Tag: municipal bonds

Study Question of the Month – December

This month’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available! Relevant to the Series 7, Series 27, and Series 52. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

This month’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available!

***Submit your answer to info@solomonexamprep.com to be entered to win a $10 Starbucks gift card.***

Study Question

Question (Relevant to the Series 7, Series 27, and Series 52): John Johnson is interested in investing in municipal bonds, but wants to be sure he can convert his investment to cash quickly in case an unexpected expense comes up. Which of the following investments would allow John to return the investment to the issuer and receive money prior to maturity?

Answers:

A. Moral obligation bond

B. Revenue anticipation note

C. Zero-coupon bond

D. Variable-rate demand obligation

Correct Answer: D. Variable-rate demand obligation

Rationale: Variable-rate demand obligations (VRDOs) contain a put option, which gives investors the right to put the security back to the issuer at any time, at a price equal to the bond’s face value plus accrued interest. For example, assume that an investor has a VRDO with a face value of $1,000 and accrued interest of $30. The security will mature in a little under three months. Due to a pressing medical expense, the investor decides to return the VRDO to the issuer and receive the $1,030.

Congratulations Marty T., this month’s Study Question of the Month winner!

Study Question of the Week: May 7, 2014 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 6, Series 7, Series 52, Series 62, Series 65, and Series 66. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available.

Study ? of the Week

Question (Relevant to the Series 6, Series 7, Series 52, Series 62, Series 65, and Series 66): 

Concerning municipal bonds issued by the city of Baltimore, Maryland:

Answers:

A. If you live in the state of Maryland, you will pay state tax on the interest you earn

B. If you live in the state of Virginia, you will not pay state tax on the interest you earn

C. If you live in the state of Maryland, you will pay federal capital gains tax on any profits you realize when you sell the bonds

D. If you live in the state of Virginia, you will not pay federal capital gains tax on any profits you realize when you sell the bonds

Correct Answer: C. If you live in the state of Maryland, you will pay federal capital gains tax on any profits you realize when you sell the bonds

Rationale: Interest income earned on municipal bonds is not taxable at the federal level, and only taxable at the state level outside the state of their issuance. Capital gains realized upon the sale of such bonds are subject to capital gains tax regardless of the taxpayer’s state of residence.

Weekly study questions are from Solomon’s industry-leading Online Exam Simulator.

Exam Alert: MSRB Prohibits Municipal Dealers from Consenting to Changes to Authorizing Documents

Effective February 3, 2014, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) will amend one of its rules to help protect municipal bond investors from unexpected changes in bond authorizing documents. The amendments prohibit broker-dealers from agreeing to changes to authorizing documents when acting as an underwriter or remarketing agent, or acting as an agent for bondholders. Continue reading

Effective February 3, 2014, the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board (MSRB) will amend one of its rules to help protect municipal bond investors from unexpected changes in bond authorizing documents. The amendments prohibit broker-dealers from agreeing to changes to authorizing documents when acting as an underwriter or remarketing agent, or acting as an agent for bondholders.

The rule allows for exceptions in certain situations. These situations include:

    • the authorizing document explicitly permits an underwriter to provide bond owner consent, and this was disclosed in the offering documents;
    • the broker-dealer owns the securities outside of its capacity as an underwriter or remarketing agent;
    • the securities are held by the remarketing agent due to a mandatory tender of the securities;
    • the bond owners have provided written consent; or
    • the underwriter provides consent on behalf of prospective purchasers, if the changes will not become effective until all current bondholders have provided consent.

The “authorizing document” refers to the trust indenture, resolution, ordinance, or other document under which the securities are issued.

Source: MSRB Enhances Protections for Investors Against Unexpected Changes to Bond Authorizing Documents

This alert applies to the Series 7, Series 52, and Series 53.

Study Question of the Week: September 3, 2013 Edition

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available. Relevant to the Series 6, Series 7, Series 62, Series 65, and Series 66. –ANSWER POSTED– Continue reading

This week’s study question from the Solomon Online Exam Simulator question database is now available.

Question (Relevant to the Series 6, Series 7, Series 62, Series 65, and Series 66): 

Concerning municipal bonds issued by the city of Baltimore, Maryland:

Answers:

A. If you live in the state of Maryland, you will pay state tax on the interest you earn

B. If you live in the state of Virginia, you will not pay state tax on the interest you earn

C. If you live in the state of Maryland, you will pay federal capital gains tax on any profits you realize when you sell the bonds

D. If you live in the state of Virginia, you will not pay federal capital gains tax on any profits you realize when you sell the bonds

Correct Answer: C.

Rationale: Interest income earned on municipal bonds is not taxable at the federal level, and only taxable at the state level outside the state of their issuance. Capital gains realized upon the sale of such bonds are subject to capital gains tax regardless of the taxpayer’s state of residence.

Weekly study questions are from Solomon’s industry-leading Online Exam Simulator.