PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING
Description...

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Prerequisite - None

Program Level - Basic

Advance Preparation - None

Instructional Delivery Method - This course includes a minimum of 5 review questions with correct and incorrect responses and 5 exam questions for each cpe hour. For the best results we recommend the following steps to complete this course:

(1) Complete the reading assignments. We recommend you read and study all of the required materials prior to beginning the review or final exam.

(2) Complete the related review questions. Each review question offers interactive feedback for all questions. We recommend that you view all feedback, correct and incorrect, to each question. These responses focus on key areas related to the questions and will assist in preparing for the exam.

(3) Complete the exam. Review any incorrect answers.

Recommended CPE Credit - 8 hours. These hours are based on pilot testing results and a 100 minute study hour.

Course Registration Requirements - CPAs should check the Sponsor Information page to determine if this course is available in their state of registration. Not suitable for EAs at the time.

Lesson and Objectives

Reading
Assignment

1. Taking Charge of the Financial Planning Process

Chapter 1

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Where you are financially

•  Setting goals

•  Developing a plan

•  Simple record keeping

•  Making an informal budget

•  Dealing with shortfalls, credit, and debt

•  Financial planners

 

2. Building Wealth to Meet Your Goals

Chapter 2

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Retirement plans

•  Savings plans

•  Inheritance and other unexpected windfalls

 

3. Building Your Wealth Through Investment Planning I

Chapter 3

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Setting your financial goals

•  Investment vehicles

 

4. Building Your Wealth Through Investment Planning II

Chapter 4

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Financial markets and concepts

•  Developing an investment strategy

 

5. Building Your Wealth Through Investment Planning III

Chapter 5

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Implementing your strategy

•  Monitoring your investments

 

6. Building Your Wealth Concluded

Chapter 6

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Mutual funds

•  Foreign investments

•  Real estate

•  Gold

•  Investing for retirement

 

7. Life Insurance

Chapter 7

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Life insurance options

 

8. Other Insurance

Chapter 8

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Health insurance

•  Disability insurance

•  Property/casualty insurance

•  Auto insurance

•  Umbrella policies

 

9. Estate Planning

Chapter 9

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  How to calculate your estate

•  Objectives

•  How to provide for liquitity

•  Minimizing taxes

•  The importance of periodic reviews

 

10. Estate Taxes and Deductions

Chapter 10

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  The valuation of estate property

•  The marital deduction

 

11. Gift Taxes/Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax

Chapter 11

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  The advantages of making gifts

•  The generation-skipping transfer tax

 

12. Sophisticated Estate Planning

Chapter 12

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Trusts

•  Asset transfer techniques

 

13. Estate Liquidity, POA, and Living Wills

Chapter 13

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Rasing cash to pay taxes

•  Durable powers of attorney

•  Living wills and health care powers of attorney

•  Periodic review and follow-up

 

14. Getting Married

Chapter 14

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Timeing your marriage from a tax standpoint

•  Integrating Insurance and other benefits

•  Investment planning for couples

 

15. Raising a Family

Chapter 15

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  One or two incomes?

•  New costs

•  Investment planning for parents

•  Insurance planning for parents

•  Estate planning for parents

•  Income tax planning for parents

•  Wedding costs

 

16. Coping with Divorce

Chapter 16

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Working with advisors

•  Calculating total assets and liabilities

•  Determining new living expenses

•  Determining the financial planning consequences of alimony

•  Determining the financial planning consequences of child support

•  Determining the financial planning consequences of property divisions

•  Dealing with the investment aspects of divorce

•  Dealing with the retirement planning aspects of divorce

•  Dealing with the insurance aspects of divorce

•  Dealing with the estate planning aspects of divorce

 

17. Being a Single Parent

Chapter 17

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Hidden costs

•  Sources of income

•  Saving for college

•  Financial planning as part of the divorce agreement

•  Property

•  Declaring children as dependents

•  College funds

 

18. Buying and Selling a Home

Chapter 18

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Buying versus renting

•  Financing your home

•  Selecting your home

•  Refinancing your mortgage

•  Selling your home

•  Tax consequences of a home sale

 

19. Funding a College Education

Chapter 19

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Starting early

•  Choosing an affordable college

•  Determining how much you will need

•  Developing a savings program

•  Selecting investments

•  Saving money through your child's tax bracket

•  Borrowing to pay for college

•  Obtaining financial aid and scholarships

 

20. Taking Advantage of Employment Benefits

Chapter 20

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Insurance options

•  Savings opportunities

•  Income tax reduction vehicles

•  Separating from a job

 

21. Starting Your Own Business
Chapter 21

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Determining how to start

•  How to create a business plan

•  Deciding which business structure makes sense

•  Using advisors

•  Determining capital sources

•  Using your home as your office

•  Hiring employees

22. Dealing with Your Parents
Chapter 22

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Early adulthood

•  Middle age

•  The later years

23. Losing Your Spouse or Life Partner
Chapter 23

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Working with advisors

•  Calculating total assets and liabilities

•  Determining new living expenses

•  Duties of an executor or executrix

•  Valuation of estate property

•  Survivor long-term planning

24. Planning for Retirement
Chapter 24

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Goals

•  Estimating your retirement expenses

•  Deciding if you want to retire

•  Choosing where to live

•  Health care and other insurance issues

•  Saving and investing for retirement

•  Dealing with Social Security

25.Health Care and Insurance Needs
Chapter 25

The learning objectives for this lesson are to gain an understanding of:

•  Risk management

•  Life insurance during retirement

•  Pension maximization

•  Medicare

•  Medigap insurance

•  Private health insurance after retirement

•  Long-term care

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