Voice
10 Questions with Alexandra Armstrong, CFP®, on 'Firsts,' Financial Planning's Future, and the Fain Award
Talking Point: Kerry or Bush: What Would It Mean for Financial Planning?
Estate Planning Relationships: Strengthening the Planner/ Attorney Team
by Nancy Opiela
If financial planners and attorneys work together on a client's estate plan, mistakes can be avoided and the plan will be all the more solid and successful. A planner/attorney relationship is based on communication, mutual respect, and acknowledging each other's different roles and approaches—and appreciating those differences.
Departments
Starting Thoughts
The Observer
Advertising Index
Continuing Education Exam
Strategies & Trends
Investment Research: Corrupted Investment Solutions
by William Jahnke
If the theory of developing future asset allocations based on historical returns is bankrupt, as our columnist contends, what do you put in its place? He recommends a model in which estimated returns are derived from the fundamental variables that drive them.
Money & Soul: Lessons Learned
by Ross Levin, CFP®
Whether choosing business partners, clients, or staff, be sure to look deeper than their skills, the bottom line, or capabilities.
Tax and Estate Issues: Is the Alternative Minimum Tax Sneaking Up on Your Clients?
by Julie A. Welch, CPA, CFP®, Randy Gardner, LL.M., CPA, CFP¨, and John W. Meara, CPA, ABV, CFE
No longer aimed only at the wealthy, the alternative minimum tax is catching many taxpayers—possibly 32 million by 2010—by surprise. The authors offer ways to plan for the AMT.
The Practice: The Simplicity and Complexity of Branding
by Vern C. Hayden, CFP®
How do you get potential clients to "salivate" over the prospect of doing business with you? By establishing a brand that motivates people to take action with the expectation of a great result.
Contributions
Decision Rules and Portfolio Management for Retirees: Is the 'Safe' Initial Withdrawal Rate Too Safe?
by Jonathan T. Guyton, CFP®
The kind of lifestyle a retiree can enjoy depends in large part on the amount of income available from their investment portfolio. What constitutes a "safe" withdrawal rate? Challenging previous research, this Call for Papers winner concludes that it's higher than many planners believe.
Advantages and Caveats of Interest-Only Adjustable Mortgages for Clients
by Shaun Aghili, DBA, CFP®
Lenders and consumers may see interest-only adjustable rate mortgages as an appealing strategy in the face of rising interest rates, but financial planners aren't necessarily as quick to promote them. The author provides an overview that will help planners determine when, and for which clients, interest-only ARMs are appropriate.
The Best of 25 Years: A Look Behind the Scenes: A Survey of How CFPs Work
by Tahira K. Hira, Ph.D., CFP®; Howard E. Van Auken, Ph.D.; and Daniel M. Norris, CPA
Published nearly 20 years ago, this was one of the first articles in the Journal to study financial planners themselves: who they were and how they worked.
