Latest ACP Blogs

Tax Reform: Will Taxes Go Up or Down?

By #ACP ACP posted 9 days ago
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By  Angela Dorsey ,  CFP® , MBA The Tax Cut and Jobs Act (TCJA), which was passed by Congress at the end of 2017, has certainly been a popular topic of discussion lately. Everyone wants to know if they will see a reduction in taxes, or if in fact their taxes will go up. The short answer is:  It depends! TCJA includes many changes to the tax code, some of which may impact you positively, some negatively, according to your individual situation. Here are some tips to consider, to help you determine how the changes may impact your tax liability. Remember that these changes will affect the filing of your 2018 tax returns, which will be due in April ...
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Kristen Moosmiller and Jake Kuebler featured in TD Ameritrade's Advisor Solutions magazine, "Young, talented and TOTALLY CRUSHING IT"

By #ACP ACP posted 17 days ago
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Kristen Moosmiller and Jake Kuebler featured in TD Ameritrade's Advisor Solutions magazine, "Young, talented and TOTALLY CRUSHING IT", Spring 2018
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ACP mentioned in Kitces' Financial Planning article "Why we’re entering a golden age for solo advisors"

By #ACP ACP posted 21 days ago
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ACP mentioned in Kitces' Financial Planning article "Why we’re entering a golden age for solo advisors", March 26, 2018 "It’s why we see the growth of new business arrangements like the hourly and monthly retainer models, and entire advisor networks like Garrett Planning Network, ACP and our own XY Planning Network — all of which are using their size and bargaining power to further reduce the costs of these hyper-efficient technology tools for solo advisors."
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ACP Member Linda Leitz quoted in NerdWallet article, “Don’t Let the Fear of Looking Stupid Lead to Money Mistakes”

By #ACP ACP posted 03-20-2018
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ACP Member Linda Leitz quoted in NerdWallet article, “ Don’t Let the Fear of Looking Stupid Lead to Money Mistakes” , February 11, 201
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Charitable Planning

By #ACP ACP posted 03-01-2018
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By Linda Y. Leitz , PhD , CFP® , EA When disaster strikes, it’s a natural reaction to want to help those in need. The heroic efforts of Houston area residents bring a tear to many an eye – people using their private boats to help in efforts to take people from their flooded homes to dry ground, boats full of family pets who were trapped with their families, families being carried to safety through waist-high water by rescue workers and volunteers. For people who are too far away to man a boat or wade through water, making a financial contribution is often the best way to help. To make your heartfelt financial support count, make sure it’s going to a bona ...
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Ready for Your Optimal Life? First, Ask the Right Questions

By #ACP ACP posted 02-16-2018
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By: Frank J. Corrado , CFP, CPA Remember the first time an adult you respected told you, “If you’re having a difficult time deciding what is the right thing to do -- just listen to your gut. Deep down, if it’s right, you’ll  feel  it.” That’s exactly how I felt the first time I was introduced to the concept of  appreciative inquiry .  After years of providing excellent financial planning service to my clients, the traditional model I’d been trained in just didn’t  feel  right anymore.  As a successful financial advisor helping clients build their net worth, I was questioning the impact I was having. Sure, I was helping them make more money through better ...
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Elizabeth Buffardi quoted in Yahoo Finance article, "Financial advisors: Here's how to handle the stock market roller coaster"

By #ACP ACP posted 02-08-2018
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Elizabeth Buffardi quoted in Yahoo Finance article, "Financial advisors: Here's how to handle the stock market roller coaster", February 7, 2018
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John Scherer quoted in CNBC article, "What you need to do if you want to put off retirement like Warren Buffett"

By #ACP ACP posted 02-08-2018
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John Scherer quoted in CNBC article, "What you need to do if you want to put off retirement like Warren Buffett", January 18, 2018
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Best in Class Tax Season Software

By #ACP ACP posted 01-12-2018
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By: PJ Wallin , CFP®, CPA Best-in-Class Tax Season Software All, I've been doing extensive research on best-in-class tax season software set-up. My goal as a firm is to be in full marketing mode during tax season. I've found many firms are inwardly focused rather than outwardly focused during such an important time. Last season alone we added a tremendous amount of new business during tax season and the last thing I want to do is turn away work, or work 60 hours per week – so here's what we we’re using (pros/cons), our updated set up for this season, and the reason for the change. 2014/2015/2016 Tax Years Set Up  - GruntWorx with UltraTax Desktop ...
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Something Happened at the 2017 ACP Annual Conference

By #ACP ACP posted 11-29-2017
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By: Frankie Corrado , CFP® Something Happened at the 2017 ACP Annual Conference Heading into the 2017 annual conference of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP), there was much on my mind. My firm, Blue Blaze, is growing out of its “boutique” shell with our eyes on ambitious impact and industry re-defining value to clients. As a newly elected member to the ACP Board of Directors, I was intent on bringing my energy, ideas, and work ethic to face the challenges of the organization. And to top it off, this was my second year as the conference chair. Our conference is revered by the outstanding member-financial planners that make up the relatively ...
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Hannah Basil promotes ACP on the CFP Board Candidate Open Forum, November 2017

