CFP® Certificants in the News Those taking the CFP® Exam consistently lose vital points in 5 key areas: Failure to enroll in a review course, Lack of a disciplined study plan, Failure to answer enough practice questions, Failure to know the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, and Lack of an exam-taking strategy We…

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Panic selling is painfully real. As but one example, S&P 500 investors lost almost 60% from 2007 to 2009 in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage default crisis. The chart to the right illustrates the breath-taking plunge of the S&P 500 from almost 1600 to 650 in less than 18 months. Here’s a sobering observation…

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Course: Investment PlanningLesson 15: Fundamentals of Derivatives – Futures and Options Student Question: Can you please explain what Basis points are and how/why they are generally used? Thanks Lana Instructor Response: Hi Lana, There are 100 basis points in 1%.  Basis points are merely a common method of measuring investment fees or returns.   An exchanged-traded fund may charge…

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Course:  Income Tax PlanningLesson 15: Property Transactions Student Question: Dear Greene Consulting Team –  In the lesson, deducting donations of “cash” versus “long term appreciated securities” are differentiated. I’m curious about “short-term appreciated securities”.  In other words, if I own a stock – bought at $10,000 and it’s worth $50,000 when I donate, but I’ve only owned it 6 months…

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CFP® Certificants in the News The COVID-19-related CARES Act of 2020 was not tested on the September 2020 CFP® Exam. Only key portions of the Act will be tested on the November 2020 CFP® Exam according to CFP Board. An excerpt from the CFP BOARD KEY ELEMENTS CARES ACT 2020  follows: “The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act was…

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Course:  Estate PlanningLesson 4: Transfer Taxation I – Common Elements of Estate and Gift Taxes Student Question: Hello, Can I get some clarification on the Gift and Estate tax? As I understand it, individuals can gift up to $15,000 per year without “triggering” a gift tax; however, they still have the lifetime exemption of $11.58 million. Gifts over $15,000 per…

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Good to Know The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act provided vitally needed relief for individuals and businesses. However, not all of the Act’s provisions relate directly to CFP Board’s testing priorities. The purpose of this blog is to emphasize those portions of the Act highlighted as “key” by CFP Board in its…

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CFP Board Updates CFP Board, along with other members of the Financial Planning Coalition, penned a comment letter to the Department of Labor strongly objecting to a proposed retirement investment advice rule. The basis for the objections is that the proposal conflicts with: Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) requirements, and CFP Board Code of…

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The financial exploitation of seniors, especially those with diminished financial capacity, is an urgent issue. How prevalent is this shameful practice? The National Council on Aging estimates that seniors lose an estimated $37 billion annually or more in the U.S.A. The AARP makes this huge number a bit more personal when it estimates the average…

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CFP® Board Updates CFP Board continues to offer COVID19 risk mitigation for qualified candidates. Key excerpts from recent CFP Board FAQs follow: What is Remote Proctoring? “…an exam delivery method that allows candidates to take the CFP® Exam from home or a location of their choice, rather than at a Prometric test center. CFP Board’s…

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