Blog

Phantom Stock

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 5: Fundamental Equity Analysis Student Question: What is the difference between Stock options and Restricted stock plan or phantom stock? Seems confusing. Instructor Response:

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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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CFP Board Urges Senate to Pass Bill to Protect Seniors

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Certificants in the News You may be encouraged to know that the U.S. House of Representatives, regardless of their political party, can still rally behind a noble cause.  The Financial Exploitation Prevention Act passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 419 to 0 and now awaits action by the Senate. How exactly would…

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Unused Premium

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 8: Gift and Estate Valuation Student Question: Could you please clarify for me what the unused premium would be in term life insurance?  I don’t quite understand how you could not use the premium.  Thanks. Instructor Response: Certainly.   A lot of different terms in insurance, to be sure. Assume you pay $6,000…

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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 Launches Endowed Scholarship for Women

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board announced on May 1 the creation of an endowed scholarship program to fund the education of women who are aspiring to make an impact and become CFP® Professionals.  The scholarship is operated through the CFP Board Center for Financial Planning. This scholarship will award up to $5,000 a qualified…

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Calculating Late Filing/Paying Penalties

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 1: Introduction to Taxation Student Question: For this question, could you send me the math behind finding the answer?  I want a better understanding of how the penalty was assessed. Review Exercise: Jerry’s taxes were due April 15th. He filed his return in October of the same year, and paid his…

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Black-Scholes Option Valuation Model

By Dan Madden, CFP®

All of the following are correct about the impact of an increase in the single variable under the Black-Scholes Option Valuation Model EXCEPT: Market price has a positive impact on put options. Strike price has a positive impact on put options. Expiration time has a positive impact on call options Stock volatility has a positive…

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Executive Compensation—Restricted Stock

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know All that glitters is not gold. -French Monk Alain de Lille, 1175 Assume your client just received a grant of Restricted Stock from their employer. Congratulations are in order, but before they go out and use some of that grant “money” to celebrate, let’s understand exactly what they received and when they…

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