The Goal Isn't More Money,
The Goal Is Living
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Monthly Market Review & Outlook
CAN I REACH MY 401(K) FUNDS WHILE STILL WORKING?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport We continue to get questions about the ability of employees to withdraw from 401(k) plans while still working. The tax code includes certain restrictions on these in-service withdrawals. Plans must...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 3/17/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Financial markets continued to be erratic as investors assessed the health of the global banking system. The failures of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank were met with multiple responses from the federal...
Two of the ‘best’ ways to donate to maximize your tax deduction for charitable gifts, according to financial advisors
KEY POINTS This holiday season, it may be possible to lower your taxes while supporting your favorite charity, experts say. If you itemize deductions, consider donating profitable investments or selling losing assets before gifting the cash proceeds. Donors age 70½ or...
ROTH CONVERSIONS AND INHERITED IRAS: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Hi, I’m looking forward to the July workshop in Boston but hoping you can help with this question now. What happens if an account holder who is over age 59 ½ does a...
3 TIPS FOR MAKING YOUR 2022 IRA CONTRIBUTION
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Tax season is in full swing. That means that the 2022 tax-filing deadline is not far away. Are you considering making a 2022 IRA contribution? Time is quickly running out. Here...
THE INTERNET SAID SO
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport People on TikTok create investment advice videos? And I’m supposed to trust whatever this talking head is telling me? No chance. Of course, the person on TikTok could hold a number of higher...
Successful Retirement Requires More Than Financial Planning
Are emotional health and personal fulfillment part of your retirement portfolio? Retiring successfully requires careful planning to ensure financial and physical health, but what about other important aspects of retirement, such as emotional health and personal...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 3/10/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Wall Street endured a difficult week with volatile fluctuations in equity and fixed-income markets. Fed President J Powell’s testimony in front of congress kicked off the market’s chaotic week when he suggested...
INHERITED IRA 10-YEAR RULE AND DISABLED CHILD AS ELIGIBLE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Hello, I have an inherited IRA which falls under the 10-year rule. I understand that the IRS has tried to clear up the 10-year RMD (required minimum distribution) confusion but I am still...
SECURE 2.0 GLITCHES AND UNANSWERED QUESTIONS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Considering that it made 92 new IRA and retirement plan changes and is 357 pages long, it’s not surprising that the new SECURE 2.0 law has several unintended drafting errors and lots of unresolved...
NAMING A MINOR AS YOUR IRA BENEFICIARY
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport If you want to leave your IRA to an adult, you simply name that person on the IRA beneficiary form. Unfortunately, when it comes to minors, it is not that easy. When a minor...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 3/3/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets bounced on oversold conditions and their ability to hold key technical levels this week. The S&P 500 broke its 50-day moving average (3980) and then tested the 200-day moving average...
Can Remote Work Get You a Head Start on Retirement?
If you have a dream destination in mind, careful planning and a willing boss could help you make the move ahead of schedule Rob Nehrbas was winding up his career as an executive at an Arizona-based laser device company he’d sold to a bigger competitor when he realized...
EDUCATION SAVINGS ACCOUNTS AND INHERITED IRAS: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Can an Education Savings Account (ESA) be rolled into a Roth IRA under the recently enacted SECURE 2.0? 529 plans clearly can - beginning in 2024 - but I have found no reference to...
RBD – PROACTIVE SALLY AND OBLIVIOUS JERRY
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Last week the Ed Slott team hosted another highly successful and sold-out 2-day advisor training program at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Over 250 financial professionals from across the...
SECURE 2.0 ALLOWS RETROACTIVE SOLO 401(K) PLANS WITH ELECTIVE DEFERRALS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport The new SECURE 2.0 law fixes a glitch that has made it difficult for new solo 401(k) plans to be opened up retroactively for a prior year. A solo 401(k) plan is a great retirement savings vehicle for...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 2/24/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA It was another tough week on Wall Street as US equity markets continued to retreat alongside a sustained selloff in the US debt markets. The calendar was again stacked with economic data showing an economy...
