Blog

Chapter 13 Bankruptcy Means Test

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 13: Case Study Online Student Question: Hello- I am a little confused how one set amount – $100 – is the threshold for means testing a bankruptcy petitioner, when the amount of debt a borrower may owe can vary by large amounts. It would seem the amount left over (income minus allowable…

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Sale of Home by Surviving Spouse

By Dan Madden, CFP®

April’s husband Jay died 5 years ago when their home was worth $600,000. Due to the soft real estate market, April kept the house until the housing market recovered. She finally sold the home this year for $950,000. What is the amount of April’s taxable gain or loss if she bought the home jointly with…

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Millenial and Gen Z Clients Need Financial Advice

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Certificants in the News According to a recent CFP Board article, financial opportunity abounds in serving the Millenial and Gen Z generations. For example, the article reveals that “more than half of Americans were Millennials or younger as of July 2020. While the term ‘Millennial’ has been synonymous with ‘young adult’ throughout much of the…

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Supply and Demand

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 2: Economic Concepts and Consumer Protection Laws Student Question: Hello- I missed the below question because I thought number 2 was false. Wouldn’t price and demand move in a correlated way? The more the demand the higher the price? Which of the following statements concerning supply and/or demand is/are true?…

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Power of Attorney over Financial Affairs

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Laura is concerned she will develop Alzheimer’s disease later in life similar to her mother. Which of the following documents should Laura execute to make sure her son is able to handle her financial affairs in the event she does develop Alzheimer’s disease? Durable springing power of attorney Nondurable springing power of attorney Durable nonspringing…

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CFP Board’s Disciplinary Actions: Implications for the CFP Board Exam

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know Forewarned is forearmed when studying for the CFP Board exam or choosing a CFP® Certification program. In its latest release of public discipline, CFP Board telegraphs its continued priority for enforcing ethical conduct. Recent disciplinary actions include public censures, suspensions, and revocations. Public Censures Public censures were issued for: Selling securities without…

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Maximum Family Benefit

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: Hello- 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…

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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 Releases New Practice Exams

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates For several years, the CFP Board has provided CFP Board exam practice exams to help students prepare for the board exam.  Those exams have now been updated to mirror the format and content coverage of the CFP® Board Exam, which provides the closest possible experience to exam day.  In addition, upon completion…

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