Comprehensive Test Flashcards
1. What is the approximate average cost in the United States for a year’s stay in a nursing home? (LO 1-2-1) A. $84,000 B. $49,000 C. $27,000 D. $108,000
- The answer is A.
A qualitative question that could help you better understand how your client feels about financial matters is (LO 2-1-1) A. How many children do you have? B. What keeps you up at night? C. What retirement assets do you have? D. What expenses do you have?
- The answer is B. The others are quantitative questions.
Which of the following statements concerning estimating nonqualified defined benefit plan benefits provided by private employers is correct? (LO 2-2-1)
A. Benefits are generally paid out as a life annuity.
B. Benefits may be rolled into an IRA, if a lump sum distribution is chosen.
C. Benefits are generally secure as in most cases assets are held in an irrevocable trust.
D. Benefits may be subject to a forfeiture provision if a do-not-compete clause is violated.
- The answer is D. A is incorrect as many nonqualified plans generally provide benefits for a stated number of years. B is incorrect since rollovers are never allowed with nonqualified plans. C is incorrect as nonqualified plan benefits are subject to some risk as assets are not generally held in an irrevocable trust
Which of the following statements concerning assumptions used in determining retirement need is correct? (LO 2-3-1)
A. Actuarial tables reveal that 68% of those who live to 65 will still be alive at age 90.
B. It is appropriate to disregard the client’s health status in determining a life expectancy assumption.
C. The expense method approach to estimating retirement need becomes more plausible as clients approach retirement age
D. It is best to use the most recent inflation rate when choosing an inflation assumption.
- The answer is C. A is incorrect as the percentage is much lower (28%). B is incorrect as individual and family health considerations are appropriate to consider when estimating life expectancy. D is incorrect as long-term inflation rates are better to use when choosing an inflation assumption
To complete a Roth IRA conversion for 2012 the conversion must occur on or before (LO 3-3-1) A. October 15, 2012 B. December 31, 2012 C. April 15, 2012 D. October 15, 2013
- The answer is B. Conversions have to be completed by the end of the year
- Jennie and Johnny are both age 58, are married, and have AGI of $300,000. Both are employees of large companies and maximize contributions to their companies’ 401(k) plans. Jennie can make additional contributions to a tax-advantaged retirement plan for the year by (LO 3-3-3)
A. Making additional contributions to the 401(k) plan under a Roth election.
B. Making deductible contributions to an IRA.
C. Setting up a SEP to shelter a portion of their investment earnings.
D. Making nondeductible contributions to an IRA and then converting to a Roth IRA.
- The answer is D.
7. Gretta is married, self-employed with no employees, age 72 and earns $50,000 of Schedule C earnings. In order to shelter as much income as possible she should adopt a (LO 3-3-3) A. SEP B. Profit-sharing plan C. Money purchase pension plan D. 401(k) plan
- The answer is D. The 401(k) plan allows the largest contribution since salary deferrals can be made in addition to the maximum contribution that can be made to the other types of plans mentioned
- Which of the following statements about reverse mortgages is correct? (LO 3-5-1)
A. Repayment is required immediately if the loan exceeds 50 percent of the value of the home.
B. Loans payments are treated as taxable income to the homeowner.
C. If the home’s value exceeds the loan amount, the bank would receive the windfall when the home is sold.
D. Payment choices include a lump sum, line of credit and tenure option.
- The answer is D. A is incorrect as there is no such requirement. B is incorrect, a reverse mortgage is a loan and there are no income tax consequences when payments are made to the homeowner. C is incorrect. The bank is only entitled to repayment of the loan. The homeowner or heirs would be entitled to any windfall
9. An actively managed stock mutual fund that has a high level of overlap with the appropriate benchmark is referred to as a (LO 3-6-1) A. Value fund B. Closeted index fund C. Growth fund D. Large cap fund
- The answer is B
- Ray has decided that he will rollover his Roth 401(k) account. His best option is a (LO 4-1-1)
A. Direct rollover into a Roth IRA.
B. Rollover into a traditional IRA.
C. Net unrealized appreciation election.
D. Rollover to his new employer’s defined benefit plan.
- The answer is A. A direct rollover avoids mandatory withholding, and Roth Accounts can only be rolled into a Roth IRA or Roth account in another employer’s retirement plan.
11. Ralph has a $50,000 IRA with $30,000 of nondeductible contributions and a $250,000 rollover IRA that has no cost basis. If he withdraws $20,000 from the nondeductible IRA how much of the distribution is subject to income tax. (LO 4-1-2) A. $0 B. $12,000 C. $18,000 D. $20,000
- The answer is C. The formula for determining the portion that is not taxable is $20,000 x $30,000/$300,000 ($50,000 + $250,000). Since $2,000 is not taxable $18,000 is taxable.
12. Jerry has one Roth IRA which he has contributed $20,000 and the account value is currently $30,000. Jerry is 55, has made no prior withdrawals, and now takes a distribution of all $30,000 to pay for his daughter’s college education expenses. How much of the distribution is subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty tax? (LO 4-1-2) A. $0 B. $10,000 C. $20,000 D. $30,000
- The answer is A. This is a nonqualifying withdrawal and $10,000 is subject to income tax. The 10% penalty does not apply because the withdrawal is for college education expenses.
- Adam, age 60, has a nonqualified deferred annuity with $80,000 of premiums and a current value of $120,000. If he takes a single withdrawal of $18,000 as a down payment on a car what are the tax consequences? (LO 4-1-5)
A. $12,000 is taxable income and $6,000 is not taxable as it is a return of premiums.
B. $18,000 is not taxable as a return of premiums.
C. $18,000 is taxable and the 10% early withdrawal penalty applies.
D. $18,000 is taxable income but there is no penalty tax.
- The answer is D. Since the benefit has not been annuitized the distribution represents taxable earnings but the 10% penalty does not apply because Adam has
attained age 59½.