7 Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2023
Tax changes, RMD rules, Social Security COLA and more will affect older Americans’ finances You might have heard about big changes coming to retirement finance due to Secure 2.0, a package of provisions included in the massive spending bill enacted by Congress and...
RMDS AND EMPLOYER PLAN CONTRIBUTIONS: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: I am interested in your interpretation of the RMD (required minimum distribution) rules using the following facts: Original IRA owner’s DOB is 1/21/29 Original IRA...
SECURE 2.0 ELIMINATES PENALTY ON NIA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport SECURE 2.0 is a mammoth piece of legislation that contains over 90 provisions that affect retirement accounts. While many of these provisions are not game changers, they still...
EDBS HAVE A CHOICE: STRETCH VS. 10-YEAR
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport By now, most are aware the SECURE Act created a new class of beneficiaries called “eligible designated beneficiaries” (EDBs). This group includes surviving spouses, minor children of the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 2/17/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets finished the week mixed, as economic data reported during the week indicated that inflation remains elevated. Fed rhetoric was prevalent and had a more hawkish tilt. Cleveland Fed President...
QCD REPORTING AND THE ONCE-PER-YEAR ROLLOVER RULE: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Hi, Thank you for all the helpful insight on retirement. I wish I heard about your website earlier. I turned 72 last year and followed your advice on QCDs (qualified charitable...
Life expectancy can have a greater impact than even record high inflation on how long your retirement savings will last
KEY POINTS Longevity can have a greater impact on how long retirement money lasts than today’s record high inflation, according to a new report. Surya Kolluri, head of the TIAA Institute, recommends a three-pronged approach to savings combining Social Security...
HOW THE IRS CONTRIBUTION LIMITS WORK WHEN YOU’RE IN TWO PLANS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport How much can you contribute when you’re in two different retirement plans at the same time or at different times in the same year (e.g., after changing jobs)? The answer is complicated because...
5 THINGS TO KNOW WHEN MAKING A 2022 ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTION
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Tax season is upon us. This is the time when you might be thinking about contributing to a retirement account. You may be interested in the Roth IRA, which offers the promise...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 2/10/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Wall Street pulled in its horns last week as investors sensed the market was overbought. Concerns about the outlook for corporate earnings and historically high valuations tempered buyers’ enthusiasm for...
Wait until age 70 to claim Social Security: ‘The return on being patient is huge,’ says economist
KEY POINTS All U.S. workers ages 45 to 62 would benefit from waiting until beyond age 65 to start receiving Social Security retirement benefits, recent research finds. The best age to claim is 70, when benefits are 76% higher than retirement benefits taken at 62. The...
INHERITED IRAS AND ROTH CONVERSIONS: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport QUESTION: I just inherited my spouse’s inherited IRA (he got it from his father). He (my husband) was already taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) based on his own single life...
AGE 50 EXCEPTION QUESTION
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport When IRA or retirement plan assets are withdrawn prior to age 59 ½, an early distribution penalty of 10% applies - in addition to any taxes owed on the distribution. However, there are...
SECURE 2.0 ALLOWS ROTH EMPLOYER CONTRIBUTIONS IN 401(K) PLANS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Up to now, employer contributions to 401(k) (and other plans) had to be made to pre-tax accounts. One of the SECURE 2.0 changes already in effect allows employer contributions to be made to Roth...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 2/3/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Investors were hit with a full dose of market-moving events and data throughout the week. The Federal Reserve, Bank of England, and European Central Bank increased their respective policy rates. The Fed raised...
2 Big Changes to RMDs That Will Affect Retirees in 2023
KEY POINTS Retirees can push back RMDs to age 73 in 2023. The penalties for not taking RMDs will drop significantly. A big change is coming to workplace accounts with a Roth designation in 2024. The $1.7 trillion spending bill that Congress passed last week includes...
