September 2010

Focus

Getting Ready for the New Cost-Basis Regulations
by Ed McCarthy, CFP^®
New regulations on cost-basis reporting are about to be implemented. Failing to prepare for the changes could lead to some unpleasant surprises for clients and advisers, as well as missed planning opportunities. Here’s what you need to know and do.

Columns

Professional Issues
Getting Past the Past
by Dan Moisand, CFP^®
Whether you’re attending your high school reunion or lamenting the missteps in building a profession, the message is the same. It’s all about moving on.

Investment Research
Asset Allocation—New and Improved?
by Harold Evensky, CFP^®, AIF^® (editor); John Clark, Ph.D., CFA, CFP^®;
and Brian Boscaljon, Ph.D., CFA
Our columnist teams up with members of the Academy of Financial Services to provide a timely review of current research related to issues of asset allocation in today’s environment.

Insurance
A GRAT Use of Life Insurance
by David M. Cordell, Ph.D., CFA, CFP^®, CLU, and Thomas P. Langdon,
J.D., CFP^®, CFA
A cash-strapped federal government hopes to discourage use of grantor retained annuity trusts (GRATs) by introducing greater mortality risk. But life insurance may be the perfect hedge.

Practices
Exit Stage Right, Please—A Buyer’s Perspective
by Bonnie A. Hughes, CFP^®
This column examines the apparent rift between how sellers and buyers see the business value of financial planning practices, and how they can share the risk.

Contributions

Finding the Planning in Financial Planning
by David B. Yeske, D.B.A., CFP^®
The planning part of financial planning—the strategy-making—has always been the hardest part
to dissect, study, and measure. The author proposes a framework for organizing and testing the strategy-making activities of practitioners.

Roth Accounts: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
by Matthew B. Kenigsberg, CFA
Roth conversions are much more than a simple bet on the client’s future marginal income tax
rate. This article provides a structured approach to analysis to help clients make decisions about
conversions and contributions.

Departments

Online
Starting Thoughts
Observer (PDF | 211 KB)
Voice (PDF | 54 KB)
10 Questions: Dan Ariely on Irrationality and What to Do with It (PDF | 325 KB)