Center Stories: Angela Palacios, CFP®

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®

Getting to focus on what I love has made The Center a natural fit for me. While I spend much of my time “behind the scenes” here, you may not know exactly what it is that I do. 

Research and investments is what initially drew me to a career in the investment world. I came to the realization after working for a few years that investing and financial planning go hand-in-hand. Without financial planning, investing alone doesn’t always produce satisfactory results. That is why I got my CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ certification early in my career. Eventually these two passions landed me at The Center. Learn more about our investment department, its role within our firm and me here!

Angela Palacios, CFP® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

Four Considerations for Year End Tax Planning

Contributed by: Nick Defenthaler, CFP®

With the end of the year fast approaching, end of year tax planning is top of mind for many clients. At The Center, we are proactive throughout the entire year when it comes to evaluating a client’s current and projected tax situation but now is typically the time most people really start thinking about it. Let’s be honest, how many of us feel like we don’t pay ENOUGH tax? Most clients want to lower their tax bill and be as efficient with their dollars as possible.

Here is a brief list of items we bring up with clients that could ultimately lead to lowering one’s tax bill for the year:

1. Are you currently maximizing your company retirement account (401k, 403b, Simple IRA, SEP-IRA, etc.)?

   • These plans allow for the largest contributions and are deductible against income.

     • In our eyes, this is often times the most favorable way to help reduce taxes because it also goes towards funding your retirement goals! 

2. How are you making charitable donations? 

   • Consider gifting appreciated securities to charity instead of cash if you have an after-tax investment account with appreciated positions. By doing so, you receive a full tax-deduction on the value of the security gifted to the charity and you also avoid paying capital gains tax – a pretty good deal if you ask me! 

     • Donor Advised Funds are a great way to facilitate this transfer and are becoming increasingly popular lately because of the ease of use and flexibility they provided for those who are charitably inclined.

   • If you’re over the age of 70 ½ and own a Traditional IRA, taking advantage of the now permanent Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) could be a great option as well. 

3. Should I be contributing to an IRA? If so, should I put money in a Traditional or Roth?

   • As I always say, in financial planning, there is never a “one size fits all” answer – it really depends on your income and your current and projected tax bracket

     • Keep in mind, not all IRA contributions are deductible, your income and availability to contribute to a company sponsored retirement plan plays a major role.

     • If your current tax bracket is lower than your projected tax bracket in the future, it more than likely makes sense to invest within a Roth IRA, however, as mentioned, everyone’s situation is different and you should consult with your advisor before making a contribution. 

4. Do you have access to a Health Savings Account (HSA) or Flex Spending Account (FSA) at work?

   • These are fantastic tools to help fund medical and dependent care costs in a tax-efficient manner.

     • HSAs can only be used, however, if you are covered under a high-deductible health plan and FSAs are “use it or lose it” plans, meaning money contributed into the account is lost if it’s not used throughout the year. 

This is a busy time of year for everyone. Between holiday shopping, traveling, spending time with family, completing year-end tasks at work, taxes are often times lost in the shuffle.  We encourage you to keep your eyes open for our year-end planning letter you will be receiving within the next few weeks which will be a helpful guide on the items mentioned in this blog as well as other items we feel you should be keeping on your radar.

Nick Defenthaler, CFP® is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Nick is a member of The Center’s financial planning department and also works closely with Center clients. In addition, Nick is a frequent contributor to the firm’s blogs.

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Please include the following to all of the above: Please include: The information contained in this blog does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. This material is being provided for information purposes only and is not a complete description, nor is it a recommendation. Any opinions are those of Nick Defenthaler and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Expressions of opinion are as of this date and are subject to change without notice. There is no guarantee that these statements, opinions or forecasts provided herein will prove to be correct. Investments mentioned may not be suitable for all investors. Every investor's situation is unique and you should consider your investment goals, risk tolerance and time horizon before making any investment. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation. Raymond James and its advisors do not offer tax or legal advice. You should discuss any tax or legal matters with the appropriate professional.