By #ACP ACP posted 11-20-2017
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Thanks Hannah for promoting ACP on the CFP Board Candidate Open Forum! Starting a fee only firm November 2017 Hello, My name is Jamie Wiggins. I am completing an MBA in Personal Financial Planning April 2018 which will allow me to sit for the CFP exam. I have been trying to go the traditional route and get a job within financial planning and more specifically fee only financial planning but having some real challenges. I am wanting to work with younger clients. I have no real "work" experience related to the financial planning so it has been very difficult for me since the firms that are in my area seem to be wanting experienced professionals and experience ...
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Sheila Padden and ACP mentioned in Kiplinger's Personal Finance, December 2017 article, "The Right Price for Investing Advice"

By #ACP ACP posted 11-03-2017
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Sheila Padden and ACP mentioned in Kiplinger's Personal Finance,  December 2017 article, "The Right Price for Investing Advice"
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Debbie Gallant quoted in The Wall Street Journal article, "Financial Advisers Balk at Changes to TD’s Commission-Free ETF Menu"

By #ACP ACP posted 10-30-2017
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Debbie Gallant quoted in The Wall Street Journal  article, "Financial Advisers Balk at Changes to TD’s Commission-Free ETF Menu" , Oct 26, 2017
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Frankie Corrado and ACP mentioned in local news

By #ACP ACP posted 10-13-2017
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"Holmdel Businessman Frank T. Corrado, CFP, Elected to the Board of Directors For the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners" , TAPinto.net, October 3, 201
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Really Getting to Know Prospective Clients

By #ACP ACP posted 10-04-2017
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By:  Linda Leitz , PhD, CFP®, CDFA, EA There are financial advisors who don’t take the time to get to know what prospective clients want before turning them into clients. Financial planners in the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners (ACP) take the time to find out what consumers want and have some sense of what they need before proposing a client relationship. The preliminary appointment that ACP members are taught doesn’t involve a long and tedious questionnaire that the average consumer finds overwhelming and intimidating. Simple data gathering and nature conversation about the prospective clients’ desires and their situation build the foundation for ...
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ACP Welcomes Newest Board Members

By #ACP ACP posted 09-27-2017
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Join us in welcoming Chris Wentzien and Frankie Corrado as the newest members of the ACP Board of Directors. Chris and Frankie will serve three-year terms beginning January 2018 and running through December 2020. I am confident that ACP will benefit greatly from their insight, vision, and leadership. Chris Wentzien, CFP®, CPA, MBA ACP Campaign Statement Why do I want to be an ACP Board Member? Giving Back . I would not have a practice without ACP. The friendships, ACP training, and tools have allowed me to build a successful practice, and have been with me every step from the start-up phase to where I am today. We are the best ! I strongly ...
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Functional Asset Allocation Overview - Based on the Article by Bert Whitehead

By #ACP ACP posted 09-08-2017
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Edited by Michael Garber , CFP®, CRTP August 2017 Based on the Article “ Functional Asset Allocation: A Model for Real People ,” by Bert Whitehead, MBA, JD and founder of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners Introduction In finance, the process of Asset Allocation has developed to optimize investment return from a portfolio, given an expected level of volatility. This approach developed after studies of the historical performance of a variety of asset classes used in many types of investment portfolios.  The traditional approach to asset allocation is based on the needs of institutional portfolios, or those of the very wealthy. The output of traditional ...
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Tax-Focused Financial Planning System

By Kyle Root posted 08-17-2017
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By: Melvin Spain , CPA / PFS Being a tax-focused financial planner is a way to set yourself apart from other financial planners in the marketplace. I have seen brokers, investment advisors, and financial planners tell clients they can expect to pay a certain amount of taxes on a transaction without understanding the client may have alternative minimum tax (AMT), net investment tax, or that the transaction pushed other income into a higher tax bracket. As a comprehensive planner, you know the client’s entire financial picture so they may have a long term capital loss carryover, or if they have a favorite charity they may wish to contribute appreciated stock ...
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ACP and Bert Whitehead mentioned, Ken Robinson quoted in Financial Planning article, "Will retainer fees replace the conventional AUM model?", May 4, 2017

By #ACP ACP posted 05-30-2017
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ACP and Bert Whitehead mentioned, Ken Robinson quoted in Financial Planning article, "Will retainer fees replace the conventional AUM model?" , May 4, 2017 Retainer fees first emerged after a 1995 NAPFA conference presentation by the founder of the Alliance of Comprehensive Planners, Bert Whitehead. Only 11.5% of fee-only advisers use quarterly or monthly retainers, according to an estimate by Ken Robinson, an early adopter at Practical Financial Planning in Cleveland. Robinson co-wrote a 2016 study in response, he says, to growing interest in retainers. The Department of Labor’s fiduciary rule, increased competition, a limited market for AUM clients ...
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Ken Robinson quoted in NerdWallet article, "Pay Yourself First: Reverse Budgeting Explained"

By #ACP ACP posted 05-19-2017
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Ken Robinson quoted in NerdWallet article, "Pay Yourself First: Reverse Budgeting Explained",  May 17
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