Emotion can trump logic at times when making decisions and guiding clients through this may be more complex when advising a couple who is contemplating retirement. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Christine Moriarty with MoneyPeace answers the following questions: What if couples have different ideas of what they want to do in retirement? How can a couple create a “Budget” for retirement without all the information? Is it best for all the income – social security to investments - to g...
Jan 14, 2022•14 min
If you have a client who is considering surrendering a life insurance policy or allowing it to lapse, it is important to first understand the value of the policy and determine if it can be sold for more than its cash value. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Susan Bruno, CPA/PFS, and Jamie Mendelsohn, with Ashar Group, discuss: Why you can’t default to the surrender value as the FMV of the policy What makes a policy worth more than its cash value What is most relevant to potential buyer...
Jan 07, 2022•36 min
Susan Tillery, CPA/PFS and Dave Stolz, CPA/PFS wish you a happy and prosperous New Year and share what is on their minds as they head into 2022 in this episode of the PFP Section podcast. As they serve in the last months of their successful tenures as chairs of the PFP Executive Committee and PFS Credential Committee, they share their vision for the CPA financial planning profession and the important milestones that have been achieved in alignment to this vision over the last few years. They dis...
Dec 31, 2021•18 min
Lyle Benson credits much of his career as a CPA financial planner to his interactions with colleagues across the country. He wanted CPAs in all stages of their career to be able to benefit from hearing how fellow CPA financial planners have gotten to where they are now, how they work with clients, and what it has meant for their lives. In episode two of this PFP Section podcast series, Lyle interviews Michael Goodman, CPA/PFS. They discuss: How Michael brought his love for business and working w...
Dec 24, 2021•25 min
Life insurance can be much more than a death benefit. If properly designed, funded, and managed, it can provide an incredible opportunity to grow and distribute assets tax free. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Susan Bruno, CPA/PFS, and Michael Fontanini, with Lion Street, share: Who the ideal clients are for this strategy Why this is an excellent way to supplement retirement income Using this approach as an asset location tool How to know if this technique beats investing money direc...
Dec 17, 2021•46 min
You don’t have to be an expert in all of the tools and technical strategies to have meaningful philanthropic conversations with your clients. It’s about knowing how to artfully communicate and bring value to your clients. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Jonathan Gassman, CPA/PFS, and Richard Peck, with the New Hampshire Community Foundation, share: How to incorporate philanthropic planning in your communications with clients Why engaging with other advisors can deepen bonds with clie...
Dec 10, 2021•29 min
Getting couples to align their goals and priorities with their personal finances is often easier said than done. This is when the power skills in the non-technical side of personal financial planning become crucial to use. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Christine Moriarty, answers the following questions. How and when do you start the conversation? Does sharing life have to mean sharing money? What if couples’ goals around money are different? How do you support couples to reach agr...
Dec 03, 2021•18 min
In the past, guaranteed universal life (GUL) was priced well and easy to understand. This permanent life insurance was attractive because the premiums were certain, the policy often went to age 120, and risks were low. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Marc Minker interviews experts Susan Bruno and Martin Flaxman to understand the changes he is seeing in practice. They discuss: Why carriers are withdrawing from offering GUL and what is pushing up the prices. Why it will now require mor...
Nov 26, 2021•43 min
In the first of this new podcast series, Lyle Benson, CPA/PFS, shares the purpose behind this series as well as his story that led him to where he is now in his tax and financial planning firm. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Lyle answers questions such as: What is his definition of success? What types of clients does he work with and what services does he provide? What is his why for doing what he does and what do his clients value most about his work for them? How did he go from be...
Nov 19, 2021•40 min
In the first of this four-part life insurance series, expert Susan Bruno, CPA/PFS, gives a fantastic review of the basics. This episode of the PFP Section podcast will give you what you need to know to educate your clients and make them aware of their options. Susan provides an overview of the following: The difference in term, whole life, and universal life insurance A tool that she uses with her clients to do an annual review as part of their comprehensive financial plan Important requests to ...
