Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP® – Page 2

Unused Premiums in Term Insurance

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 12: Types of Life Insurance Student Question: Could you help clarify the term “unused premiums” as it relates to term life insurance? I guess I don’t see how you could have a premium not used in term life. Instructor Response: Assume you pay $6,000 in annual prepaid premiums on Jan 1 2020…

Dependent Care Assistance Plan

Course: Retirement PlanningLesson 9: Building Retirement Wealth by Maximizing Fringe Benefits Student Question: Is a Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) funded by an Flexible Spending Account the same thing as a Dependent Care FSA? If not, could you provide some additional info as to how the two would work together (could an individual utilize both…

Social Security Widower Benefits

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: When it comes to social security widower’s benefit’s, is the widow eligible to take his/her SS benefit early (age 62) and then switch over to the deceased spouse’s full benefit at 67? Or would the widow only be eligible for one of the two benefits? Instructor Response:…

Passing Property Via Will

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 14: Evaluation Portfolio Performance Student Question: Hello – I’m a little confused about the example (below) discussing an heirloom of only sentimental value. Why would this be titled at all for a will, especially since an earlier lecture said items of no value would pass through will as the situation does not…

Tariffs, Economic Boom or Bust?

Good to Know Consider radioactive fissionable material; it’s beneficial when used to generate electrical power in a reactor but has the potential to create mass extinction in a nuclear war. The author respectfully suggests that — similarly — tariffs can propel our economy to new heights or smother our economic growth. We’ll turn over both sides of…

Duties of a Planner

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 9: CFP Board Regulatory Requirements Student Question: I have a query regarding one of the questions on the review, shared below. Based on the answer, they are not considering opening a custodial account as providing Financial ADVICE otherwise the first response would also be required (manage conflict of interest). Why…

Crummey Powers

Insurance PlanningLesson 16: The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Student Question: Must Crummey powers always be in effect to apply the annual gift tax exclusion in order to transfer to an irrevocable trust? Or is it the case that as long as it was done once, will all transfers be eligible for the annual gift tax exclusion? Instructor…

5 Habits of Successful Examinees

CFP® Certificants in the News Successful people are simply those with successful habits -Brian Tracy Habits are either your friend or foe. Take eating habits for example. According to WebMD the Mediterranean Diet is notable for: “Reducing the risk for cardiovascular diseases, such as heart attack and stroke Supporting a healthy weight, Supporting healthy blood sugar,…

Maximum Family Benefit

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 10: Applications of Estate Planning Concepts Student Question: Does the maximum family benefit apply to a husband and wife that are both fully insured if the combined total between the two exceeds the maximum family limit? If I understand correctly, the maximum family limit only applies if there are beneficiaries within the…

QTIP Marital Trust

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 10: Applications of Estate Planning Concepts Student Question: Can you help clarify for me seemingly contradictory information in the two sentences below regarding “disinheriting children”? The first sentence seems to imply that the surviving spouse could disinherit children. However, the second sentence states that QTIPs are often used to “prevent a surviving spouse from disinheriting children.”…