Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP® – Page 26

Present Value versus Payment Function on Calculator

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 7: Educational Aid and Funding Calculation Student Question: Hello- In Step 5: solving for LUMP SUM needed today… Step 5: Determine funding actually needed Lump sum needed TODAY to fund the full cost of college education. How come we are solving for PV and not PMT? Thanks Kelly Instructor Response: Hi…

CFP BOARD’S PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

CFP® Certificants in the News CFP Board is on a mission to make consumers aware of a certificant’s value to their quality of life. Here is what the CFP Board says about awareness: “CFP Board’s current Public Awareness Campaign, With a CFP® Professional, raises awareness among consumers of the difference that a CFP® professional can make…

Investment Risk on the CFP Board Exam: Part II

Good to Know This blog is the second in a four-part series that includes: Part I: When to trust the “mean” return, Part II: Using standard deviation to manage investment risk, Part III: Skewness—Do we want negative or positive skew in our portfolio?, and Part IV: Kurtosis of a return distribution—Is more kurtosis a good…

Passing Property Via Will

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 1: Property Ownership 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 involve a…

Social Security Widower Benefits

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: Hi- 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? Thanks…

Absolute Investment Risk on the CFP Board Exam: Part I

Good to Know This blog is the first in a four-part series that includes: When to trust the “mean” return, Using standard deviation to forecast outcomes, Skewness—Do we want negative or positive skew in our portfolio? Kurtosis of a return distribution—Is more kurtosis a good thing? We will begin with the average or mean return.…

Interest Rate Risk in a Bond

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 10: Fixed Income Securities Analysis Student Question: Hi- I’m not clear why holders of long-term bonds are subject to interest rate risk. If a 20-year bond is purchased at par with a coupon rate of 6.25% ($62.50/year), it seems to me that the investor would still receive $62.50 a year regardless of interest rate…

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

CFP® Certificants in the News CFP BOARD encourages CFP® certificants and candidates to attend a Feb. 24 televised event featuring CFP Board Chair Kamila Elliot, CFP®. Here’s the invitation—“Join CFP Board Chair Kamila Elliott, CFP® during CNBC’s special Financial Faces of Change LinkedIn Live event on February 24 at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern). To celebrate Black History during February,…

How to Slash Gift, Estate, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes: Part III

Good to Know This blog is the third of a three-part series that includes: Part I: Reducing the IRS valuation (but not the real value) of Client Assets, Part II: Creative Use of Installment Sales and Specialized Trusts, and Part III: Using Annuities, Charitable Trusts, and Other Techniques. Private Annuity Sale (PAS) A private annuity…

Social Security Retirement Benefits

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: Hi- This question (below) doesn’t quite make sense to me. Could you clarify why the correct answer is D? Robin Elizabeth qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400. At her full retirement age, she will receive which of the following? Both $250…