Nick Boguth on his way to a CFA® designation

Contributed by: Angela Palacios, CFP®

This summer Nick completed his first milestone on his way to completing his Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA®) designation. Nick started as an intern with the Center in May 2014, eventually joining us full time after graduating from the University of Michigan (Go Blue!) with a degree in Economics and Statistics. Almost immediately after starting full time he began the long road to achieving his CFA® designation.

What is the CFA® designation?

The curriculum is designed to build a strong educational foundation of advanced investment analysis and real-world portfolio management skills. Upon completion the average designation holder has spent roughly 1,000 hours studying! 

There are 3 levels that Nick will have to pass and several other hurdles before he can utilize the designation.

• CFA level 1 – Tests your basic knowledge and comprehension focused on investment tools and ethics.  Congrats Nick on passing this level on your first try!

• CFA level 2 – Tests more complex analysis along with a focus on valuing assets.

• CFA level 3 – Requires a synthesis of all the concepts and analytical methods in a variety of applications for effective portfolio management and wealth planning.

Along with passing the courses and the exams, Nick must have four years of work experience in investment decision making which he is on his way to earning with his role as Investment Research Associate here at The Center and as an Investment Representative with Raymond James. He must also agree to follow a rigorous Code of Ethics and Standards of Professional Conduct and become a member of the CFA institute. After obtaining the designation he will be required to complete continuing education to hold on to it.

Is this easy?

While Nick may have made it seem easy to the rest of us, it is far from simple. It is a popular designation to seek out. Each year nearly 200,000 people from all over the world register to take one of the exams always offered in June (level 1 additionally offered in December) and 100,000 will fail because it is extremely difficult! In June 2016, only 43% of people taking level 1 passed!

It is not uncommon to see Nick at his desk early throughout the week studying! It took him roughly 300 hours of studying to pass Level 1. When I asked Nick his thoughts on the program so far he said:

It felt great to pass level 1 my first time through, and it definitely helped having the support of everyone at The Center for extra motivation (and those extra few days off to study as the test approached).

We will continue to be there cheering him on while preparing for the last two levels. His education already adds more depth to The Center’s Investment Department knowledge in order to serve our clients! Way to go Nick!

Angela Palacios, CFP® is the Director of Investments at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Angela specializes in Investment and Macro economic research. She is a frequent contributor The Center blog.

Webinar in Review: Planning for Medicare

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

Here it is again…time for changing leaves, cooler weather, and Open Enrollment for Medicare.  Open Enrollment is the period from October 15th to December 7th each year during which those currently enrolled in Medicare can change their health plans and prescription drug coverage for the following year if a change would better meet their needs.  The Center recently hosted a webinar presented by Nat Towle, an Independent Consultant from Freedom Consulting, LLC, that provided details on Medicare, open enrollment, and what is important for 2017 (see the link to the replay below).

Health care costs are going up, especially for seniors.  In fact, a Healthview Services cost data report from 2015 showed that healthcare costs for a healthy couple turning 65 could be over $395,000 over their lifetimes.  And healthcare inflation exceeds Social Security COLA on an annual basis; for instance, the Social Security increase for 2016 was 0% and the healthcare cost inflation rate (year-to-date) for 2016 has been 3.26%.  The Social Security COLA increase for 2017 was just announced to be .3%, and we be sure that the healthcare cost of inflation will be .3%+ in 2017.  Why is this important?  When costs increase, this often means that plans will be competing for business, and it means that clients should be reviewing their plans EACH YEAR to make sure that they are in the right plans based on their current circumstances.

The other big news for 2017 is that the Blue Cross Medigap Legacy C Plan premiums that were frozen through 2016 are set to increase dramatically beginning in 1/1/2017.  Those currently enrolled in the Legacy C Plan will be receiving letters and will have to make a choice about whether to stay in the plan and pay the higher premiums, move to another plan within Blue Cross, or move to another plan outside of Blue Cross.  There are additional details to potential underwriting considerations, so it is important to do your research or consult with an advisor to assist you before making a change, as Nat suggests in the webinar.

