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May 2022 |
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PAST ISSUES |
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Advisor News Insight |
EVENTS |
NEWS |
AFRs |
FACTS |
TOOLS
REQUIREMENTS |
FEATURED |
B.E.S.T. CE
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B.E.S.T. UPCOMING CE PROGRAMS
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Virtual Super CE Event
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Date: Thursday, May 26, 2022
Time: 3:00pm - 4:30pm Eastern Time
Live Webinar Presentation: Wealth Transfer Planning
Self-Study Course: Estate Planning
Earn up to the maximum amount of CE credit hours of state insurance (amount of credit hours varies by state).
CFP® and IWI® (CIMA® / CPWA® / RMA®) professionals may earn 10 CFP® and / or
5 IWI® CE credit hours. This monthly program includes a live webinar presentation, a self-study course and an online examination.
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2-Hour CFP® / IWI® Ethics CE Webinar
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Date / Time: Wednesday, May 18, 2022 / 2:00pm - 4:00pm Eastern Time
Earn 2 CE credit hours of CFP® and IWI® Ethics with NO EXAM! (no state insurance credit)
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INDUSTRY NEWS
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Annuity Planning
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Portfolio Income Insurance: Understanding the Benefits of a Contingent Deferred Annuity
Michael Finke, PhD,
is Professor of Wealth Management, Director for the Granum Center for Financial Security, and the Frank M. Engle Distinguished Chair
in Economic Security at The American College of Financial Services.
Dr. Finke, the Frank M. Engle Chair of Economic Security at The American College of Financial Services, examines a novel,
pure insurance solution for designing reliable retirement spending plans for individual investors, and the various potential
benefits. The solution in question, a Contingent Deferred Annuity (“CDA”), unbundles insurance protections from underlying
investments enabling Registered Investment Advisors (RIAs) to wrap client brokerage accounts, IRAs, or Roth IRAs with portfolio
income insurance.
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Wisconsin The Latest State To Adopt New Annuity Sales Regs
Targeted News Service (Press Releases)
Legislation signed into law by Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers greatly enhances protections for consumers seeking lifetime
income from annuities. Wisconsin is the 23rd state that as part of a nationwide, bipartisan effort has adopted measures
implementing the’ best interest of consumer enhancements’ in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC).
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Business Planning
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Introduction to U.S. Economy: The Business Cycle and Growth
Congressional Research Services
This In Focus from the Congressional Research Services (updated January 13, 2022), discusses the business cycle,
how recessions are determined, and potential causes and effects of these fluctuations in the economy.
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Estate Planning
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8th Annual Non-Grantor Trust State Income Tax Chart
Steven J. Oshins, Esq., AEP (Distinguished)
is a member of the Law Offices of Oshins & Associates, LLC.
The 8th Annual Non-Grantor Trust State Income Tax Chart was recently updated to take into consideration changes from the past year.
Advisors should be taking advantage of the opportunity to avoid the tax drag inherent in many trusts that accumulate income that is
subject to state income tax even if not sourced to that state. In fact, it is somewhat shocking that this concept isn’t the most
talked about concept among the financial planners whose assets under management are ratably affected by this tax drag.
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IRA Planning
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Best Interest Standard of Care for Advisors #87: Specific Reasons for Rollover Recommendations That Won’t Work (Part 1)
C. Frederick Reish is a partner in Faegre Drinker’s Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group
These articles focus on the requirement in PTE 2020-02 that financial institutions and investment professionals provide participants
with the “specific reasons” why a rollover recommendation is in the best interest of the participant.
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Best Interest Standard of Care for Advisors #88: Specific Reasons for Rollover Recommendations That Won’t Work (Part 2)
C. Frederick Reish is a partner in Faegre Drinker’s Benefits & Executive Compensation practice group
These articles focus on the requirement in PTE 2020-02 that financial institutions and investment professionals provide participants
with the “specific reasons” why a rollover recommendation is in the best interest of the participant.
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Pew Survey Explores Consumer Trend to Roll Over Workplace Savings Into IRA Plans
The Pew Charitable Trusts
The survey asked participants a series of questions about whom they had consulted in deciding what to do with their retirement
savings and how they planned to handle their savings (in the case of those still working), or what they had done with their savings
(in the case of retirees).
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Medicare Planning
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The two kinds of Medicare Special Enrolment Periods
Medicare Made Clear
There are actually two kinds of Medicare Special Enrollment Periods. A Medicare Special Enrollment Period allows you to
switch plans or sign up for Medicare outside of the standard Medicare enrollment periods.
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Retirement Planning
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Buck Up, Boomers. You’re Still Better Off Than Your Parents.
Allison Schrager, Bloomberg Opinion columnist.
There has never been a generation in better shape for retirement, even with soaring inflation and volatile markets.
This is a hard time to retire. The market is down 7% from last year and the rate of inflation has risen to 8.5%.
Both are brutal to your bottom line when you’re on a fixed income. But buck up! As bad as things seem, odds are you are
in better shape than your parents or grandparents were. And if they got through retirement comfortably, so will you.
