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Monthly Market Review & Outlook
ROTH IRA FOR A TEENAGER – AN ASTRONOMICAL RESULT?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The mailman delivered my son’s 2023 W-2 the other day. I was curious what he earned last year as a lifeguard at our community pool, so I opened the envelope. Box 1, “Wages, tips, other...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/26/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equities inked another set of weekly gains on the back of mixed 4th quarter earnings results and encouraging economic data. The S&P 500 and Dow set new all-time highs. Dutch Semiconductor Company ASML...
Five Things I Wish I’d Known Before I Retired
Not only can these insights save you a boatload of stress later in life, but they can help ensure that you have a happy retirement. Planning for retirement is tricky. There can be a lot of uncertainty involved. You try to make good decisions with the information you...
BACKDOOR ROTH IRA CONVERSIONS AND THE ANNUAL RMD REQUIREMENT: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Is it possible to do a Backdoor Roth IRA conversion with a SEP IRA? If yes, how does it work? Thank you! Yulia Answer: Hi Yulia, Yes, you can do a Backdoor Roth IRA conversion with a SEP...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/19/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average hit record highs on Friday despite a reset of monetary policy rate cut expectations. Mega-cap technology issues outperformed with a jump start from the...
6 Reasons Annuities Should Be Part of Your Retirement Plan in 2024
When setting up your financial retirement plan, you’ll likely consider various options for how you plan on covering the bills in your golden years. With soaring inflation and aggressive rate hikes from the Fed, annuities have become more popular recently, as those...
529 PLANS AND QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: I have been funding a 529 account for over 15 years and no longer need to add deposits. Could I change the beneficiary to myself and then convert to a Roth IRA, assuming I have met the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/12/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US Markets gained ground in the second week of 2024, attributed to mega-cap issues in the Information Technology and Communication Services sectors. The Equal-weight S&P 500 was up 0.2%, while the Mega-Cap...
Retired or Nearly Retired? 2024 Is the Time to Focus on Risk Reduction
“The future ain’t what it used to be,” the inimitable Yogi Berra once said. Yogi knew the future is unpredictable. No one in 2019 could have predicted a devastating worldwide pandemic in 2020. Nevertheless, we can look to the past for hints on how the next year may...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/5/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA After nine weeks of gains, the market fell in the first week of trading in 2024. Interestingly, the losses incurred this week largely came from areas of the market that outperformed last year, namely growth and...
What’s Changing for Retirement in 2024?
Inflation adjustments and the phase-in of Secure 2.0 provisions have implications for retirement savers and retirees alike. The dawning of 2024 will usher in more changes than usual on the retirement-planning front. As is typical with the turn of the calendar page,...
RMD CALCULATION AND TRUSTS FOR DISABLED BENEFICIARIES: TODAY’S SLOTT REORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Hoping you can help with this technical question. I am over 73. My traditional IRA balance as of 12/31/22 was $0.00. I made a $7,500 non-deductible traditional IRA contribution in 2023 and...
NEW ROTH PROVISIONS EFFECTIVE IN 2024
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport When the bell dropped in Times Square last Sunday night, a bunch of new provisions from the SECURE 2.0 legislation kicked in. This article will focus on the Roth-related changes that are effective in 2024....
7 Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2024
How changes in Social Security, Medicare, taxes and more will affect your finances For most people, retirement finance is a delicate balance between income that’s likely less than what you made while working and expenses that may be lower in some areas (no more...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/22/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets inked an 8th consecutive week of gains as investors continued to foster the soft landing narrative. Trading volumes lightened as the week progressed and corporate news was relatively quiet. ...
ROTH CONVERSIONS AND INHERITED IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I have a traditional IRA with a portion being nondeductible contributions. The last nondeductible contribution I made was in 2009. and I have my Form 8606 showing the...
TWO HOLIDAY LISTS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The SECURE 2.0 Act contained over 90 sections and included numerous IRA and retirement account changes. Additionally, the legislation incorporated staggered effective dates over multiple years. Here...
