Questions of the Week

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 9: Income Taxation of Trusts and Estates Student Question: I wanted to make sure I understand this correctly. Irrevocable non grantor tax is on the trust. If it distributes the income, then the tax is on the beneficiaries. The only case in which an Irrevocable non grantor trust doesn’t distribute the entire income is…

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 10: Social Security Student Question: Does the maximum family benefit apply to a husband and wife that are both fully insured if the combined total between the two exceeds the maximum family limit?   If I understand correctly, the maximum family limit only applies if there are beneficiaries within the family receiving benefits…

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 10: Fixed Income Securities Analysis Student Question: I’m not clear why holders of long-term bonds are subject to interest rate risk. If a 20-year bond is purchased at par with a coupon rate of 6.25% ($62.50/year), it seems to me that the investor would still receive $62.50 a year regardless of interest rate changes. What…

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 3: Personal Financial Statements Student Question: Hi, Why is the answer to review question down below 22,500 (only 3 months of income needed)? I would have thought it would be 45,000 (six months of income needed). I thought six months would be needed since they (1) both did not have…

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 4: International Equity Securities Student Question: Hi, On the CFP board practice question (below), the correct answer was “4 only.”  How come ADRs don’t eliminate currency risk? Aren’t they purchased and sold with US dollars? American depository receipts (ADRs) are used to Instructor Response: Hi Great question.  I can see exactly why you…

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5: Using the Calculator Student Question: Hi, Good afternoon.  Can you explain why we didn’t take inflation into consideration for the second calculation in the first problem? Kind regards, Austin Dawn wants to have $25,000 in today’s dollars for a round-the-world cruise when she retires 11 years from now. She…

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 6: Educational Savings Techniques Student Question: Hi, Do the limits on 529 plan contributions apply to that specific account, the child, or the contributor? Is it possible for a contributor to have more than one 529 plan, if they’ve reached the limit on one? Instructor Response: Hi Good question.  It’s…

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5b: Using the HP 10bII Calculator Student Question: Hi, In Example 2, the solution given has 6 years (including CF0) instead of 5. I believe the first year of Carl’s coin purchase should be CF0, but the fifth year – which includes a purchase and a sale – should be…

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 6: Commercial Property and Liability Insurance Student Question: Hi, The way I understand the example below is that since the cost, current value and depreciation are not relevant, it seemed to me that the building is only insured for 77.77% of its replacement value ($14,000,000/$18,000,000).  This would lead to the payout from…

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 13: Asset Allocation Student Question: Hello, Can you help me understand the difference between Kurtosis and Skewness?  I can’t quite piece it together. Thanks! Instructor Response: Great question, You’re right that as total capital in a pooled investment grows, the overall dollar amount of earnings can Entire books have been written on this…