Approved IAR CE Courses

Sometimes there are situations where individuals need access to funds in their tax-deferred retirement accounts sooner than the rules allow. In fact, except for a narrow range of 'emergency' situations, the only way most individuals can access these funds without incurring a 10% early withdrawal penalty tax is by setting up 'Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPP)', otherwise known as 72(t) payments. To do so, however, taxpayers must adhere to several rules that have been provided by the IRS or risk paying significant penalties. Join us at the August Kitces Monthly webinar where expert guest, Jeffrey Levine, will discuss the rules to consider and strategies to apply when helping clients who may need early access to their retirement funds.

Financial planners are often working to adapt estate plans to consider client concerns over legislative changes. However, proposed legislative changes may or may not come to pass, leaving financial planners with the option of changing client estate plans with limited information or potentially leaving clients exposed to the consequences of future tax law. Neither of these outcomes is ideal. This leaves the question of how to properly create estate plans that meet client needs and are flexible enough to remain effective in uncertain times. In this webinar, David Haughton, JD, CPWA', explains how to create flexible estate plans with trusts that go beyond the traditional AB trust structure. He also details how a 'kitchen sink' power of attorney, IRA beneficiary designations, and donor-advised funds can be utilized for flexible wealth transfers.

In the session, we will review two blog articles: Utilizing Swap Powers In Irrevocable Trusts To Add Flexibility And Income Tax Efficiency and Why Pre-Tax Retirement Contributions Are Better Than Roth In Peak Earning Years (Even If Tax Rates Increase). In the first article, Anna Pfaehler, CFP, AEP, illustrates how advisors can recognize when swap powers in irrevocable trusts can be used to make irrevocable trusts more flexible and allow for greater tax efficiency to account for changing grantor circumstances. In the second article, Ben Henry-Moreland explains the debate over pre-tax retirement accounts as potential "tax time bombs" while considering historical changes in marginal tax rates and modern tax reform. Through this analysis of the tax time-bomb debate, Ben explains the benefits of utilizing pre-tax retirement accounts and how to determine when they would benefit client retirement portfolios.

 Retirement planning is a top financial priority, and consumers need self-directed options to accumulate and distribute funds efficiently. The insurance industry offers variable annuities for this purpose. This course covers the design, function, benefits, costs, limitations, and tax treatment of variable annuities, along with their investment options and techniques for retirement income distribution.

This course takes an in-depth look at variable annuities, the contractual agreement between the owner and the insurance company, and the fundamental characteristics inherent in these contracts.Readers will learn about both accumulation period and annuity period, including the process of purchasing and valuing the contract during accumulation and the different methods of receivingpayments (either through withdrawals or annuitization). The tax treatment of payments and the ability to utilize a 1035 exchange will be examined. The course concludes with a review of the factors that should be considered when comparing different insurance companies offering annuities.

Explore the steps in the variable life insurance and annuity sales process through a series of case studies. Meet the clients, conduct a fact-finding interview, create a plan, present the plan, and follow up to determine if the plan continues to best serve the client.