14. Victor is a single taxpayer, has AGI of $40,000, $5,000 in tax-free municipal bond income, Social Security income of $20,000 and a $10,000 tax-free withdrawal from a Roth IRA. Victor’s provisional income for determining the tax treatment of Social Security is (LO 4-1-6) A. $40,000 B. $45,000 C. $55,000 D. $65,000
- The answer is C. Provisional income includes AGI, tax-free municipal bond interest, one-half of Social Security benefits. It does not include Roth IRA distributions that are not subject to income tax.
- Which of following statements concerning strategies for delegating health care decisions is correct? (LO 4-3-1)
A. A do not resuscitate order can substitute for a health care power of attorney.
B. An individual with a declaration of heath care (living will) must also appoint a health care power of attorney.
C. Guardianship is the most effective way to delegate health care decisions upon incapacity.
D. When adopting a health care power of attorney it is appropriate to choose both an agent and a contingent agent
- The answer is D. A is incorrect as a do not resuscitate order is a type of declaration by the patient, but it does not appoint an alternative decision maker. B is incorrect, some who make declarations are not comfortable appointing an agent to make decisions. C is incorrect as guardianship is an expensive and slow process and requires court supervision.
- Which of the following statements concerning a power of attorney is correct? (LO 4-3-2)
A. With a power of attorney the agent delegates certain responsibilities to the principal.
B. The problem with a springing power of attorney is that the power terminates after the task has been completed.
C. The durable power of attorney terminates at the death of the principal.
D. Courts generally interpret the powers of a durable power of attorney broadly
- The answer is C. A is incorrect, the roles described are reversed, the principal delegates power to the agent. B is incorrect, a special or limited power terminates, not the springing power. D is incorrect. Courts interpret these documents narrowly, since the court’s objective is to ensure that the powers are not abused
- Which of the following statements for planning for the risk of inflation in retirement is correct? (LO 5-1-2)
A. Claiming Social Security benefits as early as protects against inflation risk.
B. Choosing the current inflation rate is the best option when modeling how much to save for retirement.
C. Including international equities can improve the inflation hedge offered by equities.
D. Avoid investing in I bonds as they may lose value in inflationary times
- The answer is C. A is incorrect as deferring Social Security results in a higher percentage of income subject to cost of living increases. B is incorrect as a long-term inflation rate is a better option than the current rate. D is incorrect as I bonds are inflation adjusted.
18. The percentage of retirees age 65 and older that have long-term care insurance is approximately (LO 5-2-2) A. 2 percent B. 10 percent C. 25 percent D. 50 percent
- The answer is B.
- Which of the following statements concerning financial elder abuse is correct? (LO 5-2-4)
A. Roughly 55 percent of the perpetrators are family members, friends,
neighbors, or caregivers.
B. The typical victim is a man age 55 to 70.
C. Abuse perpetrated by businesses typically involves smaller sums of money than abuse by family members.
D. Because of the financial impact most financial abuse is reported.
- The answer is A. B is incorrect the typical victim is a woman age 70 to 89. C is incorrect as abuse by businesses often involves large sums of money and multiple victims. D is incorrect as much abuse is not reported out of embarrassment, concern of retaliation and other concerns
20. Pfau’s research looking at hypothetical retirement portfolios involving 30 years of saving that were identical except for the years involved in saving found that at age 65 the portfolio values varied as a multiple of income from (LO 5-3-1) A. 2 to 4 times income B. 9 to 12 times income C. 3 to 27 times income D. 1 to 45 times income
- The answer is C. Illustrating how hard it is to protect a savings “number” at retirement
21. Study after study show that more than \_\_ percent of workers retire earlier than planned. (LO 5-4-1) A. 70 B. 40 C. 20 D. 10
- The answer is B
- Which of the following statements concerning loss of spouse risk is correct? (LO 5-5-1)
A. Society of Actuary surveys show that couples are generally quite aware of the financial impact of a loss of a spouse.
B. An important part of the planning for loss of a spouse is reviewing the terms of wills, trusts and beneficiary designations.
C. Studies show that widows are generally in better financial shape than older married couples.
D. A second-to-die life insurance policy would be a good way to take care of the income needs of the surviving spouse.
- The answer is B. A is incorrect as surveys show the opposite, that couples do not comprehend the financial magnitude of the loss of a spouse. C is incorrect as widows show more financial distress than other groups. D is incorrect. S second-to die policy only pays after the second death. A first-to-die policy would be an appropriate solution
- Glide path refers to (LO 6-2-3)
A. The change in equity allocation over time.
B. The integration of systematic withdrawals with the minimum distribution rules.
C. The tax treatment of Social Security benefits.
D. The stream of income that is attributable to a deferred variable annuity with a GMWB rider.
- The answer is A. Choices B, C, and D are not relevant to glide path
- Which of the following strategies will have the greatest difficulty managing reinvestment risk? (LO 6-5-1)
A. The systematic withdrawal approach with triggers that change the withdrawal
B. The systematic withdrawal approach without triggers that change the withdrawal
C. The bucket approach
D. The flooring approach
- The answer is C. The bucket strategy will have the greatest difficulty managing reinvestment risk because the near-term bucket must be replenished with short-term investments like bonds, CDs, and other investments that are particularly sensitive to reinvestment risk.