Posted by The SFA Team on December 12, 2017
Saving for college education can be an intimidating undertaking for many parents who may be inexperienced with tax laws, and unsure how to balance their own financial goals, such as saving for retirement and the financial needs of their children. There are many options available to finance a child’s education, and which one or more options to choose requires consideration of many important factors.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on November 5, 2017
Business valuation is an important, yet complex, process that is frequently employed in a variety of business contexts. It is generally necessary to ascertain the value of a business when: selling to a third party, gifting interests to related parties, obtaining business financing, establishing a value for estate tax purposes, or establishing a value for purposes of a buy-sell agreement. Valuation is a specialty often practiced by certified specialists and experts familiar with valuation standards, concepts, industry metrics, financial principles, and additional relevant factors and variables.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on October 21, 2017
Should you purchase term insurance or is permanent insurance the better buy? If you already own a term policy, should you convert it to a permanent plan, such as whole life? Or is a flexible plan such as universal life the way to go?
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on September 17, 2017
As with other major events in life, the divorce process may be one of the most emotionally difficult. Family concerns and sensitive emotional issues come to the forefront and are of primary importance to the parties involved, including the children. The financial issues often are pushed into the background. This is an unfortunate situation because divorce is one of the most common reasons for bankruptcy for one or both of the divorcing spouses.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on August 2, 2017
SFA President Jim Adkins was interviewed for an article on the Advisor Growth website. The article discusses a McKinsey report that shows financial advisory growth stymied, with fewer active advisors in play, and per-advisor revenues in decline.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on May 28, 2017
Life insurance death benefit is generally received income tax free by the policy beneficiary. However, if an interest in a policy is transferred for valuable consideration, any death benefit received by the transferee in excess of the amount of the consideration plus subsequent premiums paid by the transferee will be income taxable. This is called the transfer for value rule. Transfer of an interest in a policy in violation of the transfer for value rule may have significant and unanticipated impact on policy beneficiaries.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on April 17, 2017
A Qualified Personal Residence Trust (QPRT) can allow a homeowner to transfer a residence to other family members at a reduced gift tax cost while retaining the right to use the residence for a term of years. At the end of the period, the residence is removed from the grantor’s estate. However, if the grantor dies during the term of the trust, the entire value of the residence will be included in the grantor's taxable estate.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on March 22, 2017
American has two systems for how a married couple can own property: common law and community property. Nine states—Arizona, California, Idaho, Louisiana, Nevada, New Mexico, Texas, Washington, and Wisconsin—have adopted some aspects of a community property system. Alaska has adopted a law that allows couples to voluntarily convert their assets to community property. All other states follow the common law system. The type of marital property system can have an enormous effect on a couple’s estate planning.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on February 5, 2017
Asset protection is about protecting assets before the need arises; it is not about protecting assets from existing creditors. In other words, the implementation of asset protection strategies is appropriate in situations where an individual is concerned about the claims of future creditors.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on January 11, 2017
Recapitalization is basically a change in a corporation’s capital structure. Corporations recapitalize for a variety of reasons, but generally to make the company more stable or to bring in new investors. For closely held companies, recapitalizations can also be very effective in estate planning.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on November 1, 2016
A private foundation (also called a “family foundation”) is a charitable nonprofit organization established and funded by a single source, typically a donor family or corporation. The foundation is most often set up during a donor’s lifetime, but can also be created upon death. In essence, a private foundation is a tax-exempt checkbook; it is a repository of money and conduit between the donor and the charity. The private foundation itself does not directly engage in charitable activities (as compared with a private operating foundation, discussed further below).
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on August 12, 2016
A trust protector is an individual, group of individuals, or entity with specified powers over a trust. A trust protector’s powers may be extremely narrow in scope, limiting the protector to an exclusive list of actions, such as the ability to remove and replace the trustee or to make discretionary distributions of trust assets. Alternatively, a trust protector may be given broad powers, such as to modify terms of the trust, terminate the trust, or add or remove trust beneficiaries.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on July 4, 2016
SFA President Jim Adkins was interviewed for an article in The Suit Magazine. The article discusses educating clients on confusing industry terms and helping them reach their financial goals.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on June 26, 2016
SFA President Jim Adkins was recently interviewed for and published in an article for everup.com. The article discusses financial considerations before taking a sabbatical and how you can afford the essentials without a paycheck.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on May 19, 2016
SFA President Jim Adkins was interviewed for and published in an article for Monster.com. In the article Jim Adkins talks about how companies are attracting new talent with competitive financial compensation.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on April 29, 2016
SFA President Jim Adkins was recently interviewed for and published in an article for ForRent.com. The article discussed Senior Living and how to factor healthcare costs in retirement planning.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on April 21, 2016
Jim was recently interviewed for and published in an article for the Financial Advisor IQ, a Financial Times Service by R.A. Monroe. The article, called “Disarm Your Client's Shame,” was published on February 19, 2016. Jim discusses a situation with an anonymous client couple that felt shame and embarrassment about their lack of planning, and how he was able to help them move past that and develop a plan that fit their needs.
To read the entire article, please click here.
Posted by The SFA Team on April 13, 2016
Jim was recognized as a 2015 Five Star Wealth Manager in Washington, D.C. This was Jim's first year to be recognized for the award. It was published in an area magazine and released on October 25, 2016.
To see the criteria for choosing winners, and Jim's piece in the magazine, please click here.
Any mention of articles, authors, or publications do not represent an affiliation with, or endorsement of, said articles, authors or publications.
Tax-Advantaged Education Funding
Business Valuation Concepts
Choosing the Right Insurance Mix
Divorce Issues
Jim Adkins Talks About Advisory Growth, Revenues in Decline,
Report Finds
Qualified Personal Residence Trust
Advisory Growth, Revenues in Decline, Report Finds
Marital Property
Asset Protection Strategies
Recapitalization
Private Foundations
Trust Protector
Rethink Fees and Embrace Alternatives
7 Financial Considerations
Benefits that Attract New Talent
Senior Living Article
Financial Advisor IQ Article
5 Star Wealth Manager Award