5. Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits. All questions and Comprehensive Course Exam for Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits Flashcards
Course 5. Retirement Planning & Employee Benefits. All questions and Comprehensive Course Exam for Retirement Planning and Employee Benefits
Module 5. Retirement Planning
Lesson 2. Qualified Plans
A client’s current annual salary is $100,000. If the client wishes to replace 80% of their current salary, in today’s dollars when they retire in 20 years, what capital amount will be needed to accumulate by the first day of retirement if the expected rate of inflation will be 2%, the expected rate of investment returns is 5%, and the client expects to live 25 years in retirement?
* $1,443,469
* $2,144,922
* $1,759,203
* $2,367,288
$2,144,922
- The client will need to accumulate $2,144,922 by the first day of retirement to support the retirement income goal.
- Step 1:
100,000 x 80% = 80,000
80,000 [+/-] PV
20, N
2, I/YR
Solve FV
118,875 - Step 2:
BEGin mode
118,876 PMT
25, N
[(1.05 ÷ 1.02) – 1 x] = 2.9412 I/YR
0, FV
Solve PV
2,144,922
Samantha Kruger asked you, “What is the best way to save for retirement?” How would you answer her?
* A taxable account
* A tax-deferred plan
* Social Security
* Relying on someone else to provide for you
A tax-deferred plan
- In retirement planning, the fact that taxes affect personal financial decisions cannot be overstressed.
- Of the many options available, using a tax-deferred retirement plan is most beneficial because they allow investment earnings to go untaxed until the earnings are removed at retirement. Social Security, an employer’s retirement plan and an IRA may or may not be taxed.
Which of the following questions are relevant to setting retirement goals? (Select all that apply)
* How costly a lifestyle do I want to lead?
* Will I have major medical expenses after retirement?
* Under which income tax bracket are each of my children taxed?
* Do I wish to travel after my retirement?
How costly a lifestyle do I want to lead?
Will I have major medical expenses after retirement?
Do I wish to travel after my retirement?
* The income tax bracket of children of the retiree is irrelevant to setting retirement goals.
* The other questions must be answered to assess the financial goals that must be set before planning for retirement.
Russell and Charmin have current living expenses that equal $57,000 a year. Assuming 80% replacement, estimate the amount of income they will need to maintain their level of living in retirement. Assume their average tax rate will be 13%, not including inflation.
* $43,291.84
* $32,279.83
* $52,413.79
* $38,927.32
$52,413.79
- Russell and Charmin will need 80% of their current living expenditures of $57,000.
- Tax must then be added at the estimated average tax rate of 13%, using the formula retirement income/(1-tax rate).
- $57,000 x 0.80 = $45,600
- $45,600/(1-0.13) =
- $45,600/0.87 = $52,413.79
Which part of the Medicare coverage includes hospital insurance benefits?
* Part B
* Part A
Part A
* Part A provides hospital insurance benefits.
Match the corresponding types of annuities on the left with the descriptions on the right.
Single Life
Annuity for Life with Period Certain
Joint and Survivor
* Provides payments over the life both the annuitant and his/her spouse.
* Provides a set monthly payment for the person’s entire life.
* A person will receive payment for life, but if he or she dies before the end of certain period, payments will continue to beneficiaries until the end of the period.
- Single Life - Provides a set monthly payment for the person’s entire life.
- Annuity for Life with Period Certain - A person will receive payment for life, but if he or she dies before the end of certain period, payments will continue to beneficiaries until the end of the period.
- Joint and Survivor - Provides payments over the life both the annuitant and his/her spouse.
What are the main advantages of the Roth IRA? (Select all that apply)
* Contributions to Roth IRA are tax deductible.
* Qualified withdrawals from Roth IRA are tax free.
* The retiree is never subject to a pre 59 1/2 penalty.
* Earnings grow tax sheltered.
Qualified withdrawals from Roth IRA are tax free.
Earnings grow tax sheltered.
* A Roth-IRA account allows contributions of after tax money to be deposited. These contributions can be withdrawn without taxation or penalty at any time. The earnings on the deposits grow tax sheltered. Untaxed earnings may be withdrawn tax free in the future if certain conditions are met. The Roth-IRA does not provide a tax deduction now but may provide a tax break later, perhaps during retirement. With enough years of growth, a substantial amount of untaxed earnings may be withdrawn tax free, providing a significant income tax advantage during retirement.