ROTH IRA DISTRIBUTIONS AND THE 10-YEAR RULE: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
Question: If I did a Roth conversion in 2022, do I have to wait 5 years before I can touch the amount $16,500 (the amount I converted) penalty free? The Roth has been open since 2003 and I'm over 59 ½. Answer: The five-year rules for Roth IRA distributions can be very...
SECURE 2.0 MODIFIES RULES FOR SPECIAL NEEDS TRUSTS
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport The SECURE Act changed the game for inherited IRAs. For most beneficiaries, the stretch IRA is gone and has been replaced by the 10-year payout rule. However, the SECURE Act carved out some rules...
IRA RMD AGE MADE EASY
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport A ton of questions on this topic have come across our desks, and we have seen swirling, hypnotizing spirals in the eyes of many an advisor. I can only imagine what the general public is...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/27/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Momentum trade pushed US equity markets higher and forced shorts to cover and those sitting in cash to move off the sidelines for fear of missing out on further gains. Fourth quarter earnings continued to come...
How much life insurance do I need?
In most cases, if you have no dependents and have enough money to pay your final expenses, you don’t need any life insurance. If you want to create an inheritance or make a charitable contribution, buy enough life insurance to achieve those goals. If you have...
LIFETIME AND INHERITED IRA RMD RULES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: If a person turned 72 in 2022, and died before starting her traditional IRA RMDs (required minimum distributions), must her three children take an RMD (based on their ages) in 2022 and for...
SECURE 2.0 CHANGES ALREADY IN EFFECT
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport The SECURE 2.0 Act, enacted into law on December 29, 2022, makes over 90 changes to the IRA and employer plan tax rules. If that isn’t enough, many of these provisions aren’t immediately effective and...
ROTH-O-MANIA!
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport SECURE 2.0 is now the law of the land and one thing is very clear. Roth-O-Mania is here! In their quest for more revenue, Congress has created more options to save with Roth accounts. These...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/20/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Inflation data showed prices easing in the US and Europe while Japanese CPI hit a level not seen since the 1980s. The downtrend in US producer prices, coupled with weaker-than-expected US retail sales and a...
Rising Prices Lead to Changes in Lifestyle and Shopping Habits
AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: Wave 2 In January 2022, AARP launched its Financial Security Trends Survey, which is designed to monitor the financial experiences, behaviors, and attitudes of adults age 30-plus. The survey examines perceptions of overall...
Rising Prices Lead to Changes in Lifestyle and Shopping Habits
AARP Financial Security Trends Survey: Wave 2 In January 2022, AARP launched its Financial Security Trends Survey, which is designed to monitor the financial experiences, behaviors, and attitudes of adults age 30-plus. The survey examines perceptions of overall...
529 PLANS AND ROTH IRAS: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Hello Ed, I have a question concerning Secure 2.0 pertaining to transferring “leftover” 529 plan account balances into a Roth IRA, beginning 2024. If I have no income in 2024, can I...
SECURE 2.0 ELIMINATES RMDS ON ROTH PLAN DOLLARS IN 2024
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport If a person has a Traditional IRA and is of the age when lifetime required minimum distributions (RMDs) apply, then that person must withdraw a portion of that account annually. The amount to...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/13/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity markets continued to rally in the second week of January as investors considered the idea of a Fed-orchestrated soft landing. An inline December CPI showed consumer prices falling on the headline number...
SECURE 2.0 ALLOWS ROLLOVERS OF 529 FUNDS TO ROTH IRAS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport We’re getting a lot of questions about the SECURE 2.0 provision allowing tax-free rollovers from 529 plans to Roth IRAs. Although this new rollover opportunity sounds exciting, there are a number of...
7 Ways Retirement Will Be Different in 2023
Tax changes, RMD rules, Social Security COLA and more will affect older Americans’ finances You might have heard about big changes coming to retirement finance due to Secure 2.0, a package of provisions included in the massive spending bill enacted by Congress and...
QCDS AND 60-DAY ROLLOVERS: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: I am confused regarding the requirements for making a qualified charitable distribution. Is it necessary for the donation to be sent directly from the financial...
