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Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) > 9. Educate a Client about the Financial Aspects of Retirement and Estate Planning (9%) > Flashcards

9. Educate a Client about the Financial Aspects of Retirement and Estate Planning (9%) Flashcards

Knowledge will assist learner provide clients with the tools and knowledge to create comprehensive retirement and estate plans that address their financial needs, lifestyle goals, and legacy considerations.

1
Q

What is the primary purpose of a will in estate planning?

A. To distribute assets to beneficiaries after death
B. To avoid paying estate taxes
C. To bypass probate
D. To manage finances during a person’s lifetime

A

A. To distribute assets to beneficiaries after death

A will is a legal document used to distribute a person’s assets after death.

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2
Q

What is a defined benefit plan?

A. A plan where retirement benefits are based on investment performance
B. A retirement plan where benefits are calculated based on salary and years of service
C. A plan with a fixed employer contribution
D. A plan that only offers tax-deferred growth

A

B. A retirement plan where benefits are calculated based on salary and years of service

Defined benefit plans provide predetermined retirement benefits based on factors like salary and tenure.

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3
Q

At what age can most individuals begin withdrawing from their retirement accounts without penalty?

A. 55
B. 59 ½
C. 62
D. 65

A

B. 59 ½

Withdrawals from most retirement accounts are penalty-free after age 59½.

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4
Q

What is the main purpose of a power of attorney in estate planning?

A. Distributing assets
B. Managing finances if incapacitated
C. Settling debts
D. Managing health insurance

A

B. Managing finances if incapacitated

A power of attorney allows someone to manage finances if the individual becomes incapacitated.

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5
Q

What does the term ‘intestacy’ refer to?

A. Dying without a will
B. Establishing a trust
C. Creating a living will
D. Assigning a guardian

A

A. Dying without a will

Intestacy laws govern the distribution of assets when a person dies without a valid will.

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6
Q

What is the primary benefit of using a Roth IRA?

A. Immediate tax deduction
B. Tax-free growth and withdrawals
C. Early withdrawal without penalty
D. Guaranteed returns

A

B. Tax-free growth and withdrawals

Contributions to a Roth IRA grow tax-free, and qualified withdrawals are tax-free.

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7
Q

Which retirement income source is guaranteed by the government?

A. Social Security
B. Annuities
C. Employer-sponsored pension
D. Investment dividends

A

A. Social Security

Social Security is a government-backed retirement income source.

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8
Q

What does BAH stand for in a military context?

A. Basic Allowance for Housing
B. Basic Annual Hours
C. Budget Allocation Help
D. Beneficiary Assignment Handling

A

A. Basic Allowance for Housing

BAH is a housing allowance for military members.

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9
Q

Which of the following tools can be used to avoid probate?

A. Life insurance
B. Joint tenancy
C. Annuities
D. Roth IRA

A

B. Joint tenancy

Assets held in joint tenancy pass directly to the surviving owner, bypassing probate.

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10
Q

A client wants to plan for retirement and prioritize withdrawing funds. Which account should they generally withdraw from first to minimize taxes?

A. Roth IRA
B. Traditional IRA
C. Taxable brokerage account
D. Health Savings Account

A

C. Taxable brokerage account

It’s often tax-efficient to withdraw from taxable accounts first, preserving tax-advantaged growth in retirement accounts.

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11
Q

A client is interested in ensuring their minor children are cared for if something happens to them. What estate planning document should they prioritize?

A. Trust
B. Will
C. Power of attorney
D. Living will

A

B. Will

A will is necessary to designate guardians for minor children.

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12
Q

If a client is worried about outliving their retirement savings, which product would you recommend?

A. Fixed annuity
B. Mutual fund
C. Savings bond
D. 401(k)

A

A. Fixed annuity

An annuity provides a guaranteed income stream, reducing longevity risk.

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13
Q

Which retirement account is most suitable for a self-employed individual looking to maximize contributions?

A. Traditional IRA
B. Roth IRA
C. SEP-IRA
D. 401(k)

A

C. SEP-IRA

SEP-IRAs allow higher contribution limits for self-employed individuals.

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14
Q

A client is reviewing their estate plan and wants to avoid probate. What strategy would you suggest?

A. Designating beneficiaries on accounts
B. Leaving assets in a will
C. Using a living will
D. Setting up a testamentary trust

A

A. Designating beneficiaries on accounts

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15
Q

A client has a mix of traditional and Roth retirement accounts. How can they optimize their tax strategy during retirement?

A. Withdraw entirely from the Roth account first
B. Withdraw entirely from the Traditional account first
C. Strategically withdraw from both based on tax brackets
D. Convert all Traditional IRA funds to a Roth IRA immediately

A

C. Strategically withdraw from both based on tax brackets

Balancing withdrawals helps minimize taxes over the course of retirement.

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16
Q

A client wishes to provide for a spouse and minor children after their death while minimizing estate taxes. What approach would you suggest?

A. Name the spouse as the sole beneficiary
B. Establish a credit shelter trust
C. Use a simple will
D. Purchase a high-value life insurance policy

A

B. Establish a credit shelter trust

A credit shelter trust can help minimize estate taxes and provide for beneficiaries.

17
Q

A client has significant assets in a taxable investment account and a Roth IRA. Which account should they prioritize for charitable giving to maximize tax benefits?

A. Roth IRA
B. Taxable investment account
C. Traditional IRA
D. Annuity

A

B. Taxable investment account

Donating appreciated assets from a taxable account can provide a tax deduction while avoiding capital gains tax.

18
Q

A married couple, both over age 70, are required to take Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). How can they minimize the tax impact of these distributions?

