Learning Center
This Learning Center was created to help you make sound investment and savings decisions for your JRB account.
Whether you’re new to the Plan, have been contributing for several years, nearing retirement or in retired, you’ll find objective, educational information that clearly explains investment principles and strategies you can use to achieve your long-term financial well-being.
It’s essential to have a basic understanding of investing and retirement planning. That way, you can have more meaningful discussions about your account with your family, financial advisors and the JRB’s professional staff.
Plan Features
- Quarterly Statements Going Digital
- The JRB Plan
- JRB Plan Member Benefits
- JRB Complimentary Insurance Program - A Benefit of Membership
- You Have the Power – Manage Your JRB Account Online
- Create Your Own Will, Power of Attorney, Healthcare Directive and Living Trust
- The JRB Board of Trustees – Your Retirement Plan Fiduciaries
- Who is Alerus?
Investment Fundamentals
- 15 Questions to Test Your Financial Knowledge
- Compounding: The Eighth Wonder of the World
- Understanding Market Capitalization
- Understanding Growth and Value Investing
- Active vs. Passive Investment Management: Which Strategy is Best for You?
- The Mutual Fund Style Box
- Understanding Stock Mutual Fund Benchmarks
- Exploring the JRB Large-Cap Funds
- JRB U.S. Small- and Mid-Cap Funds
- Introduction to Bonds
- Understanding Bond Mutual Fund Benchmarks
- Building an Investment Portfolio
- 5 Financial Housekeeping Tips
- Understanding Investment Risk
- Rebalancing Your Portfolio
- I Have Lost Nothing in the Stock Market Because I Am Not Selling Today
- How Have Markets Performed in Previous Downturns
- Investing in a Low Interest Rate Environment
- The Market Is Up. What Does It Mean?
- Putting Stock Market Volatility into Perspective
- What Market Volatility Means for You
- How Can You Tell If a Recession Is Coming?
Taxes
- Tax Credits and Tax Deductions — What’s the Difference?
- 5 Hidden Tax Benefits from the American Rescue Plan
- 10 Tax Tips for 2020 and 2021
- 6 End-of-Year Tax Tips for 2020
- Who is Alerus?
- Seven COVID-19 Relief Benefits for You
- Four Changes to the Tax Code that May Affect You
- Three Tips to Lower Your Taxes
- How Tax Reform Affects You: Reviewing the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act
Saving for Retirement
- 2021 JRB Retirement Plan Contribution Limits
- A Simple Mind Trick to Save More for Retirement
- Defining – and Calculating – Your Net Worth
- Saving for Your Child’s Education
- Balancing Student Debt with Retirement Savings
- 6 Financial Planning Tips for Millennials
- 3 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your Raise
- How Inflation Affects Your Retirement Savings: And What You Can Do About It
Retirement
- How Much Income Can My Retirement Account Provide?
- Spending Strategies in Retirement
- Planning Your Retirement Income: Taking Distributions with Taxes in Mind
- What is a Required Minimum Distribution?
- Managing Your JRB Portfolio in Retirement
- Managing Market Volatility Near Retirement
Social Security and Medicare
- Social Security Announces 2021 COLA
- Medicare Changes in 2021
- When Should You Claim Social Security?
- Social Security Trustees Highlight Long-Term Challenges
- Working and Social Security — What Are the Rules?
- Paying for Healthcare in Retirement
- 2020 Social Security Financial Update
Estate Planning
- 8 Mistakes to Avoid When Naming Beneficiaries
- Why You Should Review Your Beneficiary Designations
- Powers of Attorney and Advance Medical Directives