What is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ Professional?
What is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional? The CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ professional certification is the only financial planning certification that requires financial planners to put the needs of their clients ahead of their own. Financial planners who earn the CFP® certification meet rigorous standards of professionalism and ethics, and are required to uphold the values […]
Read ArticleReal Estate – Is it a Good Investment?
For many investors, the lure of real estate is, well… real. You’ve heard “get-rich-quick” success stories; you’ve done a bit of research; you’ve heard from your friend, the real estate agent, that its the best investment around. We’ll tell you right off the bat: to an agent, real estate is always a good investment. Does […]
Read ArticleEstate Planning Protects the People You Love
There is a common misconception that estate planning is only for the very wealthy or much older generations. Perhaps the traditional diction used, “estate planning” is the culprit for much of these misconceptions, because most of us may not think of ourselves as having an “estate”. The truth is that anyone can have an estate […]
Read ArticleAn American Retirement Crisis? By Charles L. Stanley CFP® ChFC® AIF®
The National Institute on Retirement Security (NIRS) recently released a public opinion research report that found that an overwhelming majority of Americans – 86 percent – believe the nation faces a retirement crisis. Some of the findings are: Some 86% of respondents agree that the nation […]
Read ArticleOne Illness Away From Disaster
By Allison Reed It can be exciting to run a solo financial planning practice, but there are some significant downsides to going it alone. What would happen to your practice if you passed away or became disabled? How would your family be affected? And what about your clients? I don’t want to be overly dramatic, […]
Read ArticleDo You Really Have Equity in Your Business?
Anyone who owns a home is familiar with the benefits of amassing as much equity as possible; you want to have a large gap between what you owe and what your home is worth when it’s time to sell—so you can pocket the proceeds. The same concept is applicable when it comes to your business. […]
Read ArticleFor the Solo Entrepreneur, a SEP-IRA, or a Solo 401 (k)
For the successful solo business person with no employees, but maybe a spouse, choosing the best option for retirement savings is important. You want to be able to set aside the greatest amount with the options that are important to you. People in this category are often consultants or solo professional practitioners of some sort. […]
Read ArticleWhere Do You Call Home and How Does it Affect Your Estate Tax?
About 15 states and the District of Columbia impose an inheritance or estate tax. The tax rates range from a few percent to 19 percent in Washington State. As the typical state exemption rate is much lower than the current federal exemption (it’s only $1 million in New York and Maryland), the middle class is […]
Read ArticleShould You Make Your Year-End Charitable Gifts From Your IRA?
by Charles L Stanley CFP® ChFC® AIF® When entering retirement, having a big, fat IRA feels good. It provides a certain sense of security —and that’s a good thing. However, when you consider estate planning for a family with a taxable estate in excess of $5.25 million, that big, fat IRA is a horrible asset […]
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