Market Commentary Dr. Robert J. Froehlich Vice Chairman, DWS Scudder Chairman, Investor Strategy Committee

About half of Americans spend more time planning for their annual vacation than thinking about retirement funding.¹
1. Boston Globe, November 6, 2005

Will you outlive your retirement income?  How much liability insurance should you have? Should you add stocks to your portfolio?  Are your financial expectations for the coming year realistic?

Our financial newsletters are designed to provide helpful information on a wide variety of financial topics.  Simply click on one of the newsletter topics to the side to read the article in its entirety.

• May

  Celebrate Life and the Benefits of Insuring It
  In addition to the protection it can bring, life insurance can also offer some tax benefits.

  A Question of Identity
  Not only is identity theft costly, it can also be a major hassle that affects a person’s credit score for years. The key to preventing ID theft is awareness.

  Exchange-Traded Funds Can Be for Conservative Portfolios, Too
  If you avoided ETFs because they were predominantly composed of stocks, the growing availability of bond ETFs might warrant a second look.

  The Land of Income Mobility
  In America, just about anyone who is dissatisfied with his income has the opportunity to roll up his sleeves and move into a different income bracket.

  Recapping Market Capitalization
  The blurring of lines between large-cap, mid-cap, and small-cap companies is an indication that it may be time to evaluate whether your portfolio holdings have shifted toward or away from your investment objectives.

• February

  HOT TOPIC: Inflation Slows But Still Poses Long-Term Threat
  After a year in which energy prices hit record levels, most consumers will be surprised to learn that the 2008 inflation rate was almost zero. But don't be fooled into thinking that inflation is no longer a threat to your long-term financial outlook.

  Doing Fine in '09?
  Considering the market volatility over the past few months, will we see an improvement in 2009 economic conditions?

  Variables You Can Count On
  One way to pursue gains in the stock market while also limiting downside risks is through the use of living benefit guarantees that are offered with some variable annuities (for an additional cost).

  Retirement Is No Reason for a Portfolio to Stop Working
  New research has revealed that nearly 90% of retirement income results from investment returns that are generated after the funds are socked away. This highlights the need to remain diligent when it comes to managing and monitoring investments during the retirement years.

  Preparing Not to Inherit
  Preparing for retirement will require adequate saving and investing, not just working hard to stay in the good graces of wealthy relatives.

  Essential Fundamental Analysis
  The fact is that the financial markets rely heavily on fundamental analysis in order to set prices and make decisions to buy or sell.

• December

  HOT TOPIC: What's Ahead for 2009
  Economists believe the U.S. economy probably entered a recession in late 2008, but a recovery could be in motion by the second quarter of 2009. What else might 2009 have in store?

  Protection for a Rainy Day
  For a reasonable price, umbrella liability insurance policies can help close the gap between your auto and homeowners insurance policies and a potentially devastating liability claim.

  Social Security Outlook
  If your retirement is a long way off, you might want to consider the possibility that Social Security may not provide a significant source of your retirement income. Here’s why.

  Don’t Bet Your Life on These Insurance Myths
  Learning about common life insurance misconceptions can help you make one of the most important decisions for those you leave behind.

  Managing Volatility with a Bond Ladder
  One way to help manage interest-rate risk and cash flow from bonds is to construct a bond ladder.

  What Employment Says About the Economy
  As important as the national unemployment rate is, it’s only a small segment of the overall data collected on the nation’s jobs situation and the economy at large.

• October

  HOT TOPIC: Government Intervenes in Credit Crisis
  September was an unsettling month for the financial markets that Americans may not soon forget. Here's a look at what happened.

  Adding Stability in Volatile Times
  One strategy that can add growth potential to a portfolio, without assuming many of the risks associated with the financial markets, involves purchasing an annuity contract from an insurance company.

  Why Do Lower Prices Equal Higher Yields?
  The price/yield relationship is rooted in the secondary bond market, where bonds may trade at a premium or discount of the par (or face) value.

  Will Going Green Grow Green?
  About one out of every nine dollars under professional management in the United States is already invested according to socially screened criteria. There are several key questions to ask yourself when considering how this rising tide could affect your portfolio.

  Increase Your Protection
  If your net worth exceeds the amount of liability coverage provided by your homeowners and auto insurance policies (each usually tops out somewhere between $300,000 and $500,000), you might want to consider an umbrella liability insurance policy.

  Should You Found a Foundation?
  If you want to control how and where your donations are used, create an entity that has the potential to last for generations, and unite family members behind a worthy cause — and don’t mind some fairly strict paperwork requirements — this type of organization might be worth considering.