Here’s when the 2024 Social Security cost-of-living adjustment will kick in
While inflation has been falling in recent months, seniors remain especially vulnerable to price increases, experts say. Social Security recipients and others on fixed incomes will soon see a slight increase in their monthly benefit checks from the U.S. government....
SECURE 2.0 RELAXS RETROACTIVE SOLO 401(K) RULES
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Thinking of opening up a new solo 401(k) plan for 2023? Thanks to SECURE 2.0, you don’t have to rush to get it done by year end. A solo 401(k) is an excellent retirement savings vehicle for self-employed...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/15/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The Bull market continued its rally streak to seven consecutive weeks, something not seen since 2017. Wall Street threw a “pivot party” as the US Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meeting ended with a...
SUCCESSOR BENEFICIARY RULES AND NEW SPOUSE BENEFICIARY RULES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: My sister inherited an IRA from our mother (age 95 and died in 2019.) My sister took her RMDs (required minimum distributions) from this inherited account over her life expectancy. My sister died...
Want to retire early? Make these 5 moves in 2024
As 2023 comes to a close, many Americans are turning their attention to 2024 and contemplating resolutions for the new year. Many focus on financial resolutions. as people seek to earn more or create breathing room in their budget. For some, making a commitment...
BAD SANTA & THE GRINCH OFFER HORRIBLE IRA ADVICE – PART 2
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The investment advisory firm of Bad Santa & the Grinch continues to disseminate misinformation and lousy, no good, rotten-to-the-core IRA advice. As we saw in “Bad Santa & The Grinch Offer...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/8/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 gained ground for the sixth consecutive week as US economic data continued to support the soft landing narrative. Mega-cap issues provided leadership, while small-caps continued to perform...
Is it possible to switch from Social Security retirement benefits to disability benefits?
Yes. If you become disabled after filing early for retirement benefits, you may be able to change to Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Similarly, if you retire early but belatedly discover that an existing condition might have qualified you for a higher...
QCDS AND THE ROTH 5-YEAR CLOCK: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: My brother passed away in May 2023. He had a small IRA with no beneficiary. He was 73 at the time of his death. His estate is to be divided equally among his eight brothers and sisters,...
CONGRESS MAKES SIMPLE IRA PLANS LESS SIMPLE
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport SIMPLE IRA plans are a popular retirement savings option for small businesses. The plans are available for companies with 100 or fewer employees who received at least $5,000 in pay from the company in the...
DEADLINE TO TAKE YOUR 2023 RMD IS ALMOST HERE
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport It is December. The halls are decked, and Starbucks holiday cups are everywhere. The end of the year is not far away. That means the deadline is near for taking a required minimum...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/1/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA A mélange of factors pushed US equity markets to a sneeze away from record highs. US Treasuries continued to rally, sending yields lower across the curve. The soft landing narrative continued as investors...
5 Reasons To Buy an Annuity
A few reasons to consider buying an annuity include the tax advantages, income for life and customization options for added benefits. The Annuity.org editorial team interviewed annuity buyers and financial experts to understand the best reasons to purchase one and how...
BAD SANTA & THE GRINCH OFFER HORRIBLE IRA ADVICE – PART 1
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If the Grinch and Bad Santa both passed their FINRA Series 7 exam and decided to open an investment advisory firm, I’m pretty sure they would combine forces to intentionally deliver some of the WORST...
TURNING BACK THE CLOCKS AND REVISITING THE ROTH IRA FIVE-YEAR CLOCKS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport A few weeks ago, many of us were required to turn back our clocks one hour and say goodbye to daylight savings time. And with that change came the usual reminder to change the batteries in our smoke...
7 Keys to Pretirement Planning With Your Partner
Take these steps together to help you both get the retirement you want Retirement can last for decades, so the choices you make in the years leading up to it will have huge implications for your financial security, lifestyle and legacy during your golden years. They...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 11/24/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets inked a 4th straight week of gains despite the market appearing to be overbought. The holiday-shortened week featured light trading volumes and broad participation. Earnings results from AI...
