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Serving Women Clients: A $30 Trillion Opportunity for CFP® Professionals
Good to Know As the financial planning profession continues to evolve, one opportunity is coming into sharper focus: the need for more intentional, strategic planning for women clients. With an estimated $30 trillion in assets projected to shift into the hands of American women by the end of the decade, financial planners who neglect to…
Passing Property Via Will
Course: Investment PlanningLesson 14: Evaluation Portfolio Performance 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…
Optimal Retirement Benefits
John and Maria are both 62 years old and considering when to begin collecting Social Security retirement benefits. John has a higher earnings history than Maria. Maria did not work for many years while raising their children and has lower lifetime earnings. They are trying to maximize their combined lifetime benefits. Which of the following…
The Financial Planning Longitudinal Study: Demonstrating the Value of CFP® Professionals
CFP® Board Updates In a profession driven by trust, data matters. For years, CFP® professionals have asserted that their training, ethical standards, and comprehensive approach deliver superior value to clients. Now, new evidence from the CFP Board’s Financial Planning Longitudinal Study provides compelling support for that claim. This multi-year research project tracked the financial behaviors…
Coverdell ESA versus 529
Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 7: Educational Aid and Funding Calculation Student Question: So is there ever any benefit to choosing a Coverdell ESA over a 529 Plan? It seems the big difference in the two is that the Coverdell has an AGI limit, so why would you just not always steer clients towards 529 Plans…
Characteristics of a Will
Which of the following statements concerning a Will are correct? (1) A will can be altered, amended, or completely rewritten at any time before a person’s death. (2) A will cannot be rewritten but can be amended at any time by a codicil. (3) A will must be signed by the maker and usually must…
Integrating Psychology into Financial Planning: Enhancing Client Relationships and Outcomes
Good to Know One of the most significant additions to the CFP® curriculum in recent years is the formal inclusion of the Psychology of Financial Planning as a core knowledge domain. This shift reflects a broader recognition that effective financial planning requires more than technical expertise – it demands insight into human behavior, communication, and…
Social Security Widower Benefits
Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: 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? Instructor Response:…
Generation Skipping Transfer Tax
Which of the following transfers would most likely trigger the Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Tax, assuming the applicable exemptions have already been fully used? A grandmother gifts $18,000 to her grandson’s 529 college savings plan. A father transfers $10 million to his daughter as part of his estate plan. A grandfather creates a trust that distributes $2…