by Kenny | Mar 12, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Everyone knows that April 15, 2025, is the deadline for filing 2024 income tax returns. But April 15 is also a crucial deadline if you made too many 401(k) deferrals in 2024. If you don’t fix the error by that date, the tax consequences...
by Kenny | Mar 10, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Do you have a Roth IRA? If you do, there will very likely come a time when you want to take a distribution from that account. The distribution rules for taxation of Roth IRA distributions