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Establishing a Proper Emergency Fund
Jan, a single 35-year-old marketing manager, earns $90,000 annually and has monthly living expenses of $5,000, which include rent, utilities, food, transportation, and minimum debt payments. She has $8,000 in a high-yield savings account and $12,000 in a taxable brokerage account. Sarah wants to ensure she has an adequate emergency fund. Which of the following…
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AI — A Financial Advisor’s Friend
Good to Know AI can be a competitive advantage for savvy financial advisors. While its potential applications for financial advisors are yet to be fully realized, here are just 6 strategies to consider. Contact more clients– AI can assist in making your client communications more frequent, targeted, and meaningful. For example, AI can manage client…
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Skip Persons and the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax
Course: Estate PlanningLesson 7: Transfer Taxation IV – Generation Skipping Transfers Student Question: Regarding example below, would the death of the father, Stephen, not move Andrew one step up making him only one generation below Mrs. Jones? Would this not remove the generation skipping transfer tax? EXAMPLE: Upon her death, Mrs. Jones left her estate…
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Choosing Appropriate Life Insurance
Sarah, a 40-year-old single mother with two dependent children, is looking for life insurance coverage to provide financial security for her family. She has a stable job with a salary of $80,000 per year, $50,000 in savings, and a mortgage balance of $250,000. Sarah wants a policy that offers the most affordable way to provide…
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CFP Board Announces Retirement of CEO
CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board has announced that Kevin R. Keller, CAE, will retire as Chief Executive Officer on April 30, 2026, after nearly two decades of leadership. During his tenure, Keller played a pivotal role in transforming the CFP Board and elevating the financial planning profession. To ensure a seamless transition, the Board…
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Premium Payments on Buy-Sell Agreements
Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 17: Business Uses of Life and Disability Insurance Student Question: I have a quick question regarding buy/sell agreement; not clear who would pay the premiums on disability and or life insurance on the principals and the key employees? Instructor Response: Great question. A buy-sell agreement relates to owners of the business while…
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Reducing the Estate Tax
Michael, a 68-year-old widower, wants to ensure that his estate passes efficiently to his two children while minimizing estate taxes and avoiding probate. His estate is valued at $5 million, and he has a revocable living trust, a will, and a durable power of attorney. Which of the following strategies would be most effective in…
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Free Money From Social Security For Public Sector Retirees
Good to Know Your client, or their parents, may be entitled to increased retirement benefits from Social Security as a result of The Social Security Fairness Act of 2025 (the Act). Specifically public service workers may have been penalized if they qualified for Social Security Retirement benefits and they worked in a private sector job.…
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Donating Short-term Appreciated Securities
Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 15: Property Transactions Student Question: In the lesson, deducting donations of ‘cash’ versus ‘long term appreciated securities’ are differentiated. I’m curious about “short term appreciated securities”. In other words, if I own a stock – bought at $10,000 and it’s worth $50,000 when I donate, but I’ve only owned it 6…
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