SPA Skills Assessment case studies
SPA Skills Assessment · Put your knowledge to work in context.
The SPA Skills Assessment is a professional certification exam for people who advise clients on personal finances, whether they work in a bank, an advisory firm, an insurance practice, or an independent planning business. It tests whether a candidate can run a structured client relationship end to end: gathering information through an effective interview, translating goals into a funded plan, selecting suitable products and building a portfolio, protecting the client against risk, handling tax questions at a planning level, and preparing for retirement and the transfer of assets. The SPA Skills Assessment case studies are 5 cases and about 2,242 words.
1The Retiring Engineer's Pension Election
Dana, 63, is retiring from a utility company in 14 months. She has 1.1M in her 401(k), 180k in a taxable brokerage account, and a 240k mortgage at 4.1% with 12 years remaining.
517 words, about 3 min2The Concentrated Stock and the Charitable Ask
Marcus, 58, is a long-tenured executive at a public software firm. His 3.4M portfolio is 71% in his employer's stock held in a taxable account with a very low cost basis; the remainder is in a diversified 401(k).
466 words, about 2 min3The Self-Employed Couple's Coverage Gap
Priya and Anand, both 41, run a design studio as an LLC taxed as a partnership. They have two children, ages 6 and 9, a 520k mortgage at 6.2%, 90k in business cash, and 140k in a joint brokerage account.
433 words, about 2 min4The Early Retiree's Withdrawal and Tax Puzzle
Ken, 54, retired early last year. He has 760k in a traditional IRA, 310k in a Roth IRA, 220k in a taxable account, and a paid-off home.
417 words, about 2 min5The Referral Who Wants Guarantees
A long-time client refers his brother-in-law, Ray, 67, who has $480k in savings and is recently widowed. On the first call Ray says he wants "no risk, guaranteed growth, and at least 8% a year," and mentions a product a friend described as "principal-protected with market upside." He is vague about his income needs and has not shared his late wife's pension or Social Security survivor details.
409 words, about 2 min