Medicare coverage is an important decision, and we suggest reviewing your coverages on an annual basis.  If you have additional questions after viewing the webinar, please contact your financial advisor or Nat Towle directly for assistance.

Raymond James is not affiliated with Nathaniel "Nat" Towle or Freedom Consulting. The information provided here and in the webinar replay has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable but we do not guarantee that it is accurate or complete. These materials are being provided for information purposes only and are not a complete descriptions, nor are they recommendations. Opinions expressed are those of the Sandra Adams and Nat Towle and are not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor any of the listed websites or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.

Social Security Changes You Need to Know

Contributed by: Kali Hassinger, CFP®

The Social Security Administration announced on October 18th that the Cost of Living Adjustment for 2017 will be 0.3 percent. This announcement comes after 2016, when Social Security provided no COLA benefit. For many Social Security recipients, however, this minimal increase will be negated by the expected rise in Medicare Part B premiums, which are usually deducted directly from Social Security payments. For those subject to the “hold harmless” provision, the Medicare Part B premiums cannot increase by more than the COLA. Those not covered by that provision, however, could be subject to a larger premium increase. The specific Medicare changes will be announced later this year.

The Social Security Administration will also increase the wage ceiling subject to payroll taxes to $127,200 in 2017 (previously capped at $118,500). This means that the first $127,200 earned by any taxpayer will be taxed at 12.4% (6.2% is paid by the Employee and 6.2% is paid by the Employer). Any earnings above $127,200 won’t be subject to the OASDI (Old Age, Survivor and Disability Insurance) tax. The Retirement Earnings Test (concerning any wages earned while collecting Social Security prior to Full Retirement Age), also received a slight boost. Those receiving benefits prior to Full Retirement Age can now earn up to $16,920/year before Social Security will start to withhold benefits. If you have any questions about how these changes affect you and your family, please feel free to give us a call!

Kali Hassinger, CFP® is an Associate Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

Live Your Plan: Dan Boyce

Contributed by: Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®

We spend our whole lives planning and preparing for retirement. Here at Center for Financial Planning, helping to plan for a comfortable lifestyle while entering this phase of your life and career is one of our main priorities. But what happens when the planning is done and retirement has finally arrived? You actually get to LIVE your plan! It’s no longer figurative language or some fantasy off in the future, it’s here and all your hard work has, hopefully, paid off so you can live the life you’ve envisioned for so many years.

We recently checked in with founding partner and recently retired, Dan Boyce, CFP®, to see how he is living his plan. 

How Not to be a Record Hoarder

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

If you’re like me, this is the time of year to go through my files and piles of paperwork in preparation for income tax season.  Seeing the stacks of statements and paperwork I’ve collected makes me feel like I’m a prime candidate to be on an upcoming episode of “Hoarders,” because I never quite feel like I can get rid of things…I might need them someday.

Consult with your financial planner and your CPA for discarding any financial or income tax paperwork, and your attorney before parting with legal paperwork.  AND REMEMBER:  you should shred any paperwork with identifying names, addresses, dates of birth or account or Social Security numbers on them to avoid being a potential financial fraud victim.

To ease your mind as you purge your financial records, here are some document retention guidelines:

(CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD YOUR PDF COPY)

Bank Statements: Keep one year unless needed for tax records.

Cancelled Checks: Keep one year unless needed for tax records.

Charitable Contributions: Keep with applicable tax return.

Credit Purchase Receipts: Discard after purchase appears on credit card statement if not needed for warranties, merchandise returns or taxes.

Credit Card Statements: Discard after payment appears on credit card statement.

Employee Business Expense Records: Keep with applicable tax return.

Health Insurance Policies: Keep until policy expires, lapses or is replaced.

Home & Property Insurance: Keep until policy expires, lapses or is replaced.

Income Tax Return and Records: Permanently.

Investment Annual Statements and 1099's: Keep with applicable tax return.

Investment Sale and Purchase Confirmation Records: Dispose of sale confirmation records when the transactions are correctly reflected on the monthly statement. Keep purchase confirmation records 3-6 years after investment is sold as evidence of cost.