4 IRA TAX BREAKS FOR WHICH WE GIVE THANKS IN 2023
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Thanksgiving is almost here! This is a time for us to gather together and express our gratitude for all the good things in our lives. When it comes to our retirement accounts, we...
STILL-TIME-LEFT TO-DO LIST
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Year-end to-do lists are commonplace. The problem is, they always seem to get published in mid-to-late December. I can almost hear the collective “thanks for nothing” comment from readers as the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 11/17/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 closed above 4500 after inking its third consecutive weekly gain. Temperate economic data released over the last few months has elevated the idea of an economic soft landing and the idea that...
Annuities Rising in Popularity
Get trusted annuities advice, news and features. Find annuities tips and insights to further your knowledge on kiplinger.com. Rising interest rates are making annuities more attractive to investors, so much so that annuity sales are smashing records set in 2008 during...
FORMER BALTIMORE TOP PROSECUTOR CONVICTED OF LYING ON CORONAVIRUS WITHDRAWAL APPLICATION
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Remember coronavirus-related distributions, or “CRDs”? Passed as part of the CARES Act in March 2020, CRDs were special distributions designed to help people who contracted COVID or had financial hardship...
RMDS WHEN YOUR IRA INVESTMENTS ARE NOT LIQUID
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport You may have noticed grocery stores stocking up for Thanksgiving, and festive lights and displays going up everywhere. Yes, it is the holiday season, but it is also the season to...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 11/10/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets were mixed this week as investors digested additional earnings announcements, a plethora of Fed rhetoric, and a large dose of US Treasury issuance. The divergence of mega-cap stocks widened relative...
THE FIVE-YEAR RULE AND RMDS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAIBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: In 2020 and 2021, when I was over 65 years old, I converted some of my IRA into a Roth IRA. Does the five-year rule still apply to me, or can I now draw out all of the...
5 Ways To Kick Retirement Overspending
A budget is the best way to avoid running out of money in retirement Too many online shopping sprees. Frequent dinners at your favorite steak house. Pricey vacation getaways. And, of course, high inflation. Houston, we have a problem: Many retirees are spending way...
ONE BENEFICIARY, THREE IRAS, THREE DIFFERENT PAYOUT RULES
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport An advisor called and said his 75-year-old client had just passed away. He had questions about the payout rules applicable to the three IRAs the client left behind: a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, and...
SECURE 2.0’S BIGGEST MESS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Of the 92 provisions in the SECURE 2.0 legislation, signed into law last December, by far the most challenging is section 327. Section 327 changes the distribution rules for spouse beneficiaries of...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Global financial markets rallied big time last week on dovish tones from central bankers and on the notion that this interest rate hike cycle may be over. The Bank of Japan kicked the week off with a vague move that sets their 10-year Japanese...
6 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Retired
A recent retiree shares lessons learned late about saving money and spending time Everyone nearing retirement has a vision of what their road will be like once they clock out of the 9-to-5. Maybe that prophecy includes regular travel, longer trips to see the...
THE PRO-RATA RULE AND MINOR IRA BENEFICIARIES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Dear Mr. Slott, I made $40,000 additional non-deductible (after taxes) contributions to my IRA many years ago. I have filed IRS Form 8606 every year informing the IRS of the contributions....
IRA CONTRIBUTION LIMIT RAISED TO $7,000 FOR 2024
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The IRS has released cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for 2024. Many IRA limits will increase next year. Higher IRA Contributions The limit on annual contributions to an IRA...
ROTH IRA DISTRIBUTION ORDERING RULES – KEEP IT SIMPLE
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Within the 400-page Ed Slott advisor training manual, we include a basic chart that outlines the Roth IRA distribution ordering rules and the availability of those specific dollars. When presenting...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity markets faced another wave of selling as the S&P 500 went into correction territory, down 10.13% from the end of July. Investors saw some relief from the bond market, but trade in Sovereign debt continued to lack a safe-haven bid...
