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Maximum Family Benefit
Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: 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 benefits…
Appropriate Valuation Method
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 wants…
The “Secret” Social Security Payraise
Good to Know One of the beauties of Social Security Retirement benefits is the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). The COLA is simply an increase to a covered worker’s benefit to maintain their purchasing power. A covered worker is a worker from whose compensation Social Security taxes have been withheld. The long-term average annual COLA is 2.2%,…
Understanding the Relationship Between Coupon Rates and Duration
Course: Investment PlanningLesson 9: Fixed Income Securities Student Question: There is a question regarding duration that I continue to struggle with. Which of the following are true:1-Lower coupon bonds are more sensitive to interest rates than high coupon bonds.2-There is inverse relationship between bond prices and change in interest rates.3-There is a positive relationship between coupon rates and…
Basis of Inherited Property
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…
UNHOLY TRILOGY: COVID, REMOTE WORK, and CYBERCRIME
CFP® Certificants in the News Here’s how gravely CFP Board considers this issue as quoted from its September 9, 2021 Newsletter: “Financial planners are on the frontlines of America’s wealth. This makes them and their firms a high-value target for cyber criminals operating on the fringes of the internet.” Clients are increasingly aware of their…
Crummey Powers
Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 16: The Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust Student Question: Must Crummey powers always be in effect to apply the annual gift tax exclusion in order to transfer to an irrevocable trust? Or is it the case that as long as it was done once, will all transfers be eligible for the annual gift tax exclusion? Michael…
Reducing the AMT
Which of the following tax planning ideas would help Beth the most if she currently has to pay AMT taxes? Pay her $1,000 January mortgage payment before the end of the year. Pay her $2,000 January alimony payment to her ex-husband before the end of the year. Recognize a $3,000 short term capital gain on…
September 2021 CFP Board Newsletter
CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board periodically releases a newsletter summarizing recent updates, changes, and news. The September 16, 2021 edition includes: Survey of CFP® Professionals Shows Continued High Satisfaction with Career Choice, CFP® Certification CFP Board Requests Comments on Proposed Revisions to Sanction Guidelines and Procedural Rules by September 21 CFP Board Imposes Sanctions…