Good to Know

Good to Know This blog article is the first in a three-part series, including: Federal agency perspectives, Private sector perspectives, and Summary comparison. “The growing [national] debt could create additional challenges for federal fiscal management, which could in turn cause challenges for American households and individuals, too. These potential challenges include: Risks to economic growth…

Good to Know Social Security consists of two major benefit programs—disability and retirement/survivorship.  We’ll address these programs in just a moment, but first, the author will contrast the crucial difference between Social Security “solvency” and “bankruptcy.” Solvency is the ability to pay 100% of benefits. Bankruptcy is the inability to make any significant benefit payments.…

Good to Know If the term “Department of Labor Fiduciary Rule” sounds familiar, there’s a reason. The DOL’s previous Fiduciary Rule (2016) was a failed regulatory effort that was struck down by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in 2018. The Court held that the DOL exceeded its authority. One perspective of the Court’s ruling…

Good to Know We’ll address annuity protections in just a moment, but first let’s put a select few other financial protections into context. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) extends the full guarantee of the United States of America behind CDs and traditional banking products purchased from a Federally chartered U.S. bank—up to $250,000 per…

Good to Know You and your clients are planning their after-tax retirement income. Your client is apprehensive about how much of their retirement income will be siphoned off by Federal income tax in retirement. For many, if not most, clients you have great news. The combination of Social Security income (SSI) tax breaks and standard…

Good to Know CFP Board is changing the way CFP® Certificants and Candidates for CFP® Certification are disciplined (sanctioned) for violations of the Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct. The new guidelines will be effective on July 1, 2024. In many cases the new potential sanction is more severe than previous sanctions but in…

Good to Know Income taxes and transfer taxes will rise—in some cases painfully—after December 31, 2025. Transfer taxes include gift, estate, and generation-skipping taxes. Income tax rates will increase and transfer taxes may rise as taxpayer friendly provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) expire (sunset) for years beginning on or after January…

Good to Know Your prospect started saving for their child’s college education early and consistently. Fast forward to when the child graduates from college. Now it’s obvious there’s $35,000 in the 529 plan that will not be needed for college.  When they turn to you for advice, how do you advise them? Here’s an interesting…

Good to Know The Federal Trade Commission cautions that “scammers might try and tell you they can help you avoid repayments, lower your payments, or get your loans forgiven — for a price.” That sage advice could not be more timely. Whenever there’s confusion over student loans and dishonest money to be had, scammers flock…

Good to Know CFP Board’s focus on the psychology of financial planning led to a new domain topic— The Psychology of Financial Planning. Our focus in today’s article is on financial tensions in relationships. According to The Practitioner Resource Guide (Guide) offered by CFP Board, three common relationship tensions include Financial Enabling, Financial Control, and,…