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No Additional Cost Services Exclusion
Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 6: Employer-Sponsored Total Income Exclusions Student Question: For “No Additional Cost Services” provided by an employer, which are excluded from employee income, there is the requirement that no significant costs are incurred. How is “significant” cost determined? Significant sounds subjective. Is there a general rule for determining what is considered significant?…
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Possible Penalties on Tax Return
Terry received a notice from the IRS correcting a math error on his individual income tax return. As a result, Terry owes $1,000 in taxes, penalties and interest. Which of the following is the most likely penalty or interest assessed against Terry? Understatement penalty Failure to file penalty Fraud penalty Underpayment penalty CLICK TO REVEAL…
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CFP Board Releases Book on CFP History
CFP® Board Updates To commemorate the 50th anniversary of CFP® certification, the CFP Board has published The First 50 Years of CFP® Certification: The Standard for Financial Planning, written by Michelle Kruger, Ph.D., CFP®. Filled with memories and forward-looking insights from individuals who helped lead the CFP® certification’s development over the years. To purchase the book,…
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Annual Return and Compounding
Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5: Using the Calculator Student Question: My question relates to being able to clearly distinguish when the CFP Board exam will require an annual, or other period for the answer. Question 5(b) asks: “What is the rate of return on Investment 2 using daily compounding?” What is the annual rate…
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Owner of a Grantor Trust
In which of the following situations would the grantor of a trust not be considered the owner? The grantor has a reversionary interest in the trust, of which the grantor’s son is the sole beneficiary, but the grantor cannot exercise this power until eight years after transfer of property to the trust. The grantor retains…
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Social Security Bankruptcy—Fear or Fact?
Good to Know Social Security consists of two major benefit programs-disability and retirement/survivorship. We’ll address these programs in just a moment, but first, the author will contrast the crucial difference between Social Security “solvency” and “bankruptcy.” Solvency is the ability to pay 100% of benefits. Bankruptcy is the inability to make any significant benefit payments.…
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Maximum Family Benefit
Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: Does the maximum family benefit apply to a husband and wife that are both fully insured if the combined total between the two exceeds the maximum family limit? If I understand correctly, the maximum family limit only applies if there are beneficiaries within the family receiving benefits…
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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…
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Will 401(k) Rollovers Equal Advisors’ Fiduciary Responsibility?
CFP® Certificants in the News The CFP Board’s recent news release opined that “The Department of Labor’s new retirement security rule standard expanding fiduciary duties will likely face legal opposition. Advocates for the rule, including CFP Board, plan to submit amicus briefs in support of the DOL in any lawsuits.” The news release cites an…
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