Keepin’ It Real – Changes in the March CFP® Exam
The CFP® Board has made some changes to their approach in testing new CFP® candidates. The good news is that you need to memorize fewer items. The bad news is that the broad range of required knowledge can feel overwhelming. We can help! The Starks BootcampSM is designed to help you focus on the essential things to study for the March 2016 CFP® exam.
One of the main changes revolves around the kinds of clients a CFP® professional is likely to have. The CFP® Board no longer gears most questions to the concept that all financial planning clients are wealthy; many of the new questions focus on clients from all socio-economic groups. It’s kind of like a king becoming a commoner and figuring out how to live that way. The clients on your exam will not all be wealthy anymore. For example, you’ll need to know more about financial aid for college. What are the key differences between 529 Prepaid Tuition Plans and d 529 Qualified Tuition Plans? What are the benefits and disadvantages to each for poor parents, middle income clients, and wealth clients? How is financial aid eligibility affected by each type of 529 plan? Confused? Worried? Count on us at the Starks BootcampSM to guide your exam prep and calm your fears!
Changes Represented in March 2016 CFP® Exam
Exam questions based on broader contextual focus on context of client situation
Long term care recommendations by wealth range
College funding for lower to middle income clients
Debt management vs. wealth management
Life Insurance policy selection for cash strapped clients
Slight testing of other constituencies such as young adult, elderly, same gender relationship
Long term care recommendations by wealth range
College funding for lower to middle income clients
Debt management vs. wealth management
Life insurance policy selection for cash strapped clients
Alternative Investments ( such as “Carried Interest”)
Expanded Medicare
Evaluating the need for Medigap coverage
Avoiding penalties for late enrollment om Medicare
Retirement income and distribution strategies
Factors in choosing taxable vs. non-taxable distributions
Business succession planning
How to build an income Stream (including the planning implications, an analysis of which clients could use or avoid this approach, and how this approach could impact other areas of the financial plan)
Education planning
Deeper drill down into general planning strategies
A CFP® Board-Provided Formula Sheet that reduces your need for memorization but in no way reduces your need to know how to use these formulae (includes the new Unbiased Expectations Theory Formula)
This list highlights many of the changes you can expect on the March CFP® exam. Visit our website to learn more about how we can help you pass the CFP® exam on the first try.
Join us! Visit our website (http://starksbootcamp.com/) or give us a call (404-538-6938) today.
Limited Class Size, Unlimited Results.™
To learn more about the #1Plan to Pass the CFP®, visit our website at http://starksbootcamp.com or contact Bruce Starks, CFP® for additional information.
Sources
http://www.cfp.net/docs/default-source/cfp-certification—cfp-exam-requirement/exam_candidate_handbook.pdf?sfvrsn=20
http://www.fool.com/knowledge-center/2015/12/20/how-to-calculate-unbiased-expectations-theory.aspx
