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Skip Persons and the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Course:  Estate PlanningLesson 7: Transfer Taxation IV – Generation-Skipping Transfers Student Question: Regarding the example below, would the death of the father Stephen not move Andrew one step up, making him only one generation below Mrs. Jones? Would this not remove the Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax? EXAMPLE: Upon her death, Mrs. Jones left her estate in trust to provide income for life to…

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Possible Penalties on Tax Return

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Terry received a notice from the IRS correcting a math error on his individual income tax return. As a result, Terry owes $1,000 in taxes, penalties and interest. Which of the following is the most likely penalty or interest assessed against Terry? Understatement penalty Failure to file penalty Fraud penalty Underpayment penalty CLICK TO REVEAL…

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Good to Know: Reducing Financial Exploitation of Seniors

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

The financial exploitation of seniors, especially those with diminished financial capacity, is an urgent issue. How prevalent is this shameful practice? The National Council on Aging estimates that seniors lose an estimated $37 billion annually or more in the U.S.A. The AARP makes this huge number a bit more personal when it estimates the average…

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Pre- and Post-1987 After-Tax 401(k) Contributions

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Course:  Retirement PlanningLesson 7: Income Distribution Planning for Qualified Plans Student Question: Regarding the after-tax example: Wouldn’t the full $10,000 hardship come first from the $80,000 that was contributed pre-1987? Don’t you exhaust the $80,000 before concerning yourself with the exclusion ratio? From the Course: Once the pre-1987 after-tax contributions have been withdrawn, or if none existed, all other after-tax contributions are withdrawn on…

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Defining an Insurance Contract

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Olivia is a 25-year-old single mother with twin girls who just turned three. Olivia has worked for the last 5 years as an administrative assistant for a local law firm. Olivia’s firm provides her with a basic medical insurance policy and a split definition disability. Which of the following is the biggest risk exposure for…

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Requirements to Take CFP® Exam from Home or Work

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

CFP® Board Updates CFP Board continues to offer COVID19 risk mitigation for qualified candidates. Key excerpts from recent CFP Board FAQs follow: What is Remote Proctoring? “…an exam delivery method that allows candidates to take the CFP® Exam from home or a location of their choice, rather than at a Prometric test center. CFP Board’s…

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Personal versus Bodily Injury

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Course:  Insurance PlanningLesson 4: Homeowners Insurance Student Question: Is there a definition for personal injury as noted under the personal injury endorsement? FROM LESSON: The personal injury endorsement expands the Section II liability coverage to include “personal injury” and “bodily harm, sickness or disease.” How does this vary from bodily injury that is covered without an endorsement? Thanks. Matthew Instructor…

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Defining an Insurance Contract

By Dan Madden, CFP®

Which of the following statements concerning insurance contracts is not correct? An insurance contract is bilateral because both the insurer and the insured make legally enforceable promises. In an insurance contract, the insurer has made legally enforceable promises for which it can be sued for breach of contract. Because property insurance contracts are personal, it…

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Step Aside Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, There’s a New Sheriff in Town

By Bruce Starks, CPA, CFP®

Good to Know Before the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA), a business with an available net operating loss (NOL)1 could offset as much as 100% of taxable income for two previous years (“NOL carryback”) or up to 20 years in the future (“NOL carryforward”). Carrying the loss back to previous years often generated an…

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