WHO CAN DELAY THEIR RMD UNDER SECURE 2.0?
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport One of the provisions of the recently passed SECURE 2.0 that has gotten the most attentions is the one that allows some retirement account owners to delay their required...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 1/6/2023 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The start of the New Year brought volatility with it. Markets sold off early in the week and tested a critical technical level on the S&P 500 (3800), then bounced significantly to regain support and end the...
NEW SECURE 2.0 10% PENALTY EXCEPTIONS: DOMESTIC ABUSE & FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport SECURE 2.0 includes a number of new ways a person under the age of 59 ½ can access retirement account dollars while avoiding the 10% penalty. Historically, there have been more than a dozen...
Building emergency savings is a top financial resolution for 2023, survey finds. Here’s how to get started
KEY POINTS Increasing emergency savings is a top financial goal for many Americans heading into 2023, a new survey finds. Here’s how to increase the cash you have set aside. When it comes to financial resolutions for 2023, there’s one goal at the top of many people’s...
RMDS UNDER SECURE ACT 2.0: TODAY'S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: On reading your SECURE 2.0 information, a revised RMD (required minimum distribution) to age 73 was mentioned. Prior to this new legislation, 72 was the RMD age. If this is in effect now in...
SECURE 2.0 CHANGES THAT APPLY TO WORKPLACE PLANS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport In our December 28 and January 2 Slott Report articles, we focused mostly on the provisions of the new SECURE 2.0 law that apply to IRAs. But many of the law’s changes are directed towards workplace...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/30/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Financial markets finished the final week of 2022 trading with a whimper. Year-end tax-loss harvesting and asset class rebalancing accounted for much of the volume in light trade. The technical level of 3800...
TOP TAKEAWAYS FROM SECURE 2.0 FOR 2023
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport The year 2023 has arrived. It is a new year, and we have new rules for retirement accounts thanks to SECURE 2.0 which Congress passed in the waning days of last year. SECURE...
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS AND SIMPLE IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport QUESTION: I have an inherited IRA from my father. He was born 9-27-1927 and died 7-19-2019 at age 91. I was born 12-13-1952 and my age is 70. Two on-line calculators offered by...
12 Tax Rules Linked to Inflation
IRS adjustments may save you some money in 2023 Are expensive gas and groceries busting your budget? The Internal Revenue Service feels your pain. In one of the few silver linings of the highest inflation rates in four decades, the IRS announced inflation-adjusted...
RANDOM REAL-LIFE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Each day we receive dozens of retirement-related questions from advisor members of the Ed Slott Elite IRA Advisor Group. Conversations range from incredibly complex to obscure to, “I just need...
HAPPY HOLIDAYS! CONGRESS GIFTS SECURE 2.0
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport This holiday season Congress has given us SECURE 2.0. With no time to spare to avoid a government shutdown, they passed the $1.7 trillion Consolidated Appropriations Act of...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/23/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 incurred its third straight weekly loss as investors assessed the increasing likelihood of a global recession and its impact on current earnings estimates. Markets also had to contend with a...
Your 2023 Tax Brackets vs. 2022 Tax Brackets
The income ranges, adjusted annually for inflation, determine which tax rates apply to you Even though we’re still in the 2022 tax year, and you filed your 2021 tax returns back in April, you’re probably thinking to yourself, “Gosh! I wonder what the tax brackets are...
THE 10-YEAR RULE AND ROTH CONVERSIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Ed, I started reading your newsletter and I wondered what you thought of IRS Notice 2022-53. It made sense to me to the point where it said that "the beneficiary of...
CONGRESS CONSIDERS SPENDING BILL THAT INCLUDES SECURE 2.0
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport As you may have read, Congress is considering passage of a $1.65 trillion spending bill that contains a number of retirement savings plan provisions. As of this morning (December 21), the bill has not...
