Blog
Solving for Annual Equivalent Rate
Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5: Using the Calculator Student Question: I am confused as to how to get the correct answer for question number 4. Jackie invests her bonus at the beginning of this calendar year. If she earns 7% compounded monthly, what is the annual equivalent rate? Round your answer to two decimal places. I solve for the future value…
Read More
Tax Saving Strategies
Dan and Karen Burles have 2 children, Coy (age 12, student) and Roger (age 21, student). Dan and Karen own a security equipment sales and installation business – an LLC. Dan and Karen are in the highest income tax bracket. They have a portfolio with $130,000 of municipal bonds (annual income $5,200), $80,000 of corporate…
Read More
Good to Know: Is The Stretch IRA Dead?
It’s been reported that the Stretch IRA is dead for eternity (or at least until Congress changes the rules again). A Stretch IRA, of course, is the strategy of delaying required minimum distributions from an inherited IRA for decades if not generations. Before the SECURE Act of 2019, the Stretch IRA strategy was highly effective…
Read More
High Deductible Health Plan Deductible and Out-of-Pocket
Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 7: Arriving at Adjusted Gross Income Student Question: Regarding the minimum deductible and maximum out-of-pocket limits for a high deductible health plan, could you explain more clearly “The minimum deductible must be at least $1,400 (single) or $2,800 (family)“. Does that mean, if single, an individual will pay at least $1,400 per doctor visit/procedure, but no more than the maximum out-of-pocket…
Read More
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 her…
Read More
CFP® Certificants in the News: Where Will Tomorrow’s CFP® Certificants Come From?
CFP Board Center for Financial Planning – Workforce Development Initiative CFP Board reports1 a “growing number of financial planners [will] retire” and sounds the alarm to avoid a “shortage of CFP® professionals to serve the increasing demand of the public.” One of the ways CFP Board is “building the talent pipeline” is through the Financial…
Read More
Internal Rate of Return Comparisons
Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5b: Using the HP 10b-II Calculator Student Question: For number 2 (below), should there be a CF of zero for Company B year one? It appears the explanation skips this cash flow. Bobby is investigating the cost of an alarm system for his home, which he thinks he will own for three years. Company A will charge him an…
Read More
Good to Know: Act Now to Take Advantage of Disaster Relief Provisions
The property and emotional damage left in the wake of a natural disaster may be compounded by financial stresses. For qualified disaster losses, recent legislation by our federal government could soften the financial impact. First, we’ll define what losses may qualify and then we will summarize key provisions of the legislation. A qualified disaster loss…
Read More
Sale of Home by Surviving Spouse
April’s husband Jay died 5 years ago when their home was worth $600,000. Due to the soft real estate market, April kept the house until the housing market recovered. She finally sold the home this year for $950,000. What is the amount of April’s taxable gain or loss if she bought the home jointly with…
Read More