Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP® – Page 50

Mortgage-Backed Bonds and Mortgage Pools

Student Question: Course: Investment Planning Lesson 9: Fixed Income Securities I don’t clearly understand how money is made in the mortgage-backed bond process. What are mortgage pools? Does the investor make money from the interest of the pooled mortgages? What if the mortgages default? Thanks, Kevin Instructor Response: Great question. Here’s a quick example: John Doe…

Medical and Charitable Travel Mileage Deductibility after 2017

Course: Income Tax Planning Lesson 8: Arriving at Taxable Income Student Question: Hi – I know that the Miscellaneous Deduction has been suspended; therefore, reimbursed employee mileage is no longer deductible. Can individuals still deduct mileage related to medical and charitable travel? If so, how is this deduction taken? Thanks! Justin P Instructor Response: Hi Justin, Good question…

Good to Know: Should you Convert to a C Corporation for the 21% Tax Rate?

Conventional wisdom says that sole proprietorships, partnerships, Sub-S Corporations and certain LLCs (“pass-through” business structures) should strongly consider converting from their present business form into a C Corporation (C Corp). Why? The 21% C Corp income tax rate from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act can be seductive, especially when personal income tax rates can…

Student Question of the Week: Market Risk Premium

Student Question from AlisonCourse: Investment Planning Student Question: Can you help explain this question better? If the market risk premium were to increase, doesn’t that mean the amount of compensation and investor desires would increase, so the value of stock would need to increase further? Board Released Question If the market risk premium were to increase, the value…

Why Become a CFP® Certificant?

The Financial Planning profession is expected to grow dramatically in the near term according to a recent CFP Board newsletter. The Board expects the need for personal financial advisors to shoot up by some 41% in the near term and continue leading the average occupation growth through 2020. If you are currently practicing as a…

Student Question of the Week: The Applicable Exclusion Amount

Student Question from Andy MCourse: Estate Tax Planning Student Question: A correct response to a question in the textbook reads, “If an individual does not use the Unified Credit, it cannot be TRANSFERRED to others for their use.” Although the 2014 Unified Credit of $2,081,800 is not the same as the $5,340,000 Applicable Exclusion Amount,…

Bipartisan Solutions for America’s Broken Tax Code

Congressman Dave Camp (R-MI), Chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, recently released draft legislation dubbed The Tax Reform Act of 2014 (TRA 2014). TRA 2014 aims at job growth, a simpler and fairer tax code, and putting more hard-earned income back into the hands of taxpayers. Laudable goals all, but the bigger news…

Secrets of the Roth IRA

It would be a mistake to consider the Roth IRA (or Designated Roth account) merely for the income tax-free qualified distributions. There’s more, much more, to the Roth and we’ll reveal a condensed thumbnail of just three commonly overlooked benefits. 1) Minimize the 3.8% Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT) Because the NIIT is based in…

Student Question of the Week: FDIC versus SIPC

Student Question from Leslie GCourse: Fundamentals of Financial Planning Student Question: I thought that all investments were SIPC covered; however, does that change for an IRA invested in a money market fund or CDs? Thanks! Instructor Response: Hi Leslie! The purpose of the FDIC is solely to provide consumer confidence in our nation’s banking system.…

Student Question of the Week: Prorate Section 2032A Recapture?

Student Question from Greg CCourse: Income Tax Planning Student Question: Is the recapture full or is it prorated? I looked at Section 2032A and couldn’t quickly tell although it does not appear to be prorated. That is a complex Code section and the slide appears to do a nice job of distilling it down to…