Blog

Present Value versus Payment Function on Calculator

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 7: Educational Aid and Funding Calculation Student Question: Hello- In Step 5: solving for LUMP SUM needed today… Step 5: Determine funding actually needed Lump sum needed TODAY to fund the full cost of college education. How come we are solving for PV and not PMT? Thanks Kelly Instructor Response: Hi…

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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’S PUBLIC AWARENESS CAMPAIGN

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Certificants in the News CFP Board is on a mission to make consumers aware of a certificant’s value to their quality of life. Here is what the CFP Board says about awareness: “CFP Board’s current Public Awareness Campaign, With a CFP® Professional, raises awareness among consumers of the difference that a CFP® professional can make…

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Coverdell ESA versus 529

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 7: Educational Aid and Funding Calculation Student Question: Hello- So is there ever any benefit to choosing a Coverdell ESA over a 529 Plan? It seems the big difference in the two is that the Coverdell has an AGI limit, so why would you just not always steer clients towards 529 Plans…

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Basis of Inherited Property

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Bill Farmer bought 1,000 acres of farmland for $300,000. When his oldest son married, Bill gave him 400 acres for a farm. When Bill died this year, the remaining 600 acres were divided in Bill’s will between his two younger sons. The 600 acres had a fair market value at Bill’s death of $600,000. Which…

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Investment Risk on the CFP Board Exam: Part II

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know This blog is the second in a four-part series that includes: Part I: When to trust the “mean” return, Part II: Using standard deviation to manage investment risk, Part III: Skewness-Do we want negative or positive skew in our portfolio?, and Part IV: Kurtosis of a return distribution-Is more kurtosis a good…

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Passing Property Via Will

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 1: Property Ownership Student Question: Hello- I’m a little confused about the example (below) discussing an heirloom of only sentimental value. Why would this be titled at all for a will, especially since an earlier lecture said items of no value would pass through will as the situation does not involve a…

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Like-Kind Exchange

By Dan Madden, CFP®

William found someone to buy his rental property in Maine. Which of the following properties that William would like to purchase as rental property would allow him to complete a like-kind exchange? A golf course rental property in Arizona that William identified 30 days after selling his Maine property. A beach rental house at the…

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CFP Board Launches CFP® Certification Diversity Scholarship

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board Center for Financial and Financial Alliance for Racial Equality (FARE) are launching a new scholarship for attaining CFP® Certification.  This scholarship is aimed towards advancing the profession by growing the next generation of diverse CFP® Professionals. For students seeking to complete a certificate-level CFP Board registered program, up to…

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