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CPE & Events

Audio Streams from the PFP Division 





The AICPA PFP Division monitors the news and legislative and regulatory landscape in order to bring you expert commentary on the issues you need to know in practice.  Listen to the audio streams below to hear the latest on these issues.




Date

Recording

4/12/2013  Critical Provisions in President's FY 2014 Budget Proposal

This podcast from Bob Keebler summarizes the provisions affecting wealthy clients in President Obama’s recently released fiscal year 2014 budget proposal. Even though these provisions may not be enacted, it will help you have intelligent conversations with your clients, know what the President’s legislative agenda for this year is, and begin planning for some of the estate and tax provisions that may eventually be enacted.  
4/2/2013 Taking a Fresh Look at Reverse Mortgages

In this podcast, Michael Kitces discusses the shifting landscape in the market for reverse mortgages, and why it might be time for financial planners to take a fresh look at using reverse mortgages in their planning. Kitces covers a brief history of reverse mortgages, the current marketplace, how reverse mortgages work, the risks, cost structure and decisions a client must consider when evaluating reverse mortgages, true economic realities of using reverse mortgages to help finance retirement, some of the feasible options and strategies for using reverse mortgages, and where they may be appropriate
 
1/30/2013

Podcast on Key 2013 Planning Considerations for Tax Season

Lyle Benson, Michael Kitces, Ted Sarenski and Scott Sprinkle cover topics you should be discussing with your clients this tax season and how to integrate tax and estate planning in your clients’ overall financial plan. Specifically, they discuss income tax planning issues, how the new tax rate structure and deduction phase-outs have shifted the nature of tax planning, planning for the Medicare surtax and how to integrate investment and tax strategies, strategies to reduce income, and estate planning issues. These changes make it critical to educate your clients and revisit multi-year plans! Listen to this podcast to get practical ideas that you can discuss with your clients over the coming months.

 
1/16/2013 Recent Trends and Developments in the Long-Term Care Insurance Marketplace

Michael Kitces discusses the latest trends and developments in the long-term care insurance marketplace, from the consolidation of the industry and the elimination of lifetime benefits and limited-pay premium options, to the rising popularity of new hybrid LTC insurance contracts that pairs the coverage together with a life or annuity policy as a new form of “asset-based” long-term care protection, and more. 
 
1/11/2013  Under ATRA 2012 Estate Fiscal Year Election is Crucial

In this “60 Second Planner” audio clip from Leimberg Information Services, Inc., Bob Keebler shares an important income tax and capital gain planning pointer for 2012 estates. For deaths occurring before November 30, 2012, these estates should elect a fiscal year ending on November 30, 2012 (with the following fiscal year beginning December 1, 2012). With this election, these estates would not be subject to the tax increases under the American Taxpayer Relief Act nor the 3.8% surtax because both taxes only apply to years beginning on or after January 1, 2013. Listen to this short clip to learn more!
 
1/4/2013

Resolution of the Fiscal Cliff – Part 1
Bob Keebler describes the 2013 income tax aspects of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

Resolution of the Fiscal Cliff – Part 2
Bob Keebler discusses estate, gift and GST planning under the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.

Resolution of the Fiscal Cliff – Part 3
Bob Keebler discusses trusts and estates and the impact of the 3.8% surtax and fiscal cliff settlement.

12/7/2012  Three Immediate 2012 Tax Planning Opportunities for Individuals

Bob Keebler describes 3 immediate tax planning opportunities for 2012 – specifically, harvesting gains in 2012 to avoid increases in capital gain rates, Roth conversions to avoid increase in income tax rates and to potentially take advantage of the loss of state income tax deductions in the future, and funding dynasty trusts before a new federal law could come into effect.
 
12/6/2012  Three Urgent 2012 Planning Opportunities to Avoid the 3.8% Surtax

Bob Keebler describes urgent planning opportunities generated by the new proposed regulations on the 3.8% Medicare surtax on net investment income – specifically, accelerating income in 2012, deferring expenses until 2013, and reducing future exposure to the healthcare surtax for distributions from charitable remainder trusts by harvesting gains, accelerating income and deferring losses and expenses in 2012.
 
 7/12/2012 Estates & Trusts with the 3.8% Medicare Surtax

Bob Keebler describes strategies for estates and trusts in regards to the 3.8% Medicare Surtax under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act.
6/28/2012  3.8% Medicare Surtax Under the Healthcare Law

Bob Keebler describes personal financial planning strategies in wake of the Supreme Court decision on June 28, 2012 that upheld the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, including the 3.8% Medicare Surtax, taking effect January 1, 2013. 
5/31/2012 Key Income Tax Planning Ideas for 2012

This year presents an unprecedented opportunity for you to differentiate your firm and services and show that you provide significant value to your clients by having all of their financial planning needs in mind, including retirement, estate, tax, investment and insurance planning. With so many unknowns in 2013 compounded by an election year, your clients need to take advantage of many financial planning avenues now to avoid missing crucial opportunities to protect their nest egg and increase their net worth. 
2/22/2012 