Social Security benefits in 2024: 5 big changes retirees should plan for
As inflation lingers, the Social Security Administration (SSA) is boosting its cost of living adjustment (COLA) for benefit checks in 2024. It’s just one of many changes announced by Social Security recently. Here are some key changes to Social Security happening next...
COMMON CONFUSIONS WITH THE ONCE-PER-YEAR ROLLOVER RULE
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The once-per-year IRA rollover rule sounds pretty easy to understand. You may only do one IRA-to-IRA (or Roth IRA-to-Roth IRA rollover) per year (365 days). However, this rule is...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 10/20/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA This week, the debt market resumed its sell-off and wreaked havoc on the equity markets. The US 10-year bond yield hit 5% for the first time since 2007, while longer-tenured issues felt the brunt of the...
Don’t Make This Big Retirement Mistake
A recent survey of Americans who have yet to retire found that just 10% have made plans to receive the biggest possible Social Security payout. And it’s not because people don’t know that Social Security pays bigger benefits the longer you wait to claim. More than 90%...
THE BACK-DOOR ROTH STRATEGY AND SPOUSAL BENEFICIARIES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I earn too much money and can’t do a Roth IRA. I have heard about the back-door Roth IRA strategy for those who earn more than the allowable contribution for the Roth IRA...
“ESTATE BYPASS” – SPOUSAL ROLLOVER WHEN THE ESTATE IS BENEFICIARY
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport An estate can become the beneficiary of a person’s IRA in a couple of ways. First, the estate could be named outright as the beneficiary on the beneficiary form. This is not recommended. Why? One...
IRA MID-TERM EXAM
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The Investment Company Institute (ICI) is an association representing mutual fund companies and similar investment companies. Each year, ICI conducts a survey of the prevalence of IRAs in American...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 10/13/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets finished the week with mixed results as investors digested the first tranche of third-quarter earnings results. JP Morgan, Citi Bank, Wells Fargo, and United Healthcare had...
What Is a Fixed Index Annuity?
The S&P 500 represents about 80% of the total market capitalization of large-cap U.S. stocks (market price per common share multiplied by the number of common shares outstanding). As it is so widespread, many market analysts use it as an indicator of the overall...
THE STILL-WORKING EXCEPTION AND SPOUSAL ROLLOVERS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I have a client who just retired at age 80. He has $800,000 in his 401(k) plan which is being rolled over to an IRA. Does he have to take an RMD this year based on the...
HOW TO LOSE AN INHERITED IRA AND GAIN A BIG TAX BILL
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Did you inherit an IRA from someone who is NOT your spouse? This is not uncommon. Maybe you inherited from a sibling or a parent or a friend. If this is your situation,...
“WHERE DOES IT SAY THAT?” – THE PROBLEM WITH LEGALESE
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport My biggest gripe with legislation is the same complaint held by most – the bulk of it is written in legalese – i.e., difficult-to-understand language. I am no idiot, but sometimes I sure feel dumb...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 10/6/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Investors were treated to another mixed bag of market action as the yield curve steepened on the notion of higher rates for longer. There were several central bank officials that echoed the need to perhaps...
6 Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me Before I Retired
A recent retiree shares lessons learned late about saving money and spending time Everyone nearing retirement has a vision of what their road will be like once they clock out of the 9-to-5. Maybe that prophecy includes regular travel, longer trips to see the...
NON-SPOUSE BENEFICIARIES AND ROTH IRA DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: On September 6th in a piece titled, “Rules for Inherited IRAs that May Surprise Nonspouse Beneficiaries,” Sarah Brenner from Ed Slott and Company wrote, “If you inherited the IRA funds in...
WHY I TURNED DOWN MY FORMER EMPLOYER’S LUMP SUM BUYOUT OFFER
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Earlier in my career, I worked for a company that sponsored a defined benefit (DB) pension plan. Up to now, I’ve chosen to defer payments from the plan. A few weeks ago, I received an official-looking...