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J.P. Morgan Retirement Insights: Guide to Retirement 2022
J.P. Morgan Asset Management
Updated annually, the award-winning* Guide to Retirement provides an effective framework for supporting your retirement planning
conversations with clients. It includes charts and graphs to help you explain complex topics in a clear and concise manner. A description
and audio commentary are available for every slide.
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Reverse Mortgage May Not Be A Last Resort Any Longer
Susan B. Garland, former Editor of Kiplinger’s Retirement Report
Until recently, it was conventional wisdom that a reverse mortgage was a last-resort option for the
oldest homeowners who desperately needed cash. But a growing number of researchers say these loans could
be a good option for people earlier in their retirement like [those] who are not needy at all. The article
offers the basics about reverse mortgages and offers some insights into the thinking about greater utility
of reverse mortgages. The article discusses downsides for folks to consider as well.
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Using Retirement Account Features for Short-Term Savings
Congressional Research Services
A report from the Congressional Research Service describes how defined contribution plans can be
used to help employees build emergency savings. It notes there are two current features of retirement
plans that could be used as a platform for short-term savings: deemed Roth individual retirement accounts
and after-tax accounts in qualified DC plans. The proposals discussing these features note that modifications
regarding withdrawal frequency or account balance restrictions might be necessary.
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Roth IRA Planning |
Backdoor Roth IRA Conversions: Beware the Pro Rata Rule
Ginger Szala, Executive Managing Editor of Investment Advisor magazine
Despite the unknown future of backdoor Roth IRAs, they remain a viable instrument in an advisor’s toolkit. We asked advisors
what they saw as the main dangers of backdoor Roths, and the consensus was clear: misunderstanding the pro rata rule.
The pro rata rule stipulates how the Internal Revenue Service will treat pretax and after-tax contributions when the client
does a Roth conversion.
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Social Security Planning
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Everything You Need to Know About Social Security’s Retirement Earnings Test
Joe Elsasser, Founder and President of Covisum®
If you have clients making Social Security claiming decisions, you’ve likely heard them lament their belief that
they can’t claim because they “make too much.” The root of the complaint is the retirement earnings test, which limits
the amount of work-related income a person can have and still claim benefits before reaching full retirement age.
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Social Security Administration (SSA) to Resume In-Person Services at Local Social Security Offices
SSA
SSA announced that local Social Security offices will restore in-person services, including for people without an appointment, on April 7, 2022.
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Social Security Spousal Benefits Options
Mary Beth Franklin, Contributing Editor at Investment News
How to switch from receiving Social Security benefits as a spouse based on his wife’s earnings record to his own maximum retirement
Social Security benefits when he turns 70.
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Practice Management
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Trust in Financial Services Firms Highest in Over a Decade
Ted Godbout, Writer/Editor at American Retirement Association
Consumer trust in saving, investing and advice relationships is at its highest level since 2010, according to a new report by Hearts & Wallets.
Nearly half (47%) of surveyed customers report high trust (item 2 on a 10-point scale) for both primary and secondary relationships, up over 10
percentage points from 2010, the firm reports.
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ASSUMED FEDERAL RATES (AFRs)
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§7520 Rate for May is: 3.0%
Break down:
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FINANCIAL FACTS OF THE MONTH
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Brand New Homes
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Source: U.S. Census Bureau
The median sales price of a new home sold in the USA in January 2022 was $423,300,
an all-time record high both on a nominal basis and on an inflation-adjusted basis.
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Credit Technology
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Source: U.S. Department of Labor (DOL)
An average American worker has increased his/her productivity by +52% in the last 22 years, i.e.,
an average worker can complete in 1 hour, 58 minutes as of 12/31/2021 the same amount of work that it
took him/her 3 hours to finish as of 12/31/1999.
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Fewer Babies
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Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
The United States had 3.611 million births in 2020, a total that is projected to fall by 300,000 to
3.3 million when the final 2021 birth total is reported. US births were 3.96 million in 2011.
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Head Shaker
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Source: The White House
The White House forecasted on 3/28/2022 that our national debt will reach $44.8 trillion as of 9/30/2032
(i.e., 10 ½ years down the road), up from $30.3 trillion as of 3/30/2022.
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I’m Going Elsewhere
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Source: DOL
47.4 million Americans quit their full-time jobs in 2021, the highest annual number recorded in the United States based on data tracked since 2001.
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Less Thank What You Think
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Source: Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)
The average single family home in the United States has appreciated just +4.7% per year over the 25 years from 12/31/1996 to 12/31/2021.
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Need Rain
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Source: U.S. Bureau of Reclamation
The water level at Lake Powell dropped to 3,523.13 feet on Thursday 3/31/2022,
its lowest level ever. Lake Powell supplies water to Arizona, Nevada and California.
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Stock and Inflation
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Source: BTN Research
During the 16 highest inflation years over the last 100 years, i.e., 1922-2021,
the S&P 500 has been “up” 8 years and “down” 8 years. The index’s average return for
all 16 years is a gain of +3.9% per year (total return). The “Consumer Price Index”
was used as the inflation benchmark.
