Should Boomers Focus On Their Retirements And Leave Kids To Fend For Themselves In Paying For College? This Seems Right In Sync With The Original Me Generation

 
The warning is that by paying for their children’s educations, they may not be able to have the kind of retirement they planned on. Boomer kids are apparently too entitled and giving them a college education makes them even more so.
 
There's certainly everything right with teaching children financial responsibility and expecting them to pull their own weight when they are able. But forcing such responsibility on them at a time and in a way that could cripple their lifelong earning ability seems irresponsible.
 
We seem to forget that the Boomer generation is the original Me generation and more entitled than any generation before it.
 
This seems especially true when good tools for college planning are readily available.
 
A study recently published by Fidelity says that college planning tools such as 529 plans are rarely discussed or even brought to the attention of parents wishing to save for college education funding.
 
One reason may be that 529 plans start with small amounts. Assets in the plans can grow substantially over time and using this type of advice as a way to build trust in client relationships can yield unexpected positive results.
 
These could include gaining other assets from the client or the client becoming an advocate for the advisor’s services.
 
The retirement-over-paying for college argument certainly brings attention to the fact that Boomers have failed to adequately prepare for retirement. But with proper planning (and, perhaps, gifts from relatives) along with tools like 529 plans, it may be possible to do both.
 
There's also the perspective that today's college students are tomorrow's investors. Hampering them now with significant debt will affect their earnings--and their ability to invest--for the long term.
 
Making it an either-or choice may fall short of the holistic, integrated planning clients need so much. It's short-sited and does not appropriately consider the client's personal goals.
 
It might not be a bad idea to take advantage of any opportunity to rebuild trust in today’s industry environment where trust between client and advisor has resulted in so many disappointing situations.

 

This Website Is For Financial Professionals Only


A Strategically Focused CE Curriculum

With classes approved for over a decade by the CFP Board, IWI, and NASBA, Advisors4Advisors CE classes are an optimal knowledge stream for CFP®, CIMA®, CPA, CPA/PFS®, CFA®, and other practitioners. It's not a grab bag of speakers willing to sponsor CE content. Nor is it a one-man CE course. It's a group of subject matter experts with amazing communication skills and a history of thought leadership that, together, give advisors a well-rounded knowledge system for running a professional practice ethically and intelligently.

CE Since October 2008

A4A CE classes for financial professionals began in October 2008, the week Lehman Bros. collapsed. Initially billed as “The Financial Crisis Webinar Series,” A4A connects advisors with authoritative sources on investing, tax, and financial planning, chosen by A4A Editor Andrew Gluck, a veteran financial reporter. A4A members get a stream of CE classes for an advisor who: 

  • holds a CFP®, CIMA®, CPA, CPA/PFS, CFA or other designation requiring CE annually 
  • values monthly CE classes by Fritz Meyer, Craig Israelsen, Bob Keebler, Frank Murtha, or Andrew Gluck
  • diversifies a core of client portfolios in low-expense funds
  • invests based on MPT and economic fundamentals
  • advises on tax and financial planning as well as investing
  • needs financial counseling skills
  • wants the Certified Financial Counselor™ designation 
  • is building a brand as a thought leader locally or in a niche
  • wants the facts when bad news breaks
  • wants CE aligned with a content marketing system
  • wants 24/7 access to CE on-demand
  • insists on objective evidenced-based tax and investment planning analysis
MEMBER REVIEWS 
William Desormeau, Jr.  
It is not possible for me to overstate the cumulative value that Craig, Bob and Fritz have added for over 10 years to my investment advisory practice, as well as for personal and family financial planning. A4A gets my highest recommendation
Lynn Najman, CFP®
I’ve subscribed to A4A since its inception, and always find it intellectually stimulating and on point. It’s one of the few CE solutions out there that doesn’t waste my time by pushing product or talking down to me.

PeteDeacon-CPA-CFP

Pete Deacon, CPA, CFP®
A4A has had a profound effect on my business. Since 2009, I’ve relied on the consistent messaging and updates to run my business successfully. Being able to present the information from Bob, Fritz, and Craig's ongoing CE webinars has been a significant benefit.

fredericMayersen-phd-cfp

Fredric Mayerson, MBA, PhD, CFP®
I've been a financial professional and professor of finance for 35 years and find Fritz Meyer and Robert Keebler to be among the most engaging, incredibly knowledgeable, and experienced presenters I’ve encountered. They deliver an extraordinary amount of information in an extremely interesting way — sequentially and developmentally, utilizing pedagogical tools and techniques that few possess.  A4A to is the most consistently excellent CE program available.  
Ron Roge, MS, CFP®
I’ve been attending A4A many years because the CE classes are outstanding, and my time is valuable. Though I have over 35 years of experience, I’m always learning something new on A4A. I attend fewer conferences now because the CE is generally not advanced. If you want to learn from the best, in a faster, easier, and less expensive way, I highly recommend A4A.

John R. Day, CPA/PFS®

I’ve been a member since 2011 and never miss the monthly webinars with Fritz Meyer. I appreciate Fritz’s independent views on the economy and markets and Bob Keebler keeps me updated on excellent tax planning ideas. A4A is a great value!

NormanPolitzinerCFP

Norman Politziner, CFP

I wouldn't miss a Fritz Meyer webinar unless my pants were on fire. I've relied on Andrew Gluck's knowledge systems --client communications and CE -- for two decades. It's simply the best solution for tax, financial, investment, and risk-management professionals.®   

Dan Hawley, CFP® 

A4A, for over a decade, has been a great resource for useful and accurate information and CE. A4A and Advisor Products are bargains for an advisory practice. 

KevinBrosious-CFP-CPA-PFS

Kevin Brosious, MBA, CFP®, CPA/PFS®

I get CPA CE credit and CFP credit for the webinars.  But not only that, the A4A content is terrific