Vested versus Contingent Beneficiary

Course: Estate PlanningLesson 3: Understanding Trusts and Trust Documents Student Question: In the example, I would think Northwestern would have a future, contingent interest, as their interest is dependent upon the death of the wife. But the feedback tells me it’s a vested interest.  Do we assume death is inevitable, and therefore not a contingent-worthy…

Read More

Premium Payments on Buy-Sell Agreements

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 17: Business Uses of Life and Disability Insurance Student Question: I have a quick question regarding buy/sell agreement; not clear who would pay the premiums on disability and or life insurance on the principals and the key employees? Instructor Response: Great question.  A buy-sell agreement relates to owners of the business while…

Read More

Social Security Retirement Benefits

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 14: Evaluation Portfolio Performance Student Question: This question (below) doesn’t quite make sense to me.  Could you clarify why the correct answer is D? Robin Elizabeth qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400. At her full retirement age, she will receive which of the following? Instructor Response:…

Read More

Passing Property Via Will

Course: Investment PlanningLesson 14: Evaluation Portfolio Performance Student Question: Hello – I’m a little confused about the example (below) discussing an heirloom of only sentimental value. Why would this be titled at all for a will, especially since an earlier lecture said items of no value would pass through will as the situation does not…

Read More

Percentage of Completion Method

Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 10: Recognition of Expenses, Losses, and Deductions Student Question: Question 5 (below) did not make sense to me. I started out by breaking down by year —  400,000/2,100,000*3,000,000 and so forth, but did not arrive at the correct answer.  So then I tried adding up 3 year —  400+650+700/2100000*3,000,000.  That wasn’t…

Read More

Donating Short-term Appreciated Securities

Course: Income Tax PlanningLesson 15: Property Transactions Student Question: In the lesson, deducting donations of ‘cash’ versus ‘long term appreciated securities’ are differentiated.  I’m curious about “short term appreciated securities”.  In other words, if I own a stock – bought at $10,000 and it’s worth $50,000 when I donate, but I’ve only owned it 6…

Read More

Calculating Required Insurance

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 6: Commercial Property and Liability Insurance Student Question: Would you please help me understand where the 97.2% insured calculation is coming from on review question #2 below? The answer states the the building is 97.2% insured and I am having trouble understanding how that was calculated. Peter purchased an apartment building for…

Read More

Mid-Quarter Depreciation Convention

Course: Income Tax Planning Student Question: Hello, see the question below. I got this question right, but the explanation of why I got it right is weird. I thought mid-month depreciation was only used for real property, and this is saying it is used for equipment. Then, the explanation of the correct answer talks about…

Read More

Loan Impact on Basis in a Modified Endowment Contract

Course: Insurance PlanningLesson 15: Income Taxation of Life Insurance Student Question: Can you help me better understand the difference between policy basis in a normal policy and policy basis on a modified endowment contract. From the Coursework: But for MEC purposes, the basis is increased by any portion of loans that were considered taxable income…

Read More

Annual Return and Compounding

Course: Fundamentals of Financial PlanningLesson 5: Using the Calculator Student Question: My question relates to being able to clearly distinguish when the CFP Board exam will require an annual, or other period for the answer.Question 5(b) asks: “What is the rate of return on Investment 2 using daily compounding?” What is the annual rate of…

Read More