This paper provides a base level of insurance knowledge, sufficient for those seeking first-time employment in the industry, and for non-insurance specialist financial planners and other professionals who, in the context of their professional relationships with clients, make referrals to...

Abstract: This paper presents two case studies demonstrating significant economic consequences associated with consumers’ suboptimal approaches to paying down credit card debt. The approaches considered are the suboptimal “snowball” and “balance-matching” approaches, along with the...

This paper presents a case study demonstrating the efficacy of Coverdell and §529 College Savings Plans. The paper also discusses other less advantageous vehicles for saving funds for the purpose of financing a child’s higher education. Among other benefits, the paper demonstrates the...

Abstract: This paper’s thesis is that the gross underutilization of trusts by middle-class Americans stems from a lack of knowledge of their benefits. Shane (2023) focuses on ways to avoid the costs of probate, and those ways include, primarily, the use of a revocable living trust as an...

Abstract: This paper provides a discussion of the political economy of probate, with the goal of motivating financial planners to play an important role in helping their clients avoid it. The paper explores the reluctance among members of the legal community to adequately apprise their clients...

This surveys reviews research regarding the role of financial analysts in capital markets. The survey builds on the perspectives provided by Schipper (1991) and Brown (1993). We categorize papers published mainly since 1992 and selectively discuss aspects of these papers that address or suggest...

Prior literature finds that economic incentives related to generating investment banking business and trading commissions provide the most dominant explanation for variation in analysts' forecasts of firms' long-term earnings growth (LTG). Prior research evidence also indicates that relying on...

Prior literature portrays long-term growth (LTG) forecasts as nonsensical from a valuation perspective. Instead, we hypothesize that LTG forecasts signal high effort and ability to analyze firms' long-term prospects. We document stronger market response to stock recommendation revisions of...

type="main" <title type="main">ABSTRACT</title> <p>This paper decomposes the cash component of earnings and analyzes persistence characteristics and pricing implications of various subcomponents, with particular attention to changes in cash. Changes in underlying fundamentals might dictate changes in cash to new optimal...</p>