Personal financial planning news and resources

TOPICS

July 25, 2019

Stock market surge boosts financial satisfaction

Stock market growth, among other factors, has kept Americans’ personal financial satisfaction positive in Q2 of 2019, according to the AICPA’s Personal Financial Satisfaction Index (PFSi).

July 8, 2019

The father of the 401(k) on how his invention has reshaped retirement

Ted Benna talks about how and why he came up with the 401(k), its advantages and drawbacks, how he’d change it if given the chance, and how it’s reshaped retirement.

June 17, 2019

Prepare clients for a sudden elder health care crisis

This article discusses the challenges your clients could face when suddenly needing to move a parent to long-term care, along with ways you can help them prepare.

June 10, 2019

What to say to grieving clients

Grief expert Amy Florian, CEO of consulting company Corgenius and a speaker at ENGAGE, suggests some dos and don’ts when supporting clients who have suffered a loss.

May 13, 2019

4 ways to save time in Excel

This article offers tricks to make you more efficient and effective with the spreadsheet application.

May 1, 2019

How the ‘sandwich generation’ affects retirement

CPAs can help clients who are trying to save money while also dealing with shifting family demographics.

May 1, 2019

Avoid tax traps with a timely appraisal

New basis-consistency requirements make defensible valuations even more important.

May 1, 2019

Optimizing residential real estate deductions

The new Sec. 199A safe harbor and tangible property regulations offer ways for landlords to reduce taxable income from rentals.

April 25, 2019

Personal financial satisfaction up in first quarter after market rebound

Americans’ personal financial satisfaction reached a record high in the first quarter of 2019, according to the AICPA’s proprietary Personal Financial Satisfaction Index.

March 1, 2019

Maximizing the higher education tax credits

A counterintuitive strategy can save taxes by including otherwise excludable scholarships in gross income.

February 14, 2019

Clients’ top retirement fear: Running out of money

Nearly one-third (30%) of financial planners say their clients’ top retirement fear is running out of money, according to a recent AICPA survey of 631 CPA financial planners.

February 1, 2019

Which benefits do employees find most financially beneficial?

Health insurance and 401(k) matches led the pack.

February 1, 2019

Finding out if one can prosper investing in loans

A monthly look at applications, gadgets, and other technology that can improve a CPA’s job and life.

January 24, 2019

Americans’ personal financial satisfaction dips in fourth quarter

The AICPA’s Personal Financial Satisfaction Index (PFSi) declined for the first time in two years in the fourth quarter of 2018, largely due to the stock market’s end-of-year downturn.

January 22, 2019

Don’t miss the new Medicare Advantage enrollment period

It can be helpful for CPA financial planners to reach out to clients to be sure they know about the opportunity to review their coverage and make recommended changes.

December 13, 2018

How tax reform is changing clients’ financial plans

CPA financial planners named charitable giving, business structure and estate plans as the areas of clients’ financial plans they have had to adjust most frequently following the passage of the TCJA, according to a recent survey.

December 1, 2018

Investors trust auditors, but confidence in US markets drops

Audited financial information also gets high marks.

November 28, 2018

Which benefits do employees find most financially beneficial?

Eighty percent of Americans would choose a job with benefits over one with no benefits that paid 30% more, according to a Harris Poll survey on behalf of the AICPA.

November 12, 2018

Help clients save money on prescription drugs

CPAs are well-equipped to help clients understand the intricacies of Medicare Part D.

October 25, 2018

Financial satisfaction measure hits record for 5th straight quarter

The AICPA’s Personal Financial Satisfaction Index (PFSi) reached the highest point in its 25-year history at a value of 32 in the third quarter of 2018, a 3.1-point (10.7%) increase from the previous quarter.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

AI risks CPAs should know

Are you ready for the AI revolution in accounting? This JofA Technology Q&A article explores the top risks CPAs face—from hallucinations to deepfakes—and ways to mitigate them.