Life Insurance: Keep until there is no chance of reinstatement. Premium receipts may be discarded when notices reflect payment.

Medical Records: Permanently.

Medical Expense Records: Keep with applicable tax return if deducted on tax return.

Military Papers: Permanently (may be required for possible veteran's benefits).

Individual Retirement Account Records: Permanently.

Passports: Until expiration.

Pay Stubs: One year. Discard all but final, cumulative pay stubs for the year.

Personal Certificates (Birth/Death, Marriage/Divorce, Religious Ceremonies): Permanently.

Real Estate Documents: Keep three to six years after property has been disposed of and taxes have been paid.

Residential Records (Copies of purchase related documents, annual mortgage statements, receipts for improvements and copies of rental leases/receipts.): Indefinitely.

Retirement Plan Statements: Three to six years. Keep year end statements permanently.

Warranties and Receipts: Discard warranties when they are clearly expired. Use your judgment when discarding receipts.

Will, Trust, Durable Powers of Attorney: Keep current documents permanently.

If the hoarder in you is still too nervous to part with the paper, you do have some options:

• Electronically scan your important financial and legal papers and save them to a computer file; remember to back up your computer and save a copy of the list (on a disk or USB flash drive) in a safe place.

• Talk to your financial advisor, who may have an electronic document management system that is storing many of your documents (and backing them up) for you. 

Oh, and while you’re revving up your shredder and getting ready to make some confetti, here’s one more piece of paper to keep…this one.  Go ahead, press print.  Save this guide and you’ll save yourself the trouble of trying to remember it all next year. 

Sandra Adams, CFP® , CeFT™ is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Center for Financial Planning, Inc., and not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James.

Be Prepared for Life’s Hurricanes

Contributed by: Sandra Adams, CFP®, CeFT™

I was attending a conference in Orlando recently when Hurricane Matthew was heading up the coast of Florida. To say that I was completely unprepared would be an understatement. I was so busy leading up to the conference that I was only vaguely aware of the weather/hurricane status. I packed so lightly for the conference that I brought only what I needed for the days that I would be in Orlando – so that I could bring a carry-on bag only, of course!  I even, for the first time ever, pre-paid my airport parking since I knew exactly when I was arriving and when I would return, so that I could be easy in and easy out.  Why am I telling you all of this in the context of a blog about planning, you might ask?

Well, to me, it fits perfectly.  I see many clients that encounter “Hurricane” situations in their lives that they are completely unprepared for, especially when it comes to assisting older adult parents. Like the weather leading up to a hurricane, things can seem perfectly calm and sunny; moments later the storm hits and you are left completely unprepared for the chaos that comes next. For example, a simple unexpected fall and a broken hip for mom can bring months of “hurricane” aftermath if your family is unprepared.

What can you do to plan ahead so that any unexpected storms don’t find you unprepared?

• Have a family meeting with your older adult parent (facilitated by your financial planner or other professional, if that is helpful). During this meeting, discuss current and future challenges that your parent(s) may face, what alternatives they would consider as solutions to these challenges, and what resources they have to solve these challenges.

• As a result of the family meeting(s), have a written plan of action that includes all of the above, and, if needed, also includes what professional team members would need to be called upon (financial planner, elder law attorney, geriatric care manager, etc.).

• Make sure all estate planning documents are up-to-date and reflect your parents’ current wishes and situation. 

• Put a Family Care Plan in place so that everyone knows their role in advance (and family conflicts are avoided, as much as possible).

• Help your parent(s) complete the Personal Record Keeping Document and Letter of Last Instruction (and keep it up-to-date) so that all important information is in one place and handy and a moment’s notice in a crisis.

Going back to my recent hurricane situation, I happened to luck out. I was at a very secure hotel property during the oncoming storm, and while I got delayed an extra day due to the airport being shut down, the worst thing I had to endure was wearing some dirty clothes and dealing with some restless children at the hotel because Disney was also closed for the day. If you don’t help your aging parents plan, I can assure you the results won’t be as kind. The key is to start the conversation – it is not an easy one, but it is one of the most important conversations you may have in your lifetime!  Please contact me if I can be of help.

