It was the 1960s—bellbottoms, Beatles, and flower power ruled the day while America's youth challenged authority at every turn. But while Jimi Hendrix was setting guitars ablaze, California businessman Clifford D. Crummey was quietly funding his family's life insurance trust with annual Christmas gifts—until the IRS claimed those gifts didn't qualify for tax exclusion. Embodying the rebellious spirit of his times, Crummey fought back and won a 1968 court battle that revolutionized wealth transfe...
Aug 08, 2025•10 min
In this week's BIF Bites episode, Jerry and Adam sit down to discuss life after passing the CFP(r) Exam.
Jul 25, 2025•45 min
In the final instalment of this Question Palooza series, Jerry and Adam tackle the best way to gift a family business as part of an estate plan.
Jul 09, 2025•20 min
It's day 5 of our 6-day Question Palooza extravaganza. In this episode, Jerry and Adam tackle ESPP and how the different aspects of this retirement benefit are taxed.
Jul 08, 2025•15 min
Today Jerry and Adam tackle everyone's favorite topic, taxes! They dive into the taxation of ISO's and also the tricky question writing style of the CFP Board. This is part 4 of a 6-part series going through the top topics of the CFP exam.
Jul 07, 2025•10 min
Jerry and Adam are back with Day 3 of Question Palooza! Today, they tackle investments and discuss what makes a suitable portfolio asset mix for a client looking for inflation protection.
Jul 06, 2025•14 min
In today's episode, Jerry and Adam discuss homeowners' insurance, covering what is and is not covered. This is part 2 of a 6-part series going through the top topics of the CFP exam.
Jul 05, 2025•15 min
Jerry and Adam kick off a new edition of Question Palooza! This is part 1 of a 6-part series going through the top topics of the CFP exam.
Jul 04, 2025•15 min
In this episode, Jerry and Adam give their best tips and tricks for tackling the case study section of the CFP Exam!
Jun 20, 2025•41 min
In this episode of BIF Bites, Jerry and Adam dive into the fascinating world of business cycles and economic indicators. They explore the four phases of the business cycle and discuss how these cycles impact the economy. The crew also breaks down the different types of economic indicators, focusing on leading and lagging indicators. Discover how metrics like new building permits and stock prices serve as early signals of economic shifts, while indicators such as unemployment duration and the con...
Jun 06, 2025•45 min
In this week's episode, Jerry dives deep into the latest craze in ultra-short-term financing with Klarna, Affirm, and other Buy Now, Pay Later programs.
May 23, 2025•21 min
In this BIF Bites episode, Adam is joined by Jenny Coombs, Director of Content & Development at US SIF, to discuss the basics of ESG investing, its history, and its importance in sustainable investing strategies. They explore the long-term benefits of ESG investments, the power of collective action, and the role of endowments in sustainable investing. The conversation also covered upcoming events related to sustainable investing, including the US SIF Forum and an Advisor Day event. So the ne...
May 09, 2025•42 min
In this episode, Adam channels 'The Dude' from The Big Lebowski to explain the complex subject of depreciation in business accounting. He explains its purpose and discusses two main methods: straight-line depreciation and the Modified Accelerated Cost Recovery System (MACRS). Adam also introduces the Half-Year Convention, providing examples of common useful lives for various assets. To wrap it up, he shares a personal experience with rental property depreciation, highlighting why understanding t...
Apr 25, 2025•21 min
In this episode, Jerry dives into the history of Wash sales, how to avoid them, and what to do if you have one.
Apr 11, 2025•22 min
Another CFP(R) exam cycle hascome to a close. Congratulations to those receiving the Preliminary Pass fromthe BIF Crew! For the passing group, it's a time for celebration, relief, andplanning of next steps, both professionally and personally. However,approximately 33-40% of exam takers' exam outcomes aren’t the sought-afterPreliminary Pass but a Preliminary Fail. In the BIF Review, we offerspecialized support for candidates preparing to retake the CFPCertification exam through exclusive webinar ...