10 QUESTIONS TO ASK YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISOR
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport A repair man is currently fixing the sliding glass door on the back of my house. The track is worn and the rollers need replacing. No small task. The doors weigh a ton, you need one of those...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/16/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets started the week recouping from last week’s losses in hopes of a cooler CPI print and a more dovish stance from the Federal Reserve Open Market Committee. Investors did cheer a...
50 Years of Inflation: What Things Cost in 1972
Surprisingly, some things are bargains today — but not many Remember 1972? Richard Nixon was president, the Oakland Athletics were on the way to winning the first of three consecutive World Series and All in the Family was the number 1 television show. Still, what you...
INHERITED ROTH IRA BENEFICIARY RULES AND PAYOUT OPTIONS FOR ELIGIBLE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARIES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Do adult children who inherited a parent’s Roth IRA in 2020 need to take an RMD each year during the 10-year payout rule or may they leave it alone and deplete the account at the end of the...
4 IRA TASKS TO GET DONE BY YEAR END 2022
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport The year 2022 is coming to a close. The holidays season is upon us. That means that the clock is ticking on year-end IRA deadlines. Be sure to get the following four...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/9/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets gave back gains inked over the last couple of weeks as investors pulled off risk in front of the upcoming Federal Reserve Open Market Committee meeting. The market expects the Fed to increase its policy...
BIG INCREASE IN MANY 2023 RETIREMENT PLAN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport The IRS has announced the retirement contribution limits for 2023. Because many of these limits are tied to inflation, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that some of the limits had a big jump. Here’s a...
Bah, Humbug: Inflation Drives Christmas Tree Prices Up
Whether you opt for a real or a faux one, expect to pay 5 to 15 percent more this holiday season Christmas tree prices, whether for faux or real ones, are rising this holiday season as inflation spills over into decorations. How bad? Expect to pay anywhere from 5 to...
ROTH CONVERSIONS AND REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport QUESTION: Hello Mr. Slott, I have been doing Roth conversions this year from two small accounts (one a rollover IRA, the other a SEP-IRA) to consolidate into fewer accounts. The small SEP-IRA...
AUTOMATIC WAIVER OF 50% PENALTY FOR MISSED YEAR-OF-DEATH RMD
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport At this time of year, financial articles typically cover festive topics with creative holiday metaphors. “Stuff Your Stocking with These Year-End Retirement Tips” or, “Stay Off Santa’s Naughty...
TAKE OUR RMD QUIZ
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport If you have an IRA, you should know that the funds that are in the account can’t stay there forever. The rules say that you must begin to take required minimum distributions...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 12/2/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The week started with concerns regarding China’s Zero Covid policy which has led to protests stemming from continued lockdowns. Initial concerns were tempered by reports suggesting China would slowly move away...
A Recession Survival Guide for Retirees
Economic downturns are inevitable. Here's how to protect your retirement nest egg Is the U.S. in a recession? The media was filled with speculation after the Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) announced that the nation's economy had contracted in the first and second...
INHERITED IRAS AND ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Hi, I have read with interest, Ian Berger's article titled "IRS Waives 50% Penalty for Missed 2021 and 2022 RMDs within the 10-Year Period." I am glad that this is...
A REFRESHER COURSE ON MULTIPLE PLAN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport As you’ve probably heard, the IRS has announced the IRA and workplace plan contribution limits for 2023. Because most of those limits are tied to inflation, many increased substantially. Among the big...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 11/25/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Investors pushed US equities and Treasuries higher in light volume trade. The holiday-shortened week was packed with all kinds of news. A spike in Covid cases in China increased lockdown measures and brought...
7 Ways You’re Blowing Your Retirement Savings
If these actions sound familiar, you may want to make some changes If worrying about running out of money in retirement is keeping you up at night, you aren’t alone. Untold numbers of older adults have that concern, and for good reason. Inflation is soaring, gas...
IRA RULES THAT WE GIVE THANKS FOR IN 2022
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport It is a Thanksgiving tradition here at the Slott Report to take a moment to give thanks for the IRA rules that are helpful to retirement savers. We know there are many times...
