Blog
Closing the Gender Gap in Financial Planning
CFP® Certificants in the News Laura J. LaTourette, CFP® recently posted “How Women Can Help Close the Finance Gender Gap” on CFP Board’s Let’s Make A Plan website. According to Laura, “The disparity between the number of women and the number of men in the financial services industry has been a point of discussion for…
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Buy-Sell Agreement Premium Payments
Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 17: Business Uses of Life and Disability Insurance Student Question: Hope you’re well and keeping safe. I do have a quick question regarding buy/sell agreement; not clear who would pay the premiums on disability and/or life insurance on the principals and the key employees? Thanks Emerito Instructor Response: Hi Emerito, Great question. A buy-sell…
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Income Taxation of Disability Payments
Paula purchased an individual disability policy offered by her college alumni association to supplement the disability policy provided by her employer. Paula was out on disability for 6 months following a major heart attack. While on disability, Paula received $30,000 from her employer’s disability plan and $20,000 from her individual disability plan. How much of…
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Good to Know: Choosing the Right Social Security Retirement Age
In an AARP survey taken of individuals aged 44 through 75, more than three of every five surveyed would choose death over running out of money in retirement. Helping a client maximize their Social Security Retirement benefit can begin addressing this deep-seated fear. Coaching Opportunity What if you, the Financial Adviser, could make your clients…
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Plan Monitoring and Updating Responsibility
Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 9: CFP Board Regulatory Requirements Student Question: In Lesson 1, for Step 7, I have that a certificant is responsible for monitoring and updating only if explicitly called for in the scope of the engagement. In Lesson 9, I’m reading that the certificant is responsible unless explicitly excluded. Which is…
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Avoid 5 Score-Killing Mistakes on the CFP® Exam
CFP® Certificants in the News Those taking the CFP® Exam consistently lose vital points in 5 key areas: Failure to enroll in a review course, Lack of a disciplined study plan, Failure to answer enough practice questions, Failure to know the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct, and Lack of an exam-taking strategy We…
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Medicare Part A Expenses
Which of the following individuals currently covered by Medicare Part A will not have any of their expenses covered by Medicare Part A? Evan – who spent one week in hospice care before losing his battle with cancer. Felicia – who was treated by her doctor for strep throat Greg – who needed a walker…
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Good to Know: What Does Panic Selling and a Lion Have in Common?
Panic selling is painfully real. As but one example, S&P 500 investors lost almost 60% from 2007 to 2009 in the wake of the sub-prime mortgage default crisis. The chart to the right illustrates the breath-taking plunge of the S&P 500 from almost 1600 to 650 in less than 18 months. Here’s a sobering observation…
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Defining Basis Points
Course: Investment PlanningLesson 15: Fundamentals of Derivatives – Futures and Options Student Question: Can you please explain what Basis points are and how/why they are generally used? Thanks Lana Instructor Response: Hi Lana, There are 100 basis points in 1%. Basis points are merely a common method of measuring investment fees or returns. An exchanged-traded fund may charge…
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