Blog
Tax Saving Strategies
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…
Relationships, Psychology, and Financial Issues
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,…
Internal Rate of Return Calculation
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.…
Refinance Payment Calculation
Jim refinanced his home mortgage to a 30-year fixed mortgage with biweekly payments. How much is each payment if he owed $450,000 at the time of the refinance and the interest rate is 6%? $923 $1,244 $1,412 $2,592 CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWER Expand B is the answer. Brandon pays his mortgage every two weeks which…
CFP Board Supports Expansion of Fiduciary Duty
CFP® Certificants in the News The Employee Retirement Investment Security Act of 1974 (ERISA) pioneered desperately needed reforms for employer provided retirement plans. As just one example of pre-ERISA abuses, some employers required lengthy vesting requirements and-in a flagrantly deplorable practice-terminated employees before they became vested to avoid paying pensions. Fifty years ago, ERISA rode…
Risk Premium versus Intrinsic Value
Course: Investment PlanningLesson 5: Fundamental Equity Analysis Student Question: After reading the following, I’m confused about the amount a participant is allowed to take out as a loan from a qualified plan. Would it be up to $50k of vested account balance or only up to $10k? Text states: As a general rule, a participant…
Basis on Sale of Gifted Stock
Which of the following individuals would typically qualify for accelerated death benefits under their term life insurance policy? Ida who is expected to die within 7 months from cancer. Jacob who is expected to die within 10 months from AIDS. Kay who is expected to die within 3 months from kidney failure. All of the…
CFP Board Announces 2023 Academic Research Colloquium Winners
CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board Center for Financial Planning held the 7th annual Academic Research Colloquium for financial planning and related disciplines. It was held December 7-8, 2023 at the Renaissance Arlington Capital View Hotel in Arlington, VA. The colloquium is an international meeting of researchers, practitioners, graduate students and leaders of the financial…
Vested versus Contingent Beneficiary
Course: Estate PlanningLesson 3: Understanding Trusts and Trust Documents Student Question: In the example, I would think Northwestern would have a future, contingent interest, as their interest is dependent upon the death of the wife. But the feedback tells me it’s a vested interest. Do we assume death is inevitable, and therefore not a contingent-worthy…