about the basic concepts of financial management; to help you learn 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.
Calculators

IRA Eligibility

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

Roth IRA Conversion

This calculator can help you determine whether you should consider converting to a Roth IRA.

Cost of Retirement

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

Capital Gains Taxes

Estimate short-term and long-term federal capital gains taxes

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Newsletters

Using a Variable Annuity for Guaranteed Income

One recommendation from the White House Task Force on Middle Class Working Families was for retirees to consider purchasing annuities to help provide a stable income. Investors who want their retirement portfolios to go the distance might want to learn more about variable annuities.

Growth, Value, or Both

The average annual return for large-cap value stocks was about 2.1% higher than for large-cap growth stocks, yet growth stocks outperformed value stocks in 13 out of 30 years. This article examines the difference between the two approaches and describes why holding both may help investors take advantage of a variety of market conditions.

Help Chart the Future of Your Family Business

The transition from one generation to the next is considered to be one of the biggest risks to the survival of a family-owned business. A thoughtful succession strategy not only outlines when and how ownership should be transferred but also takes tax implications, family relationships, and other sensitive issues into account.

Rising Popularity of Roth IRA as Retirement Vehicle

Investment in the Roth IRA has been growing dramatically. Fueling the growth of this popular investment vehicle are tax-free distributions in retirement and no mandatory withdrawals due to age. Compare the trade-offs of Roth IRAs with traditional IRAs, including eligibility limitations, annual contribution limits, and withdrawal considerations.

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