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Good to Know: Six Key Factors in Choosing When to Claim Social Security Retirement Benefits
Good to Know We discussed Social Security claiming age coaching opportunities for savvy Financial Advisors in our last blog. Now we will provide added insights into six key factors that should influence the claiming age decision. A lifetime of careful retirement planning can be undermined with the wrong Social Security claiming age choice. Yet a…
Retirement Plan Required Minimum Distributions
Course: Retirement PlanningLesson 5: Leveraging Nonqualified Plans for Small Business and Not-For-Profit Employees and Owners Student Question: Hi- I’m trying to distinguish when the required minimum distribution amounts are at 72 years old versus when they are 70½. IRAs are now 72, correct? Is a 401k Plan and a 403b Plan at 70½? Thanks Tiffany Instructor…
Calculating Realized Compound Yield on a Bond
An investor bought a bond at par that matures in 15 years. The bond pays an annual coupon of $130 and the reinvestment rate is 9%. What is the realized compound yield of this bond? 11.05% 12.55% 13.00% 14.10% CLICK TO REVEAL ANSWER Expand A is the answer. One would anticipate a realized compound yield…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…