Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP® – Page 33

Powers of Attorney – Autonomy vs. Protection

Good to Know CFP Board expects CFP® Certificants to understand how to protect a client’s assets and guide health care decisions in the event of incapacity. Let’s make this personal – who would make medical decisions for you if you were temporarily unconscious or suffering from a debilitating disease such as Alzheimer’s? How about financial…

Deducting Gifts to Customers

Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 10: Recognition of Expenses, Losses, and Deductions Student Question: Hi Can you clarify for me the deductibility of gifts when we’re talking about employees of a business versus self-employed individuals? It seems the rules have changed on these. Thanks for your help. Kyle Instructor Response: Hi Kyle, Thank you for the…

CFP Board of Directors Positions Open

CFP® Certificants in the News Here is your chance to add your client-facing, practical financial planning perspective to CFP Board’s governing body in 2022. The following excerpt was taken from the CFP BOARD REPORT published on May 20, 2021. “CFP Board is now accepting applications from individuals interested in serving on CFP Board’s Board of…

Specialized Long-Term Care Insurance for Middle-Income Americans

Good to Know Long-term care costs can consume hundreds of thousands of dollars regardless of an individual’s wealth but the risk is often managed differently by wealth demographic. The uber-wealthy may self-insure, the desperately poor may rely on Medicaid, and middle-income Americans may buy LTC insurance. This blog will illustrate a powerful long-term care insurance…

Revocable versus Grantor Trusts

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 9: Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates Student Question: Can you refer me to a comparison (or just write a few notes) on how a grantor trust differs from a revocable trust and how a non-grantor trust differs from an irrevocable trust? They seem synonymous respectively to each other. Thank you! Thanks…

What You Don’t Know About Social Security Can Hurt You

Good to Know Social Security benefits are key to most Americans’ quality of financial life during retirement. Yet, an alarming number of those approaching retirement do not have a basic understanding of Social Security benefits. Twelve basic questions were posed to 1,5001 pre-retirees to gauge their Social Security knowledge. Take the quick quiz below to…

ALERT for CFP® Candidates – Add Points to Your Score

CFP® Certificants in the News Those planning to take the CFP® Exam must be aware of how recent changes to the exam structure could affect your score. We will identify the exam change and the takeaway that could add points to your score. The Exam Change The CFP® Exam was traditionally structured as a 170-question,…

Value of Life Insurance in Buy-Sell Agreements

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 17: Business Uses of Life Insurance Student Question: Do Buy-Sell Agreements account for projected growth of the company? Do the life insurance benefits increase over time to account for projected growth, or perhaps can they invest and grow conservatively to keep up with inflation (or COLA on the plan)? Thanks, Thomas Instructor…

5 Habits of Successful CFP Exam Takers

CFP® Certificants in the News This blog is dedicated to CFP® Candidates, especially those planning to take the CFP Board Exam soon. What better place to begin planning than planning to pass the CFP Board Exam? By the way, hope is not a plan. Hope is a wonderful quality but we need a specific, sequential…

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. Thanks, Michael Instructor Response: Hi Michael, Assume you pay $6,000 in annual prepaid premiums…