A. Withdraw from both spouses’ accounts evenly
B. Use Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs)
C. Convert RMDs into a Roth IRA
D. Delay RMDs until age 72

A

B. Use Qualified Charitable Distributions

(QCDs)

QCDs allow individuals to satisfy their RMDs while avoiding income taxes on the distribution.

19
Q

A client nearing retirement is unsure about whether to take Social Security benefits early at age 62 or wait until full retirement age. What factor would most influence this decision?

A. The client’s current health and life expectancy
B. The amount in the client’s 401(k)
C. The client’s existing debt levels
D. The client’s annual income

A

A. The client’s current health and life expectancy

If a client has a shorter life expectancy, it might be beneficial to take Social Security earlier to maximize benefits.

20
Q

A client has recently retired and wants to establish a withdrawal strategy. Which method can help reduce the risk of depleting their retirement savings too quickly?

A. Lump sum withdrawal
B. Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
C. Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP)
D. Spending all income from Social Security first

A

C. Systematic Withdrawal Plan

(SWP)

An SWP allows a structured withdrawal amount, helping the retiree manage their cash flow efficiently.

21
Q

A client is interested in setting up a trust to ensure their assets are distributed according to their wishes while reducing the tax burden. Which type of trust would best serve this purpose?

A. Irrevocable trust
B. Revocable living trust
C. Testamentary trust
D. Joint tenancy

A

A. Irrevocable trust

An irrevocable trust removes assets from the grantor’s estate, potentially reducing estate taxes.

22
Q

A client is concerned about outliving their retirement savings. Which type of annuity would best provide a guaranteed income stream for life?

A. Deferred annuity
B. Variable annuity
C. Immediate fixed annuity
D. Equity-indexed annuity

A

C. Immediate fixed annuity

An immediate fixed annuity starts payments right away and provides a guaranteed income stream.

23
Q

A client who owns a small business wants to leave it to their children but is concerned about estate taxes. Which strategy would be most effective in this situation?

A. Gift the business gradually over several years
B. Transfer the business via a will
C. Liquidate the business before death
D. Use a life insurance policy to cover estate taxes

A

A. Gift the business gradually over several years

Gradual gifting can reduce the value of the estate and minimize estate taxes over time.

24
Q

A client who is 68 years old and retired has multiple sources of income, including a pension, rental properties, and investments. They are considering whether to start drawing from their Roth IRA. What would be the most tax-efficient strategy?

A. Use the Roth IRA as a last resort
B. Withdraw from the Roth IRA first
C. Withdraw from the pension fund early
D. Use rental income before other sources

A

A. Use the Roth IRA as a last resort

Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-free; using them last allows other investments to grow.

25
Q

A client wishes to transfer their property to their children but wants to avoid probate. Which method would accomplish this goal most effectively?

A. Establishing a payable-on-death designation
B. Using a traditional will
C. Creating a revocable living trust
D. Naming a power of attorney

A

C. Creating a revocable living trust

A living trust avoids probate and ensures property transfers smoothly.

26
Q

A couple is looking to reduce their taxable estate by making charitable donations but also wants to continue receiving income during their lifetimes. What strategy would best achieve this?

A. Donor-Advised Fund
B. Charitable Remainder Trust (CRT)
C. Direct gifts to charity
D. Family Limited Partnership

A

B. Charitable Remainder Trust

(CRT)

A CRT allows donors to receive income for life while reducing estate taxes.

27
Q

A client nearing retirement is considering downsizing their home to free up funds. What financial aspect should they consider most?

A. Property taxes in the new area
B. Size of the new property
C. Mortgage rates
D. Cost of living in the new area

A

A. Property taxes in the new area

Moving to a location with lower property taxes can significantly impact retirement cash flow.

28
Q

A high-net-worth client wants to pass on their wealth to their grandchildren while minimizing tax liability. Which strategy should be considered?

A. Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Trust
B. Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust (ILIT)
C. Revocable living trust
D. Standard will

A

A. Generation-Skipping Transfer (GST) Trust

A GST Trust minimizes taxes when wealth is transferred directly to grandchildren.

29
Q

A client is concerned about the financial security of their spouse after their death. Which estate planning strategy is best to ensure ongoing income for the surviving spouse?

A. Establishing a Qualified Terminable Interest Property (QTIP) Trust
B. Naming the spouse as the sole beneficiary on all accounts
C. Setting up a payable-on-death account
D. Purchasing a term life insurance policy

A

A. Establishing a Qualified Terminable Interest Property Trust

(QTIP)

A QTIP Trust provides income for the surviving spouse while preserving the principal for other beneficiaries.

30
Q

A retiree has a mix of assets, including a taxable brokerage account, Traditional IRA, and Roth IRA. Which withdrawal strategy is generally considered most tax-efficient?

A. Withdraw from the Roth IRA first
B. Withdraw from the Traditional IRA first
C. Withdraw from taxable accounts first
D. Use all accounts simultaneously

A

C. Withdraw from taxable accounts first

This approach allows tax-deferred accounts to grow while reducing taxable income early in retirement.

31
Q

A client is planning to transfer a vacation home to their children. What is the best way to minimize gift and estate taxes?

A. Sell the property to the children at market value
B. Gift fractional interests over several years
C. Transfer ownership through a will
D. Establish a revocable living trust

A

B. Gift fractional interests over several years

Gifting fractional interests can take advantage of annual exclusion limits and reduce estate taxes.

32
Q

A client with significant assets in their estate is worried about potential long-term care costs depleting their wealth. What estate planning tool should they consider?

A. Long-Term Care Insurance
B. Irrevocable Life Insurance Trust
C. Revocable Living Trust
D. Joint tenancy

A

A. Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care insurance helps cover healthcare expenses, preserving estate assets.

Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) (9 decks)

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