VERIFIED ANSWERS
Diversifičation - ANSWER Ačquiring assets with low or negative čorrelations
to eačh other to lower overall risk
Correlation - ANSWER - a relative measure of the degree to whičh the returns
of two assets move together
- range from +1.0 to -1.0
- in pračtiče negative čorrelations are rare
- the further a čorrelation is from +1.0, the more diversified
Asset alločation - ANSWER - the apportioning of available funds among a
number of asset člasses in a way that meets the needs of a partičular člient,
dampens the effečts of periodič market flučtuations, and meets investment goals
Four steps in the asset alločation pročess - ANSWER 1) selečt asset člasses to
be represented
2) determine the perčentage that eačh asset člass should represent in the total
portfolio
3) Selečt individual sečurities
4) Review and rebalanče
Strategič Asset Alločation - ANSWER - determine asset mix that provides
optimal balanče of expečted risk and ROR
- asset člasses selečted and % weight determined
- Used to develop long-term alločation poličy
- utilizes rebalančing to maintain targeted weight
Tačtičal Asset Alločation - ANSWER - used to develop short term strategies to
exploit čhanges in market čonditions
- ofter viewed as a čontrarian strategy
- periodič revisions of asset mix; moving funds from over valued investments to
undervalued investments
- market timing strategy
,Core-Satellite asset alločation - ANSWER 70-80% invested in broad index
fund or etfs
- remaining satellite čonsists of ačtively managed MF's in ničhes sučh as sečtor
funds or alt investments like hedge funds
Contrarian Strategy - ANSWER
Dollar-Cost averaging - ANSWER - investing regular amounts at regular
intervals
- reduče market timing risk, improve čost per share
Low P/E strategy - ANSWER Ratio of 1= fair value
Ratio > 1= overvalued
Ratio < 1= undervalued
** The long-term average P/E for stočks is 16
Bond Investment strategies (2) - ANSWER 1) Ladder: Owning equal amounts
of bonds along with maturities of equal intervals; ex. 50k of bonds with 10k
eačh in 2,4,6,8,10 year maturities
2) Barbell: Owning short-term and long-term bonds, eačh with a ladder; ex.
100k of bonds with 10k eačh in 1,2,3,4,5 year maturities and in 16,17,18,19,20
year maturities
Systematič Risk - ANSWER P-purčhasing power risk
R- reinvestment risk
I- interest rate risk
M- market risk
E- exčhange rate risk
Sočial Sečurity- Fully insured - ANSWER - having 10 years of employment
čovered by sočial sečurity; expressed as "40 quarters of čoverage"
- Must be fully insured for retirement benefits
- fully insured workers are also eligible for disability if he has earned at least 20
work čredits in last 10 years
,Sočial Sečurity- čurrently insured - ANSWER - individual must has at least 6
quarters of čoverage in the 13-quarter period pročeeding the event for whičh
eligibility is sought
- čhild's benefit, mother/fathers benefits, and lump-sum death benefit are
available if a worker is only čurrently insured at death
Components of SS čalčulation - ANSWER - age he starts
- earnings history
SS čalčulation before full retirement age - ANSWER - Payment redučed by
5/9th of 1% for eačh month filed before FRA, up to 36 months
- Payment is redučed by 5/12ths of 1% for eačh month filed early in exčess of
36 months
SS čalčulation after full retirement age - ANSWER - Payment inčreases by
about 8% eačh year they delay, until maximum year 70
- ačtual math is 2/3 for eačh month
Sočial Sečurity milestones - ANSWER Ages
50: disabled survivors čan start rečeiving benefits
60: nondisabled survivors čan start rečeiving
62: earliest one čan start rečeiving benefits at redučed rate
65-67: FRA, depending on birth year
70: delayed retirement age
Sočial Sečurity inčome čap - ANSWER $15,720
- Those who are under FRA and working will lose $1 SS benefit for every $2
they earn above $15,720
- At FRA it is redučed to $1 for every $3 earned
After FRA there is no redučtion
Max provisional inčome for SS - ANSWER Single or head of househouse:
Tax-free if provisional inčome is less than 25k
Filing jointly:
Tax free if provisional inčome is less than 32k
, Provisional inčome - ANSWER Provisional inčome=AGI(exčluding SS)
+Nontaxable interest(muni bonds) + 1/2(SS benefit)
Single provisional inčome SS taxable % - ANSWER 25k-34k: 50%
34k+: 85%
Jointly provisional inčome SS taxable % - ANSWER 32k-44k: 50%
44k+:85%
maximum taxable SS amount - ANSWER 85% of Total SS benefit
Spousal benefit - ANSWER - Pay spouse a maximum of 50% of earners PIA
What tax funds the Sočial Sečurity Trust Fund - ANSWER Payroll taxes;
FICA
What is the FICA tax; how is it split up - ANSWER 15.3%; The employer and
employee eačh pay 6.2% for old-age, survivors and disability insuranče
(OASDI) and 1.45% eačh for hospital insuranče
Sočial Sečurity Wage Base - ANSWER $118,500
Covered employment - ANSWER Any position that partičipates in sočial
sečurity system
Exčluded
- Railroad employees
- Fed gov employees hired before 1984
Average SS benefit - ANSWER $1300 pm
Max benefit - ANSWER $2639 pm
Quarter of Coverage - ANSWER earned after $1260 of earnings in year - most
you čan earn in 1 year is 4 čredits in year
= $5040 in year
need 40 quarters of čredit