Lyle Benson, Ted Sarenski and Scott Sprinkle on Proactive Planning with Your Clients during Tax Season

In this audio stream, Lyle, Ted and Scott discuss why 2012 is a critical year to proactively plan with your clients.  Hear about planning techniques that need to be considered now given the many unknowns in 2013. Learn about planning opportunities that can be uncovered while you’re preparing your clients 2011 tax returns. Find out tips to communicate the value of financial planning with clients, and how you can get paid for the work you are providing and increase your bottom line by adding or expanding PFP services.
2/10/2012 Bob Keebler on Fiscal Year 2013 Budget Proposals Potential Impact to Planning

In this audio stream, Bob Keebler covers various budget provisions, including those affecting intentionally defective grantor trusts (IDGTs), valuation discounts, and grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs).  Even though these provisions may not be enacted this year, it will help you have intelligent conversations with your clients, know what the President’s legislative agenda for this year is, and be prepared for some of the estate tax provisions that may eventually be enacted. 
1/3/2012 Michael Kitces on Cost Basis Reporting Rules

In this audio stream, Michael Kitces covers the new cost basis reporting rules enacted under the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.

Note that the new tracking rules will require any financial intermediaries (i.e., generally all brokers and custodians, as well as certain other types of financial institutions) that currently issue Form 1099-B to report using an updated version, which tracks not only the gross proceeds from sales of securities, but the cost basis, acquisition date, amount of gain/loss, and character of the gain/loss (i.e., short-term or long-term). Actual reporting on cost basis will be phased in over time, with equities in 2011, mutual funds and dividend reinvestment plans in 2012, and bonds and other securities in 2013.

12/9/2011  Bob Keebler on Portability Considerations

In this audio stream, Bob Keebler covers filing federal estate tax returns in 2011 and 2012, particularly when executors wish to make a portability election to transfer a decedent’s unused $5 million estate and gift tax exclusion. A few key considerations:
  • Note that you have to file Form 706 to utilize portability (relief may be available if you have missed a 2011 filing)
  • The portable amount does not grow for inflation – it’s frozen in time
  • Portability will disappear on January 1, 2013 unless extended by Congress
  • Portability only applies for estate and gift - not GST
Portability does not help with creditor protection or re-marriage

If you have clients dealing with deaths in 2011 or 2012, it is very important to alert them to the portability issues. To protect yourself, if your client chooses not to file a return to elect portability, you should have your client put this decision in writing. 
12/9/2011  Bob Keebler on Refining the Roth Strategy

In this audio stream, Bob Keebler covers the new thinking as it relates to Roth planning given market volatility. Key considerations include:
  • Opportunistic conversions (ie. optimizing Roth segregation strategies, which focus on the volatility of the stock market)
  • Hedging against increased tax rates
  • Tactical planning (ie. net operating losses)
  • The annual Roth conversion strategy
Important to note is that conversions to Roth 401(k)s cannot be recharacterized.

9/13/2011

Bob Keebler on Recent Estate Tax Developments

The final Form 706 and instructions were issued last week by the IRS for decedents who died in 2010. For most people who died in 2010, the form and estate tax payment are due September 19th.  The AICPA requested a 90-day postponement of the due date, and yesterday the IRS announced filing and penalty relief for 2010 estates. In light of recent estate tax developments, listen to Bob Keebler’s thoughts on critical issues to think through for 2010 and 2011 estate planning and filings. 
8/12/2011

Lyle Benson, Michael Goodman, and Scott Sprinkle on Helping Clients Cope with Market Volatility

Again, we find ourselves in turbulent market times.  With the recent events around the debt ceiling provisions, downgrade of the U.S. debt and subsequent market volatility, now is an opportune time to contact your clients to help them through these uncertain times.  This audio stream contains expert commentary on how they are putting the market volatility in perspective for their clients.

8/12/2011

Bob Keebler on the New Estate Planning Guidance for Decedents Passing in 2010

Notice 2011-66 provides guidance for executors of estates of decedents who died in 2010 regarding the time and manner of choosing to opt out of the estate tax have the carryover basis rules apply. Revenue Procedure 2011-41 provides safe harbor guidance regarding property acquired from estates of decedents who died in 2010. This audio stream provides an overview of the guidance and strategies to assist advisers and clients in making decisions.

8/5/2011

Bob Keebler and Michael Goodman on Debt Ceiling Fallout

Have your clients been asking you tough questions about the current U.S. fiscal situation in this time of uncertainty? Should I change my asset allocation? Should I put money in gold? Should I get out of the stock market as a whole?  This audio stream provides an overview of where the U.S. is right now from a market, economic and fiscal standpoint and also suggests various tax-motivated strategies that you might want to pursue with your clients. Note that this was recorded prior to Standard & Poor’s lowering of the US credit rating for the first time in history.

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