SECURE 2.0 ALLOWS QCDS TO CGAS
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport SECURE 2.0 expands qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) by allowing a one-time only QCD of up to $50,000 to a split-interest entity. As a result of this new rule, there is now a...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 9/29/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets finished a difficult month of September with mixed results. The prospect of a government shutdown, along with no real progress in the UAW negotiations and a recalibration of interest rate expectations,...
10 Retirement Planning Mistakes People Make at 50
Take inventory of your assets and your strategy, or you could regret it later Reaching age 50 is a milestone that most of us celebrate. Still, after you’ve blown out the candles and bid farewell to your guests, you may have a headache from too much champagne, but...
TOP 10 IRA “POPULAR CONFUSIONS”
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The Ed Slott team answers thousands of IRA and work plan questions annually - emails, phone calls, in-person conversations, webinars, Q&A programs and texts. We accommodate all members of the Ed...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 9/22/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets sold off in tandem with the US Treasury market as the Federal Reserve’s Open Market Committee meeting concluded with no change to its policy rate. The Fed’s Summary of Economic Projections...
8 Common Above-the-Line Deductions Anyone Can Claim
Take these write-offs on your 1040, even if you don’t itemize your return Doing your taxes is a hunt for ways to minimize your income: The lower your income, the less tax you pay. For most retirees and pre-retirees, this means taking the standard deduction and moving...
RMD RULES FOR INHERITED IRAS AND 401(K) DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I have a new inherited IRA, and I believe that I am subject to BOTH the 10-year rule and to annual RMDs. Is this true? My situation: Original owner was age 92 and passed in...
BEWARE OF INVESTING IRAS IN NFTS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If you are thinking of buying an NFT (non-fungible token) with your IRA funds, you may want to reconsider. In Notice 2023-27, the IRS said that NFTs associated with “collectibles” are prohibited IRA...
OCTOBER 16: DEADLINE FOR CORRECTING 2022 IRA CONTRIBUTIONS
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Maybe you made a Roth IRA contribution for 2022 and then discovered your income was too high. Maybe you contributed to a traditional IRA but later discovered that the contribution...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 9/15/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA It was a roller coaster ride on Wall Street this week, with early-week gains met with a late-week sell-off. Investors cheered the largest IPO of the year that saw Arm Holdings come to market 10x oversubscribed...
12 Things to Tell Your Kids About Your Money
You don’t have to tell them some things, but others are very important You’ve probably taught your kids a whole bunch about money over the years, like how to stretch an allowance through an entire week and how to balance a debit account — or, most challenging of all,...
THE 10-YEAR RULE AND SPOUSAL BENEFICIARIES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I understand that my kids will need to empty my Roth IRA in 10 years, but do they need to take RMDs in years 1 through 9? I am beyond my RMD age. Larry Answer: Larry, Assuming none of your...
“MID-AIR” ROTH CONVERSIONS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If ever I was traveling from Los Angeles to Atlanta, I would choose a direct flight with no layovers. I want the most efficient route to my destination. Point A to Point B. Take off, land. Assuming...
MORE ON THE ROTH CATCH-UP CONTRIBUTIONS DELAY
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The August 28, 2023 Slott Report summarized IRS Notice 2023-62, where the IRS delayed the effective date of the SECURE 2.0 rule requiring catch-up contributions by higher-paid older employees to be made on...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week ended with losses for both US equities and Treasuries. Apple shares tumbled on the news that the Chinese government would ban the use of the iPhone at government agencies at all levels of government. The news comes in...
7 Things to Know About Appointing an Executor
And 7 ways to make things easier for yours Have you found an executor (also known as a personal representative) to handle your affairs should you become incapacitated or die? Planning for death-related events isn’t fun, so you may be procrastinating. Or you may be...
