Blog

CELEBRATING BLACK HISTORY MONTH

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Certificants in the News CFP BOARD encourages CFP® certificants and candidates to attend a Feb. 24 televised event featuring CFP Board Chair Kamila Elliot, CFP®. Here’s the invitation-“Join CFP Board Chair Kamila Elliott, CFP® during CNBC’s special Financial Faces of Change LinkedIn Live event on February 24 at 1:00 p.m. (Eastern). To celebrate Black History during February,…

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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: Hi- 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…

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Tightening the Money Supply

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Which of the following is a monetary policy that will tighten the money supply? Sell government securities Lower the discount rate Decrease government spending Increase taxes CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWER Expand A is the answer. Selling government securities is a monetary policy that will tighten the money supply as the cash used to purchase the…

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How to Slash Gift, Estate, and Generation-Skipping Transfer Taxes: Part III

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know This blog is the third of a three-part series that includes: Part I: Reducing the IRS valuation (but not the real value) of Client Assets, Part II: Creative Use of Installment Sales and Specialized Trusts, and Part III: Using Annuities, Charitable Trusts, and Other Techniques. Private Annuity Sale (PAS) A private annuity…

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Social Security Retirement Benefits

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: Hi- This question (below) doesn’t quite make sense to me.  Could you clarify why the correct answer is D? Robin Elizabeth qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400. At her full retirement age, she will receive which of the following? Both $250…

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Refinance Payment Calculation

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Dale refinanced his home mortgage to a 30 year fixed mortgage with biweekly payments. How much is each payment if he owed $350,000 at the time of the refinance and the interest rate is 3%? $680 $771 $1,136 $1,242 CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWER Expand A is the answer. Brandon pays his mortgage every two weeks…

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CFP Board awards record number of scholarships in 2021

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning recently released great news regarding scholarships provided for CFP® Certification Education.  In 2021, the Center provided more than $300,000 in funds to 80 scholarship awardees.  In total, the Center has provided 180 scholarships, totaling more than $800,000 since the launch of the first scholarship program…

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Skewness versus Kurtosis

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 13: Asset Allocation Student Question: Hi- Can you help me understand the difference between Kurtosis and Skewness?  I can’t quite piece it together. Thanks Meg Instructor Response: Hi Meg, Entire books have been written on this topic but the following summary should get the points for you on the CFP® Board exam…

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Defined Benefit Plan Reversion Tax

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Lucky Star Corp has been extremely lucky with their defined benefit plan as it is currently overfunded. Management decided to terminate the plan while they are overfunded and share the excess with the employees. What amount of reversion tax will Lucky Star Corp have to pay upon termination? 0% 10% 20% 50% CLICK TO REVEAL…

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