News & Updates
Millennials Financial Milestone Survey
CFP® Certificants in the News Let’s face it, millennials get a bad rap at times in the popular press over their financial discipline. But couldn’t most of us do better at this discipline? Is everything we read on the internet true and unbiased? After reading this article, we encourage you to consider that, just like…
Read MoreWomen’s Guide to Social Security Retirement Benefits
Good to Know This article is the first in a series of Social Security retirement topics for women, including guides for: Married Women, Divorcees, and Single Women. We begin with retirement benefits for married women. Spousal Retirement Benefits We don’t have to like certain demographic facts to help our clients plan around them. Here’s a…
Read MoreCFP Board Announces 100,000th CFP Professional
CFP® Board Updates A very exciting update from the CFP Board who on May 29th announced the 100,000th person to become a CFP® Professional. Simone Lee of Merrill Wealth Management was the lucky person to reach the historic milestone. Simone is a 31-year-old financial advisor from New Jersey, and is a first generation American. Simone is following…
Read MoreGovernment Debt Part 3: How Much is Too Much?
Good to Know How Much Government Debt Is Too Much? In this, our final article in the series, we’ll review what experts and economists believe is an economically sustainable level of government debt. Government Debt to GDP Ratio A nation’s government debt to Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ratio puts government debt into context. Implicit in…
Read MoreFinancial Advisor vs. Do-It-Yourself Investing
CFP® Certificants in the News There’s an old pilot’s joke about the increasing automation of the cockpit that goes something like this: The ideal flight crew is one pilot and a dog. The pilot’s role is to feed the dog. The dog’s role is to bite the pilot if they try to touch any of…
Read MoreNational Debt Part 2: Private Sector Perspectives
Good to Know This blog article is the second in a three-part series, including: Federal agency perspectives, Private sector perspectives, and Summary comparison. How does our national debt impact the private sector in the United States? Unsurprisingly, economic experts do not unanimously agree that our rising national debt to gross domestic product ratio is cause…
Read MoreCFP Board Research Reveals Millenials’ Top Life Goal
CFP® Board Updates A recent research report by the CFP Board shows “Financial Independence” is the #1 priority of millennials. The survey found 46% of individuals born between 1981 and 1996 cite financial independence or stability is their top life goal. Travel, a healthy and long retirement, career fulfillment, and developing lasting relationships were other…
Read MoreNational Debt: Fiscal Tsunami or Ripple?
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…
Read MoreWhat You Should Know About CFP Board Discipline
CFP® Certificants in the News CFP Board publishes disciplinary actions that include public censure, suspension, and even permanent revocation of the right to use the CFP® mark. We’ll identify two recent disciplinary actions taken by CFP Board and then make observations. Public Censure Paul, a CFP® certificant from New York, “entered into a Letter of…
Read MoreCFP Board Releases Book on CFP History
CFP® Board Updates To commemorate the 50th anniversary of CFP® certification, the CFP Board has published The First 50 Years of CFP® Certification: The Standard for Financial Planning, written by Michelle Kruger, Ph.D., CFP®. Filled with memories and forward-looking insights from individuals who helped lead the CFP® certification’s development over the years. To purchase the book,…
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