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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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Section 303 Redemption

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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Validating and Measuring Competency

By Dan Madden, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates For the past decade or so, the CFP Board has been putting an increased emphasis on the importance of being able to validate and measure competency for CFP Professionals.  While the certification itself signifies that someone has mastered the required body of knowledge, that knowledge alone isn’t enough to truly become a…

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Deducting Advisory Fees

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 10: Recognition of Expenses, Losses, and Deductions Student Question: Hi I read that advisory fees are no longer deductible.  So in this question (below), is it deductible because this is treated as a business deduction since Roger is Self-Employed? Alisha Sheridan, A CFP licensee and fee-only financial planner, has assisted Roger…

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Identifying Monetary Policy

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Which of the following is a monetary policy that will tighten the money supply? Sell government securities Lower the discount rate Decrease government spending Increase taxes CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWER Expand A is the answer. Selling government securities is a monetary policy that will tighten the money supply as the cash used to purchase the…

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Powers of Attorney – Autonomy vs. Protection

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know CFP Board expects CFP® Certificants to understand how to protect a client’s assets and guide health care decisions in the event of incapacity. Let’s make this personal – who would make medical decisions for you if you were temporarily unconscious or suffering from a debilitating disease such as Alzheimer’s? How about financial…

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