Blog

Medicare Part A Expenses

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Which of the following individuals currently covered by Medicare Part A will not have any of their expenses covered by Medicare Part A? Evan who spent one week in hospice care before losing his battle with cancer. Felicia who was treated by her doctor for Strep throat. Greg who was needed a walker following hip…

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Student Loan Forgiveness Fraud

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know The Federal Trade Commission cautions that “scammers might try and tell you they can help you avoid repayments, lower your payments, or get your loans forgiven – for a price.” That sage advice could not be more timely. Whenever there’s confusion over student loans and dishonest money to be had, scammers flock…

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Skip Persons and the Generation Skipping Transfer Tax

By Dan Madden, CFP®

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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Like-Kind Exchange

By Dan Madden, CFP®

William found someone to buy his rental property in Maine. Which of the following properties that William would like to purchase as rental property would allow him to complete a like-kind exchange? A golf course rental property in Arizona that William identified 30 days after selling his Maine property. A beach rental house at the…

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CFP Professionals Highly Satisfied With their Career

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates A 2023 Survey of CFP® Professionals shows overwhelming satisfaction with their career choice.  Furthermore, they fully believe the certification has a positive impact on their career. 87% of CFP® Professionals are satisfied with their career 89% are satisfied with their decision to pursue CFP® Certification An overwhelming 86% would recommend others pursue…

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Interest Rate Risk in a Bond

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 10: Fixed Income Securities Analysis Student Question: I’m not clear why holders of long-term bonds are subject to interest rate risk. If a 20-year bond is purchased at par with a coupon rate of 6.25% ($62.50/year), it seems to me that the investor would still receive $62.50 a year regardless of interest rate changes. What…

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Tax Saving Strategies

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Dan and Karen Burles have 2 children, Coy (age 12, student) and Roger (age 21, student). Dan and Karen own a security equipment sales and installation business, an LLC. Dan and Karen are in the highest income tax bracket. They have a portfolio with $130,000 of municipal bonds (annual income $5,200), $80,000 of corporate bonds…

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Relationships, Psychology, and Financial Issues

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know CFP Board’s focus on the psychology of financial planning led to a new domain topic- The Psychology of Financial Planning. Our focus in today’s article is on financial tensions in relationships. According to The Practitioner Resource Guide (Guide) offered by CFP Board, three common relationship tensions include Financial Enabling, Financial Control, and,…

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Internal Rate of Return Calculation

By Dan Madden, CFP®

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.…

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