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Deducting Gifts to Customers

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 10: Recognition of Expenses, Losses, and Deductions Student Question: Can you clarify the deductibility of gifts when we’re talking about employees of a business versus self-employed individuals?  It seems the rules have changed on these. Instructor Response: An employee (W2 employee or statutory employee) can no longer deduct unreimbursed gifts to…

Appropriate Valuation Method

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Sam McBuck has an estate of $10 million and would like to leave it to his nephews. Sam assumes he will live for at least 5 more years. The property in Sam’s estate currently includes the following assets: –  An apartment building in downtown New York that Sam owns with three partners, each of whom…

Financial Planning and Happy Marriages

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know Question: What can be a more common cause for divorce than infidelity? Answer: Unresolved money conflicts.1   While being on the same page over money may not guarantee the coveted fiftieth anniversary, fighting over money can undermine marriages well before the golden anniversary. The issues vary, but communication around marital finances can…

Life Insurance in a Cross-Purchase Buy-Sell Agreement

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 17: Business Uses of Life and Disability Insurance Student Question: I have a quick question regarding buy/sell agreement. I’m not clear on who would pay the premiums on disability and or life insurance on the principals and the key employees? Instructor Response: Great question.  A buy-sell agreement relates to owners of the…

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…

Get the Bear, or the Bear Gets You

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know Loss aversion, taken to its extreme, can wreck long-term retirement planning and investment success. We’ll unpack what drives “irrational” loss aversion, identify a dangerous decision error, and illustrate a potential guardrail to remain on track with our long-term investing plans. “Irrational” Loss Aversion We’re a logical, evolved species, right? Before you answer,…

Clarifying Tort Liability

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Retirement PlanningLesson 2: Qualified Plan Advantages and Disadvantages for Employees and Business Owners Student Question: Hi, I have a few questions regarding tort liability. Negligence is Tort Liability?  Why isn’t it contractual?  Are all torts criminal in nature?  Instructor Response: Hi, Good questions here.  See below for my response to each. Yes Tort law…

Transfer of Interest in Property Held in Joint Tenancy

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Gary Chapelle owns a duplex with his brother in joint tenancy with right of survivorship. Gary would like to pass his interest in the property to his son, Bill, and Gary has provided in his will that his interest in the duplex will pass to Bill. Which of the following statements concerning the transfer of…

CFP Board Announces Dates for 2022 Conference

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates The 2022 CFP Board Conference will be the first year for a combined conference of CFP Board Registered Programs and the Annual Firms Summit.  This exclusive conference is an intersection of today’s employers of CFP® Professionals and the colleges and universities preparing the CFP® Professionals of tomorrow. The conference will be held…