Sandra Adams, CFP® , CeFT™ is a Partner and Financial Planner at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Sandy specializes in Elder Care Financial Planning and is a frequent speaker on related topics. In addition to her frequent contributions to Money Centered, she is regularly quoted in national media publications such as The Wall Street Journal, Research Magazine and Journal of Financial Planning.

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The information contained in this report does not purport to be a complete description of the securities, markets, or developments referred to in this material. The information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Sandy Adams and not necessarily those of Raymond James. Prior to making an investment decision, please consult with your financial advisor about your individual situation.

Will Social Security be Around When I Retire?

Contributed by: Matt Trujillo, CFP®

If you're retired or close to retiring, then you've probably got nothing to worry about—your Social Security benefits will likely be paid to you in the amount you've planned on (at least that's what most of the politicians say). But what about the rest of us?

Watching the news, listening to the radio, or reading the newspaper, you've probably come across story after story on the health of Social Security. Depending on the actuarial assumptions used and the political slant, Social Security has been described as everything from a program in need of some adjustments to one in crisis requiring immediate and drastic reform.

Obviously, the underlying assumptions used can affect one's perception of the solvency of Social Security, but it's clear some action needs to be taken. Even experts disagree, however, on the best remedy. So let's take a look at what we do know.

According to the Social Security Administration (SSA), over 64 million Americans currently collect some sort of Social Security retirement, disability, or death benefit. Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, with today's workers paying the benefits for today's retirees.

How much do today's workers’ pay? Well, the first $118,500 (in 2016) of an individual's annual wages is subject to a Social Security payroll tax, with half being paid by the employee and half by the employer (self-employed individuals pay all of it). Payroll taxes collected are put into the Social Security trust funds and invested in securities guaranteed by the federal government. The funds are then used to pay out current benefits.

The amount of your retirement benefit is based on your average earnings over your working career. Higher lifetime earnings result in higher benefits, so if you have some years of no earnings or low earnings, your benefit amount may be lower than if you had worked steadily.

Your age at the time you start receiving benefits also affects your benefit amount. Currently, the full retirement age is in the process of rising to 67 in two-month increments, as shown in the following chart:

What Is Your Full Retirement Age?

You can begin receiving Social Security benefits before your full retirement age, as early as age 62. If you retire early, however, your Social Security benefit will be less than if you had waited until your full retirement age to begin receiving benefits. For example, if your full retirement age is 67, you'll receive about 30% less if you retire at age 62 than if you wait until age 67 to retire. This reduction is permanent—you won't be eligible for a benefit increase once you reach full retirement age.

Even those on opposite sides of the political spectrum can agree that demographic factors are exacerbating Social Security's problems—namely, life expectancy is increasing and the birth rate is decreasing. This means that over time, fewer workers will have to support more retirees.

According to the SSA, Social Security is already paying out more money than it takes in. By drawing on the Social Security trust fund, however, the SSA estimates that Social Security should be able to pay 100% of scheduled benefits until fund reserves are depleted in 2034. Once the trust fund reserves are depleted, payroll tax revenue alone should still be sufficient to pay about 77% of scheduled benefits. This means that in 2034, if no changes are made, beneficiaries may receive a benefit that is about 21% less than expected.

So the question still remains, with trouble looming on the horizon, how do we fix the system?  While no one can say for sure what will happen (and the political process is sure to be contentious), here are some solutions that have been proposed to help keep Social Security solvent for many years to come:

• Allow individuals to invest some of their current Social Security taxes in "personal retirement accounts"

• Raise the current payroll tax

• Raise the current ceiling on wages currently subject to the payroll tax

• Raise the full retirement age beyond age 67

• Reduce future benefits, especially for wealthy retirees

• Change the benefit formula that is used to calculate benefits

• Change how the annual cost-of-living adjustment for benefits is calculated

The financial outlook for Social Security depends on a number of demographic and economic assumptions that can change over time, so any action that might be taken and who might be affected are still unclear. No matter what the future holds for Social Security, your financial future is still in your hands. Focus on saving as much for retirement as possible, and consider various income scenarios when planning for retirement.