When planning an annuity payout, there are several options from which to choose. Which option provides the retiree’s beneficiary with benefits until the end of a specified period, if the retiree dies within that period?
* Single life annuity
* Lump sum payments
* Joint and survivor annuity
* Annuity for life with certain period
Annuity for life with certain period
* Under an annuity for life with certain period a person will receive payments for life, but if he or she dies before the end of a certain period, payments will continue to beneficiaries until the end of that period.
* The single life annuity provides a set monthly payment for the person’s entire life.
* The joint and survivor annuity provides payments over the life of both the annuitant and his/her spouse.
* The lump sum payments are not annual payments.
Investment strategy must be formulated keeping in mind what factors? (Select all that apply)
* Time horizon
* Risk Tolerance
* Neighbor’s Portfolio
* Tax considerations
Time horizon
Risk Tolerance
Tax considerations
* Among other things, an investment strategy must take into consideration the time horizon, risk tolerance, and tax considerations. It is dangerous to have too much in stocks and bonds and not enough in emergency reserves as liquid assets. The strategy for investment of retirement funds must reflect the investment time horizon. As the time for retirement approaches, funds must be gradually shifted to less risky investments. An increase in inflation rates will affect the value of stocks and bonds. Selling stocks and mutual funds will result in having to pay capital gains taxes. The chief goal of the investment strategy must be to allow a person to earn enough on retirement savings to offset inflation and not to maximize earnings with risky investments.
What variables make it difficult to create a financial plan that is exact? Click all that apply.
* Defined benefit plans
* Future tax rates
* Future investment return rate
* The client’s exact life expectancy
Future tax rates
Future investment return rate
The client’s exact life expectancy
* Planners and clients should not expect exactness in the financial planning targets. There are too many variables, such as future investment return rates, future tax rates and client’s exact life expectancy.
* Nevertheless, the targets for retirement planning are near enough to try quantify plans and make sure they are systematically carried out.
For qualified plans, how frequently must an employer provide an individual benefit statement?
* Monthly
* Semi-annually
* Quarterly
* Annually
Annually
* For qualified plans, employers are required to provide an individual benefit statement at least once annually.
* This statement is very helpful for retirement planning because it provides detailed account information.
In retirement needs analysis, Social Security retirement benefits are adjusted for inflation to the retirement year and subtracted from the current income replacement need.
* False
* True
False
- Social Security retirement benefits will automatically be adjusted for inflation so the currently projected benefit is subtracted from the current income replacement need.
Each of the following is a question that should be answered when planning for retirement in 15 years EXCEPT:
* Do I want to have money to set aside for my family?
* What is my current monthly budget?
* Do I want to continue staying in my current house or do I want to move to another location?
* Do I wish to travel after my retirement?
What is my current monthly budget?
- “What is my current budget” is not a question considered in retirement planning for the future. Cash flow will be important during retirement but is not typically a question addressed among the other key questions when retirement is still 15 years in the future.
If the current inflation rate is 2.2% and the current rate of return is 9%, what is the inflation-adjusted rate of return?
* 6.80%
* 4.09%
* 6.65%
* 9.00%
6.65%
* (9 – 2.20) ÷ (1 + 0.022) = 6.65
Each of the following may help improve cash flow during retirement EXCEPT:
* Not contributing toward saving for retirement, such as through 401(K) plans.
* Not paying payroll taxes on pension income received.
* Being covered by Medicare and therefore, not having out of pocket healthcare expenses.
* Paying off a mortgage.
Being covered by Medicare and therefore, not having out of pocket healthcare expenses.
- Being covered by Medicare and therefore not having out-of-pocket healthcare expenses is not a correct statement. Medicare requires certain deductibles and co-pays.
If a client needs to accumulate $2,144,922 by the first day of retirement in 20 years, what level amount must the client save at the end of each month to reach the goal assuming annual inflation of 2% and an annual return of 7%?
* $7,276
* $4,118
* $4,093
* $5,278
$4,118
- They need to save $4,118 at the end of each month to reach the retirement funding goal.
END mode
2,144,922, FV
0, PV
20 x 12 = 240, N
7 ÷ 12 = 0.5833, I/YR
Solve PMT
4,117.51 or, $4,118 (rounded)
In a retirement needs analysis calculation, if the assumed rate of return is 6% and the assumed inflation rate is 2%, what is the inflation-adjusted rate of return?
