Blog
Debt Reduction in 2025: Why It Matters for Financial Planners
CFP® Board In The News According to new research from the CFP Board, Americans are heading into 2025 with one financial goal top of mind: reducing debt. In fact, 97% of U.S. adults have set financial resolutions for the year, and debt repayment is the clear frontrunner.¹ This trend isn’t just a consumer sentiment shift-it’s…
Dependent Care Assistance Plan
Course: Retirement PlanningLesson 9: Building Retirement Wealth by Maximizing Fringe Benefits Student Question: Is a Dependent Care Assistance Plan (DCAP) funded by an Flexible Spending Account the same thing as a Dependent Care FSA? If not, could you provide some additional info as to how the two would work together (could an individual utilize both…
OASDI Disability Income Benefits
Which of the following statements concerning OASDI disability income benefits is correct? Disability is defined as the inability to perform all major duties of the insured’s own occupation. Unless specifically exempted, a waiting period of 12 months must be satisfied. If the disabled worker is also receiving workers compensation benefits, the full OASDI benefit is…
2025 Tax Changes: What CFP® Professionals Need to Know About the TCJA Sunset
CFP® Board In The News As the end of 2025 approaches, key provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) are set to expire, potentially reshaping the financial landscape for individuals and businesses alike. For Certified Financial Planner™ professionals-whether seasoned advisors or those preparing for certification-understanding these impending changes is crucial for effective client…
Internal Rate of Return Calculation
Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5b: Using the HP 10bII Calculator Student Question: In Example 2, the solution given has 6 years (including CF0) instead of 5. I believe the first year of Carl’s coin purchase should be CF0, but the fifth year – which includes a purchase and a sale – should be CF4.…
Life Insurance Policy Exclusions
Which of the following situations is most likely to be excluded from coverage under a standard life insurance policy? The insured dies from a heart attack while on vacation overseas. The insured dies in a car accident while driving under the influence of alcohol. The insured dies two months after purchasing the policy, and the cause…
Record Breaking March 2025 CFP Board Exam Results
CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board has announced the results of the March 2025 CFP® Certification Exam, which saw a record-breaking 3,854 candidates sit for the test during the March 18-25 window. This figure surpasses the March 2024 high of 3,683 exam-takers, signaling continued growth in the financial planning profession. The overall pass rate for…
Deductible Passive Activity Losses
Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 13: Passive Activities and the AMT Student Question: For this question I thought you were supposed to net the loss and income together? So I was looking for 30,000. Isn’t there a time where we are supposed to net together the losses and gains? Ray invests $75,000 into a limited partnership…
Refinance Payment Calculation
Dale refinanced his home mortgage to a 30-year fixed mortgage with biweekly payments. How much is each payment if he owed $350,000 at the time of the refinance and the interest rate is 3%? $680 $771 $1,136 $1,242 CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWER Expand A is the answer. Brandon pays his mortgage every two weeks which…