Donating money to our favorite charitable organization is a year-end ritual for many of us. While monthly giving has gained in popularity in recent years, most of us still tend to open up our wallets just a bit wider at the end of the year.

While many of us actively plan for retirement, only a small fraction of American workers actively plan for the possibility of becoming disabled. Before you decline to purchase a short-term or long-term disability plan, consider some facts.

Life insurance has existed for nearly two centuries as an essential planning tool that protects dependents from the risk of a breadwinner's untimely death. However, given the unique investment properties of life insurance, financial planners are finding a number of ways it can be used in other ways to enhance portfolio returns while reducing risk.