* 5.77%
* 4%
* 4.97%
* 3.92%
3.92%
- The inflation-adjusted rate is 3.92%. [(1.06 ÷ 1.02) – 1] x 100 = 0.0392.
- Alternatively, the inflation-adjusted rate can be calculated: (6 – 2) ÷ 1.02 = 3.92%
Raul has a retirement income replacement goal of 60% of his current after-tax salary. If his current salary is $8,000 per month and 15% is assumed for taxes, what will Raul’s annual income be at the beginning of his retirement?
* $48,960
* $76,800
* $6,400
* $6,800
$48,960
- $48,6000 is the annual after-tax income.
$8,000 x 12 = $96,000
60% x $96,000 = $57,600
$57,600 x 0.85 (1 – 15% taxes) = $48,960
Which of the following retirement savings strategies, with amounts invested at the end of each year, produces the largest lump sum at age 65 assuming an 8% annual return?
* At age 45, investing $10,000 annually
* At age 35, investing $10,000 annually for 10 years with no further additional investments
* At age 35, investing $6,000 annually
* At age 45, investing $100,000 with no additional investments
* At age 35, investing $6,000 annually results in a lump sum at age 65 of $679,699.
At age 35, investing $6,000 annually
- At age 35, investing $6,000 annually results in a lump sum at age 65 of $679,699.
N = 30, I/YR = 8, PV = 0, PMT = -$6,000, Solve for FV = $679,699 - At age 35, investing $10,000 annually for 10 years with no further additional investments results in a lump sum at age 65 of $675,212.
Step 1: N = 10, I/YR = 8, PV = 0, PMT = -$10,000, Solve for FV = $144,865.62;
Step 2: N = 20, I/YR = 8, PV = -144,865.62, Solve for FV = $675,212 - At age 45, investing $10,000 annually results in a lump sum at age 65 of $457,620.
N = 20, I/YR = 8, PV = 0, PMT = -$10,000, Solve for FV = $457,620 - At age 45, investing $100,000 with no additional investments results in a lump sum at age 65 of $466,096.
N = 20, I/YR = 8, PV = -$100,000, Solve for FV = $466,096
To whom does the Social Security Administration currently mail annual statements?
* Every taxpayer
* Individuals age 59 ½ or older who are receiving Social Security benefits
* Individuals age 60 or older who do not have a “my Social Security” account online
* Individuals age 65 and older
Individuals age 60 or older who do not have a “my Social Security” account online
* Currently, the Social Security Administration mails annual statements to Individuals aged 60 and older who do not have a “my Social Security” account online who are paying into the Social Security system.
Which of the following may decrease the necessary annual savings required to meet a retirement income funding goal for a given “in today’s dollars” annual retirement income amount?
* Reducing the age at which one will retire
* Decreased inflation assumptions
* Decreases in Social Security pension assumptions
* Increased income taxes in retirement
Decreased inflation assumptions
- Decreased inflation assumptions may decrease the necessary annual savings required because the assumed retirement income goal (in today’s dollars) will decrease due to lower inflation adjustments.
Angio Corporation produces and sells equipment to hospitals and doctors for use during heart surgeries. Angio employs 12 salespeople and 26 office staff. All these individuals have been with the company for more than one year and are over age 21.
Angio does not want the qualified plan to cover the sales staff. Eleven of the twelve salespeople are highly compensated and six of the office staff are highly compensated.
Will the plan pass the Safe Harbor Test?
* Yes
* No
Yes
- If a total of 17 of the employees are highly compensated, then 21 are non-highly compensated.
- Therefore, the plan would need to cover at least 15 non-highly compensated employees to pass (21 x 0.70 = 14.7).
- It will cover 20 non-highly compensated employees who work in the office and, therefore, passes the Safe Harbor Test.
A plan formula provides 40% of final average compensation with an offset. The lowest paid employee must receive at least what percentage of the final average compensation from the plan?
* 20%
* 40%
* 10%
* 60%
20%
- Code and regulations provide limits on the extent of an offset for Social Security. In particular, the rules provide that no more than half of the benefit provided under the formula without the offset may be taken away by an offset.
- In this case, the lowest paid employee must receive at least 20% of the final average compensation from the plan (0.40 x 0.50 = 0.20).