Blog

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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Cryptocurrency, Financial Planners/Advisors, and Client Expectations

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Certificants in the News Cryptocurrency was considered a highly speculative, if not a suspiciously bizarre novelty, when Bitcoin was introduced anonymously in 2009. Fast forward to today – Cryptocurrency and other digital assets have skyrocketed in popularity. For example, Bitcoin holdings alone in 2021 are estimated at over one trillion dollars, and the federal…

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Social Security Widower Benefits

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: When it comes to social security widower’s benefit’s, is the widow eligible to take his/her SS benefit early (age 62) and then switch over to the deceased spouse’s full benefit at 67? Or would the widow only be eligible for one of the two benefits?  Thanks Cooper…

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Ratio Percentage Test

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Assume that, of the 100 employees eligible for participation in G Company’s qualified pension plan, 20 are highly-compensated employees, and all 20 participate. What is the minimum number of G Company’s nonhighly-compensated employees that must participate in G Company’s qualified pension plan to meet the ratio percentage test? 20 50 56 70 CLICK TO REVEAL…

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Value of CFP® Certification to Female Advisors

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates A recent independent study from AITE group revealed the strengths and unique characteristics female CFP® Professionals bring to wealth management practices and their clients.  And in line with the CFP Board’s view, the study also concluded an urgent need for more female CFP® Professionals – specifically client facing. The study, titled “Building…

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Social Security Retirement Benefits

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: This question (below) doesn’t quite make sense to me.  Could you clarify why the correct answer is D? Robin Elizabeth qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400. At her full retirement age, she will receive which of the following? Both $250 and…

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Defining an Insurance Contract

By Dan Madden, CFP®

A Sec. 303 redemption is most likely appropriate for which of the following estates? At Fred’s death, Fred owned all of his assets including the stock of a closely-held corporation in joint tenancy WROS with his wife. Before Gloria’s death, she transferred all of her assets including the stock in a closely-held corporation to an…

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Personal Umbrella Liability Insurance Isn’t Only for the Rich

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know Conventional wisdom would have us believe that personal umbrella liability policies are needed only when one’s net worth exceeds $1,000,000. The purpose of this blog is to challenge that potentially dangerous assumption. As background, we live in an amazing country, land of the free because of the brave. Yet the United States…

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Annual Return and Compounding

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5: Using the Calculator Student Question: My question relates to being able to clearly distinguish when the CFP Board exam will require an annual, or other period for the answer. Question 5(b) asks: “What is the rate of return on Investment 2 using daily compounding?” What is the annual rate…

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