Nov 12, 2021•31 min
Recorded on November 8th, 2021, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, reports on the latest with the Build Back Better Act. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Bob shares: What is in and what is out of the latest iteration of the House bill What must happen for the House to move forward with a vote What to expect with the Senate version of the bill and related vote Planning to consider for clients based on what we know now Access resources related to this podcast: Note: If you’re using a podcast app tha...
Nov 10, 2021•12 min
The CPA profession has been busier than ever in the past two years with serving clients through the pandemic, responding to additional client needs, juggling complex tax seasons, and keeping up with proposed law changes. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Shannon Vincent and Colin Dunn answer the question of how to find time to provide proactive financial planning and wealth management services, including: Moving from being spread too thin serving many clients to having plenty of time t...
Nov 05, 2021•26 min
Super HSAs allow families who have adult children who are no longer tax dependents to save beyond the annual family limit. This technique works for children who are covered by the family HSA eligible insurance plan. Kelley Long, CPA/PFS, covers the ins and outs of this strategy in this episode of the PFP Section podcast. She answers the following questions: What is a super HSA? How does this strategy work, using a family of four as an example? Where can I find IRS guidance on this topic? Access ...
Oct 29, 2021•10 min
The good news is that the 2022 Social Security (SS) COLA adjustment is 5.9%. The bad news is that the Board of Trustees issued their annual report on August 31st and predict that SS funds alone will run out in 2033 and disability funds will run out in 2057. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Ted Sarenski, CPA/PFS, shares: The effects of the pandemic and the 2020 recession on the projections The three suggestions being made to solve the long-term financial shortfalls What to include in c...
Oct 22, 2021•21 min
If current tax reform proposals become law, there will be many issues to be mindful of with planning for trusts. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, helps you get ahead of these changes so that you can plan for your clients to be ready for impending changes. Bob discusses: How the proposed higher income tax and capital gains rates will impact trusts planning The low threshold for trusts that would have the additional 3% surtax, NIIT expansion, and 199A cap kick in C...
Oct 15, 2021•10 min
With a lot of unknowns going into the last quarter of the year, top CPA financial planners have been gathering to share conversations that they’re having with clients now. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Lyle Benson, CPA/PFS, reviews a collection of ideas and thoughts that have been discussed in his Athena study group and other CPA financial planner panels. Lyle gives an overview of what he and his peers are talking about with their clients in the following areas: Income tax planning...
Oct 08, 2021•23 min
The House Ways & Means Committee recently released its proposed 2021 tax reform legislation. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, covers the changes being considered that would impact income tax planning, including: Funding the IRS and using tax reform to improve social safety nets Additional childcare credits and other dependent care, childcare, and caregiver provisions Increases to the individual income tax rate, capital gains rate, and 3% surtax over certain t...
Oct 06, 2021•14 min
If you have clients with more than 10 million in their traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, and vested defined contribution plans, they may have to take distributions to keep the aggregate plan balances below a certain threshold beginning in 2022. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, gets you up to speed related to: The new proposed limits on MEGA IRAs and related forced withdrawals How the numbers work with the 50% test and the 100% test The best planning strategies to keep...
Oct 01, 2021•31 min
The latest proposals suggest that the estate tax exemption may revert back to pre-TCJA levels in January, 2022. In order not to lose the estate tax exemption that exist today, it may be necessary to make use of this exemption before year-end for your relevant clients. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, fills you in on the estate related reform including: How the estate and gift tax reduction math will work Forcing grantor trusts to be included in the taxable estate...
Sep 30, 2021•11 min
If you have been contemplating a Roth conversion for yourself or for your clients, you will want to tune in to this PFP Section podcast episode to hear Steve Siegel’s case for doing this before the year ends. Steve discusses his top five reasons for doing a Roth conversion in 2021, including: Potential limits on Roth conversions in the future Proposals on elimination of the backdoor Roth Likelihood of higher tax rates in the future SECURE Act 10-year rule Inherited IRA rule limits Access resourc...