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Way Up
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Source: The White House
Per President Biden’s 3/28/2022 budget projection, Social Security outlays will increase by +79% over the next 10 years,
Medicare outlays will rise +118% and interest costs will rise +213%.
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Workers Need a Plan
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Source: Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives
10 US states have enacted legislation that provide “Auto-IRA” pre-tax retirement accounts for private sector workers who are employed by
businesses that do not provide a pretax retirement plan option. The 10 states are California, Colorado, Connecticut, Illinois, Maine, Maryland,
New Jersey, New York, Oregon and Virginia.
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ADVISOR TOOLS
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2022 Federal Income Tax Guide
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Our Tax Guide contains tax information such as:
- Individual income tax rates
- Estates and trusts tax rates
- Roth IRA contribution limits and much
more...
Download the Tax Guide below:
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2022 Social Security & Medicare Reference Guide
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Our Reference Guide contains information such as:
- Social Security income limits
- Medicare Parts A-D deductibles and premiums
- Medicare surtaxes and much more...
Download the Reference Guide below:
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Financial / Insurance Calculators & Websites
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An extensive list of online calculators and informational websites.
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REQUIREMENT UPDATES
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State Updates
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View updates by state, CE requirements and more by clicking on the link below.
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FEATURED COURSE
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The Advisor’s Guide to IRAs
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According to the Investment Company Institute (ICI), as of the fourth quarter of 2019, IRAs have become the #1 retirement asset with
$11.2 trillion of the overall $32.3 trillion in retirement savings (34%). For many Advisors, IRAs have become a major asset in their book
of business. It is your fiduciary responsibility to become an IRA expert.
In order to assist you in becoming an IRA expert, this course has been developed to provide you with the most up-to-date information to assist your clients in contributing to an IRA,
rolling over funds to an IRA, managing the IRA, and distributing IRA assets, as required by various sections in the Internal Revenue Code.
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B.E.S.T. CE PROGRAMS
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Online CE Courses
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At B.E.S.T. we provide you with a lot of CE credit.
Courses are cost-effective, updated annually and
nationally approved for state insurance and professional
designation credits (CFP® & IWI®). Our CE
courses are specifically designed for quick completion
and include:
- Self-paced courses
- Unlimited retakes of review questions and final examinations
- Instant grading
- Course material accessible for up to six (6) months from date of purchase
- Excellent customer support team
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Virtual Super CE Events
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We provide advisors with:
- Study material, a 1.5 hour live webinar (review of study material) and a 50-question electronic exam (amount of questions vary by state)
- Up to 24 CE credit hours of State Insurance CE credit (varies by state)
- 10 CE credit hours of CFP®
- 5 CE credit hours of & IWI®
- Cost is $74.95 per event plus state insurance filing fees when applicable
If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may view a recording of the webinar or
credit may be transferred to the next available live webinar. (NOTE: A $20.00 cancellation
fee will apply for all refunds requested.)
- Includes certificate for CFP® & IWI® and other professional designations
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CFP® & IWI® Ethics CE 2-hour Live Webinar
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“Ethics CE: CFP Board’s Revised Code and Standards:
Ethics for CFP Professionals”
(CFP® Course#: 277681 | IWI® Course#: 21BEST011)
Earn two (2) credit hours of CFP® and / or IWI® Ethics
CE with NO EXAM!
(“Investments & Wealth
Institute® has accepted this CFP Board approved Ethics webinar for
2 hours of CE credit towards the IWI® certifications.”)
WEBINAR DOES NOT INCLUDE STATE INSURANCE CREDIT!
*PAYMENT OPTIONS:
- CFP® ONLY license: $49.00
- IWI® ONLY license: $49.00
- CFP® w/ IWI® licenses: $49.00
plus an additional fee of $25.00
NOTE: Attendees
MUST participate in all exercises during the webinar. Credit received for
attendee time logged and participation, NO EXAM at end
of webinar.
(A $10.00 cancellation fee will apply for all refunds requested.)
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Self-Study CE Course List
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As a top-notch continuing education provider we:
- Deliver CE to financial and insurance
advisors
- Offer up‑to‑date and industry pertinent CE
courses that maximize credits
- Provide ClearCert certified long-term care
and annuity training CE courses
- Supply CE courses that are approved in all
50 states and the
District of Columbia
Order
CE courses toll free at: 1-800-345-5669 OR send an
email to
[email protected].
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DISCLAIMER
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Reproductions of our
Advisor News Insight newsletter are prohibited
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Broker Educational Sales & Training, Inc. (B.E.S.T.),
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This newsletter may not be
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This newsletter is a digest
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B.E.S.T. is not the author of the material unless
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Articles are copyrighted to
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B.E.S.T. does not endorse and
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THIS
NEWSLETTER IS PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES
ONLY AND DOES NOT CONSTITUTE INVESTMENT, TAX,
ACCOUNTING OR LEGAL ADVICE.
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INFORMATION
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