Why is there no CFP Destop Reference book, set of books, or online service?

By James McQuinn, CFP® posted 08-20-2013 14:43

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It is only this past November that I took and passed the CFP exam. Already I have forgotten many details, percentages, rules, laws, amounts, etc., or they have changed with a new calendar year and may change each year. NOBODY can remember all that stuff! As a practitioner, frequently I need to know bits and pieces of these details yet nowhere can I find a desktop reference book to buy so that I can quickly lookup information by topic so that I can refresh my memory.

For example: 529 plan bullet points, contribution maximums for different retirement plans, phase out amounts, IRA beneficiary options, basics of taxation on stock bonus plans, AMT preference items, etc.

Is anybody aware of any such reference source? Bueller? Bueller? Anyone? Anyone?... If not, what a business opportunity!

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Bill Simonet, CFP®, AIF®

01-20-2015 12:33

Keir Educational Resources offers a Reference guide for financial planners that is updated every year. It is filled with case studies, law changes, and the CFP areas of study broken down by topic.
http://www.keirsuccess.com/Reference-Materials

James Groce, CFP®

09-06-2014 16:32

I buy a copy of "Keeping Current" from Ken Zahn every year....excellent $100 annual investment. Covers fundamentals, insurance, investments, taxes, retirement, and estate, and has review questions and mini-cases throughout. For an additional fee (I think another $100) you can take a 100 question exam which gets you 10 hours of CE with a score of 70% or better. you can find info at www.kenzahn.com.

John Power, MBA, CFP®

09-24-2013 09:16

The CFP BOS has the Financial Planning Competency Handbook for $79.95. A Kindle version is also available through Amazon for about the same price. I don't have a copy, but the list of contributing authors is impressive as is the breadth of coverage. I had the same perspective as you shared when I first became a CFP practitioner. I think this compendium might meet your needs. It probably costs less than many a text you purchased in the CFP education program. I'd give it a shot, but some other practitioners probably have purchased it and would give you better feedback.

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