DEADLINE FOR OPENING UP A NEW SOLO 401(K) PLAN
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport A solo 401(k) plan is a great retirement savings vehicle for self-employed business owners with no employees (other than their spouse). But if you’re considering a new solo 401(k), be aware that...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 11/18/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Investors continued to digest the market’s recent strength and questioned if there is more upside to the move. There was no lack of hawkish Fed speak throughout the week. St. Louis Fed President Bullard...
How Much More Can You Contribute to a 401(k) Retirement Account in 2022 and 2023?
Limits adjusted higher for soaring inflation A 401(k) plan is a great way to increase your retirement savings. Your employer will deduct your pretax contributions from your paycheck, and your savings will be tax-deferred until you take withdrawals during retirement....
INHERITED IRAS AND RMD TABLES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Hello! I need clarification regarding RMD statements for customers who hold inherited IRAs or inherited Roth IRAs. I have not been able to find a clear answer to the following...
NUA – TRIGGER ACTIVATORS!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst The goal of the net unrealized appreciation (NUA) tax strategy is to enable a person to pay taxes on the appreciation of company stock formerly in a work plan at long term capital gain rates as opposed to ordinary income rates. The...
4 THINGS WE ARE TALKING ABOUT AT THE SLOTT REPORT AT THE END OF 2022
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport The holidays are right around the corner, and 2022 is drawing to a close. The end of the year is always a busy time with retirement account deadlines and preparations for the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 11/11/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA “Bar the door Katie” What an extraordinary week on Wall Street. Tuesday’s Midterm elections, coupled with a Crypto stalwart blow-up, were accompanied by a better-than-expected Consumer Price Index report. US...
Should You Delay Retiring in a Down Market?
The answer requires a realistic look at your savings and spending Inflation is soaring and the stock market is falling, putting a wrench in many people’s retirement plans. That’s particularly true of those gearing up to retire this year. Instead of planning their...
ONCE-PER-YEAR ROLLOVERS AND RMDS FOR INHERITED IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Good morning, I have a client who took out $100K from his SEP IRA and put the funds back in on 8/19/22 -- within 60 days from the distribution. The client has now...
HOW ARE 2023 RMDS CALCULATED FOR BENEFICIARIES WHO GOT RMD RELIEF ?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport As we’ve reported, the IRS recently said it would waive the 50% penalty on RMDs missed in 2021 and 2022 for IRA beneficiaries subject to the 10-year payout rule who inherited in 2020 or 2021. These...
IRA TRANSACTIONS THAT CAN BE MISSED
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Not every IRA transaction is easily identifiable. Some require a little legwork to reveal or report what occurred. Some transactions are not even labeled on official IRS tax forms and can go...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 11/4/2022 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Wall Street incurred another week of losses as investors digested another 75 basis point rate hike from the Federal Reserve. Hopes of a pivot away from a hawkish stance were diminished when Fed Chairman Powell...
THE REQUIRED BEGINNING DATE IS NOW A “REALLY BIG DEAL”
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport When it comes to IRAs and workplace plans, the concept of the “required beginning date” (RBD) is a “really big deal” again. The RBD is the first date you’re required to start required minimum...
What to Do If You Receive a Financial Windfall
How to prepare for those rare occasions when a large sum falls into your lap For most of your life, money comes in at a slow and somewhat steady pace. Maybe you get a paycheck every two weeks or a Social Security payment once a month. Now and then you might get a bump...
RMD AGGREGATION RULES AND APPRAISALS FOR RMDS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: I am 72 and want to start RMDs. I have multiple accounts from teaching jobs that I had many years ago, plus a couple of traditional IRAs and a 401(k) with my current employer. Can I total...
A TAX-FREE ROTH IRA DISTRIBUTION IN 5 EASY STEPS
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Roth IRAs offer a trade-off where you pay taxes now on your contribution (or conversion) in exchange for tax-free earnings later. Don’t miss out on tax-free Roth IRA...
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