Blog

Annual Return and Compounding

By Dan Madden, CFP®

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…

Read More

Defining an Insurance Contract

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Olivia is a 25-year old single mother with twin girls who just turned three. Olivia has worked for the last 5 years as an administrative assistant for a local law firm. Olivia’s firm provides her with a basic medical insurance policy and a split definition disability. Which of the following is the biggest risk exposure…

Read More

CFP Board Announces new Chair-Elect

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates At its July meeting, The CFP Board of Directors announced that it has elected Terri Kallsen as its 2025 Board Chair-Elect.  She will serve as the Chair of the Board if Directors in 2026.  Liz Miller, the 2024 Chair-Elect, will serve as Chair of the Board in 2025. To learn more about…

Read More

Coverdell ESA versus 529

By Dan Madden, CFP®

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 since…

Read More

Underinsured Dwelling

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Tom carries an H0-3 policy with $300,000 of coverage and a $3,500 deductible. It would cost $500,000 to rebuild Tom’s house. How much will his insurance company pay on a $100,000 claim related to a fire that started in Tom’s kitchen? $68,000 $71,500 $96,500 $100,000 CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWER Expand B is the answer. Tom…

Read More

Millennials Financial Milestone Survey

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Certificants in the News Let’s face it, millennials get a bad rap at times in the popular press over their financial discipline.  But couldn’t most of us do better at this discipline?  Is everything we read on the internet true and unbiased?  After reading this article, we encourage you to consider that, just like…

Read More

Dependent Care Assistance Plan

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

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…

Read More

Defining a Stock Spread

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Which of the following combinations correctly describes a spread? A combination of a short sale and a purchase of a call for the same stock A combination of buying and selling calls on the same stock with different expiration dates and exercise prices A combination of a put and a call on the same stock…

Read More

Women’s Guide to Social Security Retirement Benefits

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know This article is the first in a series of Social Security retirement topics for women, including guides for: Married Women, Divorcees, and Single Women. We begin with retirement benefits for married women. Spousal Retirement Benefits We don’t have to like certain demographic facts to help our clients plan around them. Here’s a…

Read More