Blog

Various Sources of Income

By Dan Madden, CFP®

A client received an annual salary from his employment of $40,000. He was a 50% owner of both a C corporation and an S corporation. The C corporation had net profits of $20,000, and the S corporation had income of $10,000. Neither corporation made a distribution. The client’s revocable trust had income of $5,000 but…

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CFP Board Announces 2023 Academic Research Colloquium

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning announced the 7th annual Academic Reseach Colloquium for financial planning and related disciplines.  It will be held in person at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, VA.  The dates are December 7-8, 2023. The colloquium is an international meeting of researchers, practitioners, graduate…

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Maximum Family Benefit

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

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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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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Speak Now or Forever Hold Your Peace

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Certificants in the News CFP Board has a deadline of December 3 for you to post comments on it’s proposed revisions to sanction guidelines and fitness standards. A summary of the key proposed changes follow. “A revised inventory of 52 conduct categories that align with the Code and Standards A new list of 25 general aggravating and…

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Unused Premiums in Term Insurance

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 12: Types of Life Insurance Student Question: Could you help clarify the term “unused premiums” as it relates to term life insurance?  I guess I don’t see how you could have a premium not used in term life. Instructor Response: Assume you pay $6,000 in annual prepaid premiums on Jan 1 2020…

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Who is an Investment Advisor?

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Which of the following individuals need to register with the SEC under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940? Adam who retired last year from a big brokerage house but he recently started providing services to 12 clients who live in his neighborhood that he met while out golfing. Belinda who writes weekly investment articles for…

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CFP Board Compares Code of Standards to NAIC Model Regulation

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board has released a guide comparing the National Association of Insurance Commissioners’ (NAIC’s) Suitability in Annuity Transactions Model Regulation (MO-275-1) (Model Regulation) to the CFP Board’s Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct (Code of Standards).  The purpose of the comparison is to help CFP Professionals better understand key differences…

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Crummey Powers

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 16: The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Student Question: Must Crummey powers always be in effect to apply the annual gift tax exclusion in order to transfer to an irrevocable trust? Or is it the case that as long as it was done once, will all transfers be eligible for the annual gift tax exclusion? Instructor…

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