Quarterly Newsletter

2nd Quarter 2009

Three Steps to Financial Fitness

We all know how important it is to maintain general good health and stay physically fit, but don’t neglect getting your finances in shape, also. These three steps can help you do just that.

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How to Use Stable Value Funds

ICMA-RC’s VantageTrust PLUS Fund is a stable value fund that seeks to offer a competitive level of income, consistent with capital preservation and meeting liquidity needs. The PLUS fund is managed to seek to produce relatively stable returns compared to intermediate-term fixed-income funds.

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Around ICMA-RC

Fund lineup update. ICMA-RC will make several changes to the lineup of funds available through the VantageTrust Trust Series, effective on or about July 17, 2009. For applicable plans, the changes will consist of adding new funds, closing certain existing funds, and transferring remaining asset balances to replacement funds.

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Market View: The Importance of Rebalancing

You divide your portfolio between stocks and bonds based on your risk tolerance, investing time frame, and other factors. Asset classes grow at different rates, so it’s important to “rebalance” periodically to maintain your desired mix and risk level.

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Considering Refinancing?

Refinancing could cut your monthly mortgage payments by hundreds of dollars, or help you get out of an adjustable-rate or interest-only loan with payments that could jump in the next few years.

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Investing Spotlight: The Why and How of Portfolio Rebalancing

It’s important to have a long-term investment strategy that is based on your investment objectives, how long you have to achieve them and how much risk you’re willing to take. But you can’t just select investments and put your account on autopilot. You need to periodically review your portfolio and, if market forces have knocked it out of balance, you may need to realign it.

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Ask ICMA-RC

What role does dollar-cost averaging have in investing, particularly when the market is volatile? What does it mean, and how do I do it?

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New Help with College Costs

Everyone talks about the income tax and housing benefits in the stimulus plan, but they often overlook the new rules that have significantly expanded a tax credit for college costs. The new American Opportunity tax credit can make a big difference for families who are paying college bills.

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3 New Scams to Avoid

Scam artists love to follow the headlines, and this year’s economic turmoil brought out some of the worst of them. These crooks seized the opportunity to offer their own forms of “help.” But instead of getting you out of financial trouble, they take your money and run. Here’s how to avoid three new financial scams.

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