Sep 24, 2021•16 min
On September 13th, the House Ways & Means Committee released long anticipated draft legislation which could lead to major tax changes effective January 1, 2022. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Bob Keebler, CPA/PFS, walks you through the key areas of interest so that you can plan ahead with your clients in the event these proposals become law. Bob discusses: Increases in tax rates over certain thresholds, expansion of the NIIT, a new high-income surcharge, and modifications to 199...
Sep 17, 2021•22 min
CPA financial planners are often in a position to be the first to recognize declining cognitive function in a client. Reina Schlager, CPA/PFS, takes you through a summary of her 6-part series so that you can protect your clients financially and ensure a smooth transition of care. She covers: Does an 18-year-old need a durable POA? Client experiences to give you ideas of what to look for with your clients The 9 domains of diminished capacity The 10 warning signs from the Alzheimer’s Association P...
Sep 10, 2021•22 min
It’s anyone’s guess what will happen with tax laws given all the proposals floating around. If you have clients concerned about losing the estate exclusion available to them today yet they are reluctant to transfer assets outright to children and grandchildren, the spousal lifetime access trust (SLAT) may be the perfect strategy. Tune in as estate planning expert Steven Siegel, JD, LLM, walks you through the ins and outs of the SLAT technique, including: How the SLAT works to minimize tax and pr...
Sep 02, 2021•26 min
When you determine that your client needs a plan for transition of care, you will discover that there are endless options. In part 5 of this PFP Section podcast series, Reina Schlager, CPA/PFS, helps you sift through the pros and cons of each so that you can best guide your client. She discusses: Home and respite care Ranges of care facilities and how to select the best one Considerations with a couple Keeping humanity and kindness at the forefront Access resources related to this podcast: Note:...
Aug 27, 2021•29 min
Investment decisions are often made based on unconscious biases and motivations. When we help our clients understand the why behind their money, they will be able to make informed choices. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Join Bob Stammers, CFA and Director of Investor Engagement at CFA Institute and Lisa Kueng, Managing Director at Invesco Global Consulting as they discuss: Lessons we can learn from Sigmund Freud and athletes Using visualization techniques to understand subconscious ...
Aug 20, 2021•27 min
Putting a plan in place prior to recognizing dementia in your clients is ideal. In part 4 of this PFP Section podcast series, Reina Schlager, CPA/PFS, discusses the following: Why it’s important to act while your clients are healthy Planning documents and other considerations Preserving dignity for the impaired client What can go awry and how to avoid Access resources related to this podcast: Note: If you’re using a podcast app that does not hyperlink to the resources, visit http://pfplanning.li...
Aug 13, 2021•24 min
CPA financial planners may be the first to recognize dementia in their client and this can go a long way towards protecting the client’s assets and ensuring a proper care plan is put in place. In part 3 of this podcast series, Reina Schlager, CPA/PFS, discusses the following: The ten warning signs that your client may be declining mentally Examples of what to be on the lookout for with these warning signs What to do once you have identified an issue with your client Access resources related to t...
Aug 06, 2021•20 min
As health savings accounts (HSA) are triple tax free (contribution, growth, qualified withdrawals), these accounts, their uses and balances continue to grow. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Kelley Long shares advanced strategies and common misconceptions of HSAs including: Shoe box strategy for HSAs Using HSAs to address unknowns in retirement Techniques for HSA funding and providers Access resources related to this podcast: Note: If you’re using a podcast app that does not hyperlink...
Jul 30, 2021•22 min
One of the potential tax changes widely discussed is the replacement of the IRC Section 1014 basis adjustment with gain realization at gift, death, and certain other transfers. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Bob Keebler and Marty Shenkman share the impact this could have on clients, including: The difference between funding trusts on a fractional share basis versus a specific amount Gains that could be triggered right now for clients who have passed away and how to avoid Why it may ...
Jul 23, 2021•8 min
Billions of dollars are lost each year due to fraudulent acts against older Americans. In this episode of the PFP Section podcast, Erin Scheithe with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) gives you tips, tools, and resources to help you and your clients spot, prevent, and report elder financial exploitation. She covers the following topics: Examples of scams Who is at risk and who are the abusers? How to spot, prevent, and report abuse Resources to help you help your clients Access res...
Jul 16, 2021•18 min
