College Planning & Financial Aid

How can your child improve his or her SAT test score ?

Asked Monday, October 02, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Completing a review course prior to taking the test will greatly enhance the possibility of initially getting a higher SAT score. The SAT program offers additional services after the taking of the test that should be considered. The student can use the SAT "QAS" feature which will enable the student to get their graded test back to see which questions they answered correctly, incorrectly or left blank. This will help the student to focus their studying to the areas that need improvement before they take the test again. The Feb 2010 price for this was $18. You can go to the College Board website at www.collegeboard.org for more information.
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College Planning & Financial Aid

In the college application process, what are some examples of Essay Topics the student can expect to write about ?

Asked Monday, October 02, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Some examples of essay topics are; Tell us why you want to come to our college?; Briefly describe how you envision your first year in college; Tell us about yourself; How will your presence be known on campus?; Describe your "first experience"; Tell us about an academic or extracurricular interest, activity or idea; Tell us about your contributions to your community; What kind of contribution will you make to our college?; Write a page from your own life journal that reports something in precise honesty and accuracy?; Recall an occasion when you took a risk that you know now was the right thing to do; Write about two objects that would give the admissions selection committee insight into who you are; Think about something you never did in high school, but wish you did. Now, think about something new you are considering taking in college and write about it? Tell us your intended major and how our college will meet this need in this area. A website that provides essay samples and essay analysis tools is www.myessay.com.
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Bookkeeping & Write-up

What is a One - Write bookkeeping system ?

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

A one-write system refers to a manual ledger. When you write out checks in a special ledger, a carbon impression of that check's information is made in the ledger. The check's information is then extended across in columns under various categories such as purchases, rent, postage, insurance, etc.
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Social Security

Social Security - Early Receipt Choice

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You will take a permanent monthly reduction in benefits if you begin collecting Social Security before full retirement (ages 62-67 depending on your date of birth).
You can go to the SSA website and read the "Retirement Information For Medicare Beneficiaries" fact sheet, or use the SSA Retirement Estimator to see how different retirement dates will affect your benefit amount and also find other information you can use to help you decide when to start your benefits in the "Near Retirement" section of the Retirement Planner.
The SSA website is http://www.ssa.gov
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Social Security

Social Security - Switching

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You can collect reduced benefits based upon your spouse's earnings record today and switch them to your work record when you reach full retirement age. This could increase your monthly check, but it may not. The benefits you receive depends upon your work history.
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Taxes - My Tax Return

How could I have taxable capital gains on a mutual fund that is worth less today than it was last year?

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Fund managers buy and sell stocks throughout the year. When the managers sell stocks with a large gain, that share of the capital gain must be allocated to you and everyone else in the fund even though the balance of the portfolio includes unrealized losses and the fund is down in value.
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Mutual Funds

How can I have taxable capital gains on a mutual fund when the value of the fund is worth less today than it was at the end of last year ?

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

Fund managers buy and sell stocks throughout the year. When the managers sell stocks with a large gain, that share of the capital gain must be allocated to you and everyone else in the fund, even though the balance of the portfolio includes unrealized losses and the fund is down in value.
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Investments & Financial Planning

I invested in a mutual fund on Dec 12 and now found out I have substantial taxable gains in that fund even though at the end of the year the fund was worth about what I paid for it. How could that be?

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

You probably bought the fund before its capital gain distribution. When you buy a fund before its capital gain distribution, you can end up owing money on your own money. Always buy after the distribution. Please contact a CPA in your community to avoid making these costly mistakes again.
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Investments & Financial Planning

What is a tax managed fund ?

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

These are mutual funds which try to minimize the capital gain distributions to its shareholders. Capital gains are realized when securites in the fund are sold by the fund manager at a profit.
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Investments & Financial Planning

Should I buy a tax managed fund in an IRA or tax deferred account ?

Asked Sunday, October 01, 2000 by an anonymous user

CPA Answer:

No. Capital gain distributions will have no effect on IRA accounts or other tax deferred accounts.
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