Blog

CFP® Practice Question of the Week: Must Know Tax Rules, Kiddie Tax

By Keir

Your client Beauregard has a daughter named Constance, age 16. Constance qualifies as a dependent on Beauregard’s income tax return. She has a passion for broadcasting and earned $3,000 as a part-time announcer in a local radio station this year. Beauregard transferred $100,000 into a high yield bond fund for Constance last year. The bond…

CFP® Practice Question of the Week: Financial Planning

By Keir

Five years ago, John and Barbara, who are in their mid-50s and have one adult child out of college, experienced a sharp increase in income (ten times) within a two-year period. Their lifestyle and the complexity of their financial situation increased respectively. Their income statement’s bottom line increased and their assets/liabilities expanded as well (third…

Student Question of the Week: Insurance

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Student Question from: Bill M.Course:  Insurance – Replacement Cost Student Question: I don’t understand Question 2. Why does the client have 97.2% of the coverage he needs? Doesn’t he have $14,000,000 in coverage? I thought he just had 77.7% of the required coverage. Where am I messing up? Peter purchased an apartment building for $15,000,000…

Good To Know: Will & Testament

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

What’s in your Last Will and Testament? Estate planning practice in the last two generations frequently included a Testamentary Trust for benefit of a couple’s children at the death of a parent.  This trust was known by a variety of names, including “Bypass Trust”, “Family Trust”, or “Credit Shelter Trust”.  Rather than specify the exact…

CFP® Practice Question of the Week: Financial Planning

By Keir

This question uses the same facts as the previous practice question: Harold and Mary Anne Miller are a married couple in their early 40s with three children, ages 7, 10, and 12. Harold earns $350,000 per year as General Counsel of a mid-sized IT firm and Mary Anne is a homemaker. They have major assets…

Student Question of the Week: Investments

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Student Question from: Ben H.Course:  Investments – Bonds and Interest Rate Relationship Student Question: From mid contraction to trough in the business cycle cycle, why do bonds do well? I don’t understand the relationship between bonds value going up if interest rates are going down? Please help. Thanks Instructor Response: Hi Ben! Your question brought…

Student Question of the Week: Taxation of Trusts and Estates

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Student Question from: Harry F.Course:  Estate Planning – Taxation of Trusts and Estates Student Question: In the statement below, regarding complex trusts, it states, “If income from the trust is distributed, it is taxed to the beneficiary; if accumulated, the tax is paid by the trust.”  So, would double taxation occur if a trust accumulates…

CFP® Practice Question of the Week: Financial Planning

By Keir

Harold and Mary Anne Miller are a married couple in their early 40s with three children, ages 7, 10, and 12. Harold earns $350,000 per year as General Counsel of a mid-sized IT firm and Mary Anne is a homemaker. They have major assets of $1,500,000 cash and $1,000,000 in stock options. They have done…

CFP® Practice Question of the Week: Taxable Gifts

By Keir

Kevin, a 55-year-old corporate executive, wants advice as to when he can retire. His current salary is $240,000 and he receives an annual bonus of $300,000; he also has annual stock options and restricted stock awards valued at $100,000. His employer contributes to a cash balance pension plan as and matches his contributions to a…