It's also important to understand your benefits, and what you can expect to receive from Social Security based on current law. You can find this information on your Social Security Statement, which you can access online at the Social Security website, socialsecurity.gov by signing up for a “my Social Security” account. Your statement contains a detailed record of your earnings and includes retirement, disability, and survivor's benefit estimates that are based on your actual earnings and projections of future earnings. For more details on how to sign up for an online account see our previous blog post for step by step instructions.

Matthew Trujillo, CFP®, is a Certified Financial Planner™ at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.® Matt currently assists Center planners and clients, and is a contributor to Money Centered.

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(Source: Fast Facts & Figures about Social Security, 2015)

(Source: 2015 OASDI Trustees Report)

This information has been obtained from sources considered to be reliable, but we do not guarantee that the foregoing material is accurate or complete. Any opinions are those of Matthew Trujillo and are not necessarily those of RJFS or Raymond James. Links are being provided for information purposes only. Raymond James is not affiliated with and does not endorse, authorize or sponsor the third party website listed or their respective sponsors. Raymond James is not responsible for the content of any website or the collection or use of information regarding any website's users and/or members.

Diving into Raymond James: Conference Style

Contributed by: Lauren Adams, CFA®, MBA

In September, I was given the wonderful opportunity to attend the Raymond James Branch Professionals Foundations Conference, which an intensive hands-on educational experience for new employees of Raymond James-associated offices. Just as the weather was starting to cool in Michigan, I headed south to hot and humid Atlanta for the two-day training.

The roughly 30 attendees came from all over the United States, including as far as California and Washington. I’m proud to say that Michigan represented well with five of us attending from different Michigan offices (which also gave us a chance to ask each other where to find the “pop” during breaks and actually be understood… although I’m still puzzling over my new southern friends’ tendency to ask for a “Coke” and then proceed to select a Sprite or Dr. Pepper).

We started the conference with a deep dive into Client Center, which is Raymond James’s command center for managing client accounts, and new account processes, where we learned everything from how to monitor the opening, funding, and ongoing maintenance of accounts to the difference between IRAs and SAR SEP IRAs and UTMAs and UGMAs. All the while gaining a newfound appreciation for acronyms!

Day two started with a bang.... which, if you’re an operations nerd like me, that means an hour and a half session on compliance! Two senior compliance professionals presented to us about how to best prepare for a branch audit and learn about other compliance best practices. They quizzed us on the most common compliance issues (spoiler: the most common issues generally center on advertising) and gave us plenty of time for questions and answers.

We then moved into sessions on how to quickly and efficiently conduct money movement, which is of critical importance for our clients, and reporting. I found the sessions on practice management and client reporting especially helpful, as it allows us to do everything from make sure account administration goes smoothly to conduct interesting analysis on our business. Our last session was on how to use social media to better understand our clients and connect with them on issues that are most important to them.

Since returning from the conference, I’ve already used what I’ve learned to run reports that allow me to better analyze the potential FDIC exposure of our clients and identify the different sweep options used by our managed accounts (both of these topics are especially relevant given new SEC money market reform rules). Also, I’m eager to tell our clients about the benefits of our secure document center called the Vault, which clients can access through their online Investor Access account and share documents back and forth with The Center team in a secure and organized way. I’m also jazzed about the ease of using eSignature, a convenient (and eco-friendly) way to electronically sign documents.

We ended our time together with a competitive game of Jeopardy to test what we’ve learned. The prize was your pick from a table of Raymond James swag. As good branch associates, we all learned the material quite well, so winning came down to who could raise their hands the fastest after the questions were asked. I even took to jumping in the air along with raising my hand, but sadly, another team was somehow quicker on the draw; my team came in second place. Next year, I hope to be able to attend the Raymond James Branch Professional Development Conference to learn more advanced concepts in technology, office procedures, and compliance… and for another chance at the Jeopardy Gold.

Lauren Adams, CFA®, MBA is Director of Client Services at Center for Financial Planning, Inc.®