Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP® – Page 6

Interest Rate Risk in a Bond

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 10: Fixed Income Securities Analysis Student Question: 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 changes. What…

Top 5 Reasons to Become a CFP® Professional

Good to Know There’s seldom been a better time to consider a career as a financial advisor, financial planner, or both. While the scope of this article prevents the author from discussing every reason why, here are the top 5. 1) Client Trust and Respect Expand Client Trust and Respect — According to Forbes, CFP®…

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Means Test

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 13: Case Study Online Student Question: I am a little confused how one set amount – $100 – is the threshold for means testing a bankruptcy petitioner, when the amount of debt a borrower may owe can vary by large amounts. It would seem the amount left over (income minus allowable expenses)…

Current Ratio and Primary Residence

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 3: Personal Financial Statements Student Question: What role does the client’s primary residence play in the current ratio calculation? Is their outstanding mortgage loan amount considered a liability? Instructor Response: That’s a great question. The residence is not considered a liquid asset and is excluded from “assets” for the current ratio. Only debt…

The FED’s 50 Basis Point Interest Rate Cut

CFP® Certificants in the News CFP Board’s most recent newsletter advises that the “Federal Reserve announced a significant 50 basis point rate cut, surprising many who anticipated a smaller 25 basis point reduction.” CFP Board Ambassador Kurt Whitesell, CFP® highlighted the opportunity for investors to lock in high rates on CDs before further interest rate drops.” …

Interest Rate Risk in a Bond

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 10: Fixed Income Securities Analysis Student Question: 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 changes. What…

Having Your Cake and Eating It Too

Good to Know “She cannot eat her cake and have her cake.” Jonathan Swift, Polite Conversation 1738 What does this quote from almost 3 centuries ago have to do with Medicaid eligibility? Conventional wisdom tells us that no one can qualify for nursing home care under Medicaid insurance and simultaneously have assets or income in…

Retirement—Hope Is Not A Plan

Good to Know Just two of every ten workers are very confident about having a financially comfortable retirement, according to the EBRI® 34th Annual Retirement Confidence Survey. What is driving this lack of confidence? Factors include inflation fears, Social Security concerns, and a recession threat. Inflation—More than 8 of every 10 workers believe that just paying…

Value of Life Insurance in Buy-Sell Agreements

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 17: Business Uses of Life Insurance Student Question: Do buy sell agreements accounts 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)? Instructor Response:…

CFP® Practice Question: Gift and Generation Skipping Transfer Taxes

Austin, an unmarried man, has one son named Perry. Perry has one daughter named Kayla. Austin made no prior year taxable gifts but made two taxable gifts in the current year, including: A taxable gift to Perry in the amount of the current year basic exclusion amount on January 1 and A taxable gift to…