THE 10-YEAR RULE AND 529 PLANS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: My name is Bruce. I am 65 years old, and I have a question about the SECURE Act. My mother died at age 89 on April 19, 2023, and I inherited her IRA. She had been receiving...
RULES FOR INHERITED IRAS THAT MAY SURPRISE NONSPOUSE BENEFICIARIES
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Many IRA assets will ultimately go to nonspouse beneficiaries. When these beneficiaries inherit the funds, special rules kick in. Inherited IRAs are not like your own personal IRA...
IRA BENEFICIARY PAYOUT RULES – THE MADNESS CONTINUES
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The lunacy of IRA beneficiary payout rules continues to boggle the mind. As I guide advisors through the options available to their clients, various nuances present one unique scenario after...
7 Money Leaks — and How to Plug Them
These stealthy cash drainers could be costing you big bucks Yes, you can save a lot by cutting out the little pleasures in life. Nonessentials like caffe lattes and premium channels can really add up. But life is too short for mediocre coffee! The good news is that...
IRS DELAYS EFFECTIVE DATE OF MANDATORY ROTH CATCH-UP RULE UNTIL 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Last Friday afternoon (August 25, 2023), the IRS gave employer plans two more years to comply with the controversial SECURE 2.0 rule requiring “catch-up contributions” for high-paid employees to be made on...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 8/25/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Financial markets were all over the place last week and ended with mixed results. The S&P 500 gained 0.8% and closed above 4400, a critical psychological level, but fell short of regaining the 50-day moving...
Why Gen X Is Freaking Out About Retirement
Facing an insecure financial future, America's 'neglected middle child' may have to chart a different path to post-work life For years, Mike Cundall Jr. thought he was on the proper path to retirement. A professor of philosophy at North Carolina A&T University,...
THE AGE 50 EXCEPTION AND THE STILL-WORKING EXCEPTION: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: Hello! I recently came across one of your articles and decided to reach out to you in hopes of getting some clarification re: the Secure Act 2.0 and distributions as a qualified public...
3-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS – MISSED RMDS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport When an IRA or retirement plan owner reaches a particular age, that account owner typically must begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs.) The RMD is calculated based on the year-end...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 8/18/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets fell for the third consecutive week. The S&P 500 broke its 50-day moving average and then sank below 4400. The sell-off has been on low volume, and the market may have been due to some...
5 Retirement Fears Keeping Us Up at Night
Inflation, stock swings and more erode Americans’ confidence in future financial security When it comes to retirement readiness, many Americans are feeling disillusioned. A spring Gallup poll found that only 43 percent of nonretired adults expect to live out their...
SUCCESSOR BENEFICIARIES AND IRA ROLLOVERS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I am struggling to find an answer to my situation. My wife’s 82-year old father passed away about 8 years ago and he was taking IRA distributions. A portion of his IRA was...
NEW LAW MAY LOWER RMDS WHEN ANNUITY IS ANNUITIZED – BUT IRS GUIDANCE NEEDED
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If you are subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) and have annuitized part of your IRA, a recent law change could drastically reduce your RMDs. But, without IRS guidance, it may be difficult to...
RMD RELIEF? NO THANK YOU!
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The IRS unleashed massive confusion last year. To the surprise of many, it released proposed SECURE Act regulations requiring beneficiaries (on some occasions) to take required...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US Financial markets had another week of consolidation. Equities and US Treasuries sold off in tandem on light volume. An early week debt downgrade of 10 small to midsized banks and a notice that other downgrades may follow by Moody’s dampened...
INHERITED IRA AND ROTH IRA RMD RULES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I’m age 76. My brother died in December 2022 at 84. Do I take required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the inherited account based on my age or on my brother’s age at death? Answer: Since you’re...
8 Ways to Recover Faster From a Disaster
A little planning can ease the financial hardship You may not think a disaster can hit you, but a disaster of some sort can occur just about any place, at any time, with little or no warning. Garrett Sorensen knows that. His car was totaled when a powerful tornado hit...
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