Will opening a new line of credit help or hurt one’s credit score? How much of available credit should be utilized? Will credit inquiries negatively affect one’s score? There seems to be a lot of confusion around credit scores, as a recent Transunion survey suggests: 43% of consumers believe checking their credit score has the same effect as when a lender checks it and 44% of consumers believe marital status is factored. As such, let’s clarify the factors that actually affect FICO credit scores. Each of the following percentages represent how important each category is in generating a credit score: 35% payment history. 30% amounts owed. 15% length of credit…
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Traditional Financial Advisor Training Programs
Industry experts recommend getting with a firm committed to offering comprehensive financial planning and in positions where you don’t have to go out and immediately attract clients. However, expanding your search to include these traditional, broker-dealer firms will, of course, increase the odds of getting your start in the industry. These firms have historically been more transactions-based, rather than providing ongoing, comprehensive financial planning services. Links to a few of these programs with program details and FAQ pages: Merrill Lynch “Our Our Financial Advisor Development Program (FADP) is designed to develop the critical skills and knowledge necessary for building a successful wealth management business—acquiring clients, enhancing relationships, providing tailored strategies and more.…
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Financial Planning Articles (September 23, 2018)
“Financial Planning Articles” is a collection of articles and research that I’ve been reading regarding financial planning. What I’m Reading: Personal/Career Development The Four Skill Domains For Financial Advisor Mastery (Michael Kitces, Kitces.com) “Given these dynamics, it appears that ultimately there are four domains in which financial advisors may seek to improve their skills to advance their careers: competency (technical), empathy (relationships), sales (business development), and management (business execution).” How to Email Someone You Haven’t Talked to in Forever (Rebecca Zucker, Harvard Business Review) “However, over the years, we often lose touch with people in our network as work, family, and other demands fill our limited time. As if reaching out to…
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Discussion Questions: Insurance, Chapter 2 “Characteristics of Insurance”
Discussion Questions: information relating to the end-of-chapter “Discussion Questions” from the financial planning coursework material through New York University’s CFP® Program (in conjunction with Dalton Education). Discussion Questions for Chapter 2: “Characteristics of Insurance” Describe the personal risk management process. Page 14: “Part of the ‘analyze and evaluate’ step in the financial planning process requires that a planner perform the risk management process. The risk management process includes the financial planner reviewing all of the client’s risk exposures and determining the appropriate risk management technique for each risk. The risk management process includes: Determining the objectives of the risk management program. Identifying the risks to which the individual is exposed. Evaluating…
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Financial Planning Articles (September 3, 2018)
“Financial Planning Articles” is a collection of articles and research that I’ve been reading regarding financial planning. *** What I’m Reading: New Financial Planners/Career Changers 10 Tips for New Financial Planners to Maximize Career Progression (Michael Kitces, Kitces.com) “The key aspects you should look for when trying to get that first financial planning job: make sure it’s a firm that is really serious about doing financial planning, that you’re a good fit for the person you will be working for, that you can focus on learning and getting some experience (that includes operations and administrative experience!), and that you will have an opportunity to be involved in the process (even if it’s just behind the…
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Financial Planning Articles (August 26, 2018)
“Financial Planning Articles” is a collection of articles and research that I’ve been reading regarding financial planning. What I’m Reading: When A Good Offer For A First Financial Advisor Job Really Isn’t (Michael Kitces, Kitces.com) “The key point here is to understand that unfortunately, the financial advisor job offer from a lot of big firms is usually not a good way to start your career as a financial advisor because it’s not a financial advisor job, it’s a financial salesperson job, regardless of what it says on your business card.” ‘Super Robos’ to emerge as digital financial advice evolves (Sean Allocca, Financial-Planning.com) “A super robo would expand far beyond investments to…
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Fundamentals Chapter 3 Discussion Questions: “Financial Planning Approaches: Analysis and Recommendations”
Discussion Questions: information relating to the end-of-chapter “Discussion Questions” from the financial planning coursework material through New York University’s CFP® Program (in conjunction with Dalton Education). Discussion Questions for Chapter 3: “Financial Planning Approaches: Analysis and Recommendations” List and define the eight approaches to financial planning analysis and recommendations. Life Cycle approach: Quick data collection; planner gets a brief overview to facilitate a focused first conversation. Usually used early in engagement. Framework based on the idea that client’s age may indicate the life phase: Asset accumulation phase: usually early 20’s until late 50’s when discretionary CF for investing is low and debt-to-net worth is high. Conservation (risk management) phase: usually beings…
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Fundamentals Chapter 2 Discussion Questions: “Interpersonal Communication & Behavioral Finance”
Discussion Questions: information relating to the end-of-chapter “Discussion Questions” from the financial planning coursework material through New York University’s CFP® Program (in conjunction with Dalton Education). Discussion Questions for Chapter 2: “Interpersonal Communication & Behavioral Finance” Identify and discuss the 3 general schools of thought for counseling. Developmental “Believes that human development occurs in stages over time. Relationships that are formed early in life become a template for establishing relationships in adulthood. As to emotions, the Developmental Paradigm assumes that all humans develop and progress in a predictable sequence. Humanistic “Dominated by theorists whose models have their origins from a shared philosophical approach. For a client to grow, the relationship requires…
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Fundamentals Chapter 1 Discussion Questions: “Introduction to Financial Planning”
Discussion Questions: information relating to the end-of-chapter “Discussion Questions” from the financial planning coursework material through New York University’s CFP® Program (in conjunction with Dalton Education). Discussion Questions for Chapter 1: “Introduction to Financial Planning” What is personal financial planning? “The process of formulating, implementing, and monitoring financial decisions integrated into a plan that guides an individual or a family to achieve their financial goals.” Define the process of financial planning. “The process of financial planning includes: (1) establishing and defining the client relationship, (2) gathering client data, (3) analyzing and evaluating the client’s financial status, (4) developing and presenting financial plan recommendations, (5) implementing financial plan recommendations, and (6) monitoring the…
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Fundamentals Chapter 7 Recap: “Time Value of Money”
Chapter Recaps: my notes to chapters of the financial planning coursework material through New York University’s CFP® Program (in conjunction with Dalton Education). Chapter 7: Time Value of Money Introduction Time Value of Money (TVM) = a mathematical concept that determines the value of money at a point or over a period of time, at a given rate of interest. Present value = the value today of one or more future cash flows discounted to today at an appropriate interest rate. Future value = value at some point in the future of a present amount or amounts after earning a rate of return, for a period of time. TVM allows for…