Brad Cooper, President of Cooper Financial Investments, LLC
Local Financial Planner Completes Advanced Training from America’s IRA Experts at Ed Slott and Company, LLC
Members of Ed Slott’s Master Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM Attend Semiannual Workshop on the Latest Retirement Account Planning Strategies, Estate Planning Techniques and Tax Laws
Mesa, AZ – November 4, 2024 – Brad Cooper, President/Founder of Cooper Financial Investments, LLC completed his semiannual training with America’s IRA Experts at Ed Slott and Company, LLC by participating in a workshop that took place October 24-25, 2024.
The invite-only workshop, attended by members of Ed Slott’s Master Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM, offered advanced training on retirement account planning strategies, recent tax law changes, and estate planning techniques. The workshop also featured the latest updates from the nearly 300 pages of new tax rules released by the IRS in July, including the final SECURE Act Regulations and SECURE 2.0 Proposed Regulations.
“With every new law and regulation, the retirement planning landscape becomes more intricate, creating both fresh opportunities and challenges for Americans,” said Ed Slott, CPA, founder of Ed Slott and Company, and Professor of Practice at The American College of Financial Services®. “These shifts demand that both consumers and advisors stay sharp and adaptable. Advisors today aren’t just number crunchers; they are vital guides through financial uncertainty. I applaud Cooper for continuously investing in their expertise, ensuring clients receive the most up-to-date and strategic advice. This advanced training allows Cooper to stay ahead of new developments, providing clients with the clarity they need to make confident decisions in a rapidly changing world.”
Training highlights from this event include:
- A deep dive into the final SECURE Act Regulations and SECURE 2.0 Proposed Regulations, including clarifications on key provisions and their impact on retirement account holders, such as:
- A comprehensive review of the Final SECURE Act RMD Regulations: Focus on the continuation of the controversial annual RMD requirement during the 10-year period (ALAR Rule).
- Year-of-Death RMD and Statute of Limitations on RMD Penalty: Insights into handling Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) in the year of death and related penalty rules.
- See-Through Trusts: Important updates on SECURE Act regulations affecting see-through trusts, including three key rule changes under SECURE 2.0.
- New Spousal Beneficiary Rules: An overview of Section 327 rules for spousal beneficiaries, effective in 2024 and beyond.
- Annuitized Annuities: Explanation of SECURE 2.0 provisions that allow fair market value aggregation of annuitized IRAs for RMD calculations.
- IRA Update: The latest information on IRA tax laws, new rulings, and planning opportunities, supported by advanced case studies and private letter rulings.
Special Presentation: Dennis Moseley-Williams of DMW Strategic Consulting shared insights on building stronger client relationships through brand loyalty, using strategies from brands like Harley Davidson and Taylor Swift. This training helps advisors offer more personalized and attentive service, ensuring clients feel valued and supported.
Other notable sessions included:
- Kerry Johnson, MBA, PhD: International speaker and best-selling author, offering insights on increasing business success through improved client relationship skills.
- April Reed Crews: A member of Ed Slott’s Master Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM, who shared innovative planning strategies.
- Advanced IRA Estate Planning: Shannon L. Evans, J.D., LL.M. Taxation, of Evans & Associates, discussed the best and worst options for handling post-death family disputes.
Training was provided by Ed Slott and Company’s team of experts, including Ed Slott, CPA; Sarah Brenner, JD; Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF®; and Ian Berger, JD. Ed Slott and Company and the advisors in Ed Slott’s Master Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM are the go-to resources for attorneys, CPAs, and other financial advisors because of their intimate knowledge and advanced expertise in all areas of retirement accounts and distribution planning. This workshop also provided approved continuing education (CE) credits through The American College, CFP® Board, IRS, and NASBA for retirement savings and income planning, federal tax law topics, general financial education, and accounting.
Members of Ed Slott’s Master Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM have year-round access to Ed Slott and Company’s team of retirement experts for consultation on a variety of advanced planning topics. The membership also includes workshops, webinars, tax law updates, step-by-step processes, such as the Complete IRA Care Solution™ 30-module planning guide, and so much more. Members also have access to proprietary worksheets, pamphlets, and presentations, including a 7-step checklist for IRA trust planning after the SECURE Act, SECURE 2.0 key effective dates, and tips to disarm the new retirement savings time bomb as seen in Ed Slott’s latest book that they can use when working with clients.
“The world of retirement planning never stands still, and this year has brought its own set of changes,” said Cooper. “That’s why I place such a high value on continuous learning. Being part of this distinguished group means I have access to a wealth of resources and a team of America’s IRA Experts supporting me every step of the way. This helps ensure that I can offer my clients the latest, most effective strategies to help them achieve their retirement dreams with confidence.”
“I am truly proud of the commitment shown by every member of our study group. In a time of uncertainty, these top advisors are stepping up, providing critical guidance to Americans across the country,” said Slott. “With each new wave of retirement and tax legislation, our members remain industry leaders, armed with the knowledge and skills to help their clients navigate the evolving landscape with expertise and assurance.”
Cooper can be contacted for more information on IRA and retirement-related questions. Please visit www.cooperfinancial.com or call 888-390-5277.
ABOUT ED SLOTT AND COMPANY, LLC: Ed Slott and Company, LLC is the nation’s leading provider of IRA education for financial advisors, CPAs and attorneys. Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor GroupSM is comprised of 500 of the nation’s top financial professionals who are dedicated to the mastery of advanced retirement account and tax planning laws and strategies. Slott is a nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, best-selling author and professional speaker. His latest book, “The Retirement Savings Time Bomb Ticks Louder” (Penguin Random House, 2024), offers actionable strategies to protect retirement savings from new tax threats. He is one of the top pledge drivers of all time with his popular public television specials and is also the co-host of The Great Retirement Debate podcast, available on all major platforms, including Spotify, Apple, Stitcher, and Amazon. Visit irahelp.com for more information.
ABOUT COOPER FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS, LLC:
Whether you are a pre-retiree, retiree or conservative investor, we want you to have a better financial future. We want you to have financial success for the next 25 years and not go backwards over time, by building a more secure portfolio. Brad E. Cooper is an Investment Advisor Representative and President of Cooper Financial Investments, LLC.
We understand the unique issues facing retirees and those saving for retirement, and we are committed to giving you the best advice and services possible. We specialize in “holistic” financial planning for retirees and those transitioning into retirement. Our services encompass a management system that is designed to be defensive in bad economic times, and opportunistic in good times, education planning, referral partners for tax and estate planning. We take great pride in our relationship with our clients.
Advisory Services offered through Cooper Financial Investments, LLC, a Registered Investment Advisor in the state of Arizona. Insurance products and services offered through Cooper Financial Group, LLC, an affiliated company. Cooper Financial Investments, LLC and Cooper Financial Group, LLC are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any government agency, and are not engaged in the practice of law. All written content is for information purposes only. It is not intended to provide any tax or legal advice or provide the basis for any financial decisions. The information contained herein is not an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy the securities, products or services mentioned, and no offers or sales will be made in jurisdictions in which the offer or sale of these securities, products or services is not qualified or otherwise exempt from regulation. The information contained in this material have been derived from sources believed to be reliable, but is not guaranteed as to accuracy and completeness and does not purport to be a complete analysis of the materials discussed.