Mar 28, 2025•39 min
The Bif crew is back with their most popular segment -Question Palooza!
Mar 14, 2025•39 min
This week the gang is all here as Jerry, Mike, and Adam go through the most difficult topic from each of the 6 main curriculum areas.
Feb 28, 2025•56 min
This week, Jerry gives a rundown of all the changes thatwill revert at the end of this year, when the TCJA is set to expire, and how that will impact the CFP exam.
Feb 14, 2025•19 min
In this episode of BIF Bites, we're diving into the essential details every Candidate for CFP® Certification needs to know about the Prometric Testing Center. Join Adam as he takes you into "The Room Where It Happens," where your journey to success is just one click away! After clearing a proctor-delivered security check, listen in to discover the ins and outs of the testing process, from the minute you launch the exam, to the moment you receive your Preliminary PASS. We'll cover tips on what to...
Jan 31, 2025•34 min
In this week's episode, Jerry takes a look at the insurance situation surrounding the California wildfires and the CFP lessons that can be taken away from it.
Jan 17, 2025•24 min
In this week's episode, Jerry breaks down all of the behavioral finance biases in the new season of Squid Games and how they can help you study for the CFP exam.
Jan 03, 2025•22 min
In this episode, we reflect on the incredible achievements and milestones BIF reached in 2024. This year was marked by significant growth, innovation, and success! Key Highlights: Expansion and Innovation: BIF expanded its reach, introducing many new students into our CFP education and CFP exam prep course, the BIF Review! Educational Initiatives: Our commitment to education was stronger than ever. We rolled out a new video-based financial calculator course, delivered by Jerry Mee! Additionally,...
Dec 21, 2024•15 min
In this week's episode, Jerry goes through a breakdown of Tariffs. What they are, their history, and an unbiased breakdown of their pros and cons. The BIF Bites podcast covers topics that are important to those seeking CFP® certification and really anyone that wants to better understand the financial services industry in general.
Dec 06, 2024•20 min
Join us for an insightful episode of the BIF Bites Podcast as we dive into estate planning with our NEW BIF/Bryant CFP® Instructor, Jennifer Belmont Jennings, a practicing attorney and CFP® Professional. Estate planning might sound daunting, but Jennifer breaks it down into simple, understandable best practices. Whether your clients are starting or are looking to refine their existing estate plans, this episode is packed with practical advice and tips. Tune in to take the fear out of estate plan...
Nov 15, 2024•34 min
Jerry and Adam celebrate the 100th BIF Bites Podcast episode (woohoo!!) with everyone’s favorite segment... The BIF Bites CFP® Exam Question Palooza!
Nov 01, 2024•51 min
This week, Jerry shares some really important tips and answer all those pressing questions you have about the financial calculator and nailing your CFP exam. Make sure to tune in so you are prepared on your big day!
Oct 24, 2024•16 min
In this episode, Adam shares a valuable resource for candidates preparing for the CFP® Exam. He introduces the 'Question Breakdown Checklist' to help candidates dissect exam questions effectively. Adam explains how this checklist aids in identifying the core of each question, ensuring that candidates apply the correct information to arrive at the right answers. Ready to boost your confidence and performance on exam day? CHECK. LET'S GO!
Oct 11, 2024•19 min
In this week’s episode, Jerry goes over the many financial lessons he learned while planning his recent wedding.
Sep 27, 2024•25 min
In this thrilling episode of BIF Bites, BIF Crew super-sleuth Adam dives into a gripping case of academic intrigue. Recounting a dramatic short scenario in which a rogue educator cunningly infiltrated the BIF Review, Adam leverages the CFP Board's Code of Ethics and Standards of Conduct to unravel the mystery and identify the most likely violations. Get your pipe and tweed jacket (with padded elbows), and join us for some CFP detective work! Please Note: Adam references CFP Board Case #23036, ho...
Sep 13, 2024•42 min
Jerry goes back to the movies this week to explore the 1983 comedy classic Trading Places. What can CFP candidates and professionals learn from Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd? Listen in to find out!
Aug 29, 2024•20 min
