News & Updates – Online CFP Program

Four Reasons NOT to Rely on Social Security Disability Insurance

Good to Know You just asked your client about their long-term disability plan. They replied “I have that covered. I have Social Security Disability Insurance.” Here’s a hint for the rest of this article—your client probably does NOT have this risk “covered” if that’s the only disability insurance they have. There are at least four…

“Per Capita” Fee for CFP Board Exam Takers Begins January 1

CFP® Board Updates Students of our CFP Certification Education Programs are aware, but this may serve as a reminder, the CFP Board will begin charging the $195 “Per Capita” fee on January 1, 2023. What is the Per Capita Fee? When a student completes this program, we report it to the CFP Board, and the…

Does Your Client Really Need an Estate Plan?

Good to Know How many of your clients think a great evening is sitting around a roaring fireplace on a cold night, drinking an excellent Merlot, and discussing death with their sweetheart? The author’s guess (and hope!) is about zero. Yet, even though that romantic setting is not the best time to discuss estate planning,…

How Financially Resilient Were Americans During the Pandemic?

CFP® Certificants in the News You may be surprised by some of the conclusions drawn about our financial resilience as a nation according to an article posted in CFP Board’s FINANCIAL PLANNING REVIEW dated May 12, 2022. We’ll frame this discussion in three parts: Context, Methodology, and Findings. Context According to the article, “the economic…

Social Security Survivorship Challenge

Good to Know It’s been said that there are two kinds of CFP Board exams—those that test Social Security moderately and those that test it heavily. From a larger perspective, CFP Board tells us that almost one of every five questions on the average exam will test the examinee’s knowledge of the Retirement Savings and…

CFP Board Announces 2022 Academic Research Colloquium Conference

CFP® Board Updates The CFP Board and the Center for Financial Planning have announced the dates for the 2022 Academic Research Colloquium for Financial Planning. The conference will be held at the Conrad Washington, DC on October 24th and 25th, 2022. The Colloquium, which is an initiative of the Center for Financial Planning, is a…

Are You Protecting Your Money From Identity Thieves?

Good to Know Anyone with assets, an income stream, or a good credit score can be exposed to identity theft. But before going deeper, let’s dispel a few myths—identify theft happens not only to the wealthy but also to the poor, not only to seniors but also to the young, and not only to financial…

The Psychology of Financial Planning

CFP® Certificants in the News Rational clients seem to make irrational financial decisions to the puzzlement and frustration of financial advisors. Why? One school of thought blames our emotions for our financial miscues. Regrettably, we are not always self-aware of the power wielded by our sub-conscious emotions in the following behaviors and more: The buy-high/sell-low…

Prepare for the CFP Board Exam

CFP® Certificants in the News You’re completing or have just completed the coursework required to take the CFP Board exam (the exam). Now what? Here are the potential next steps for you: Respect the exam’s breadth and depth, Budget your study time, Register for the exam, Use CFP Board resources, and Take a review course.…

Winners and Losers in the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act

Good to Know Laws enacted by those ladies and gentlemen we send to Congress are seldom a panacea for all. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act certainly fits that mold, as will be evident as we summarize the winners and losers under the Act. But first, here’s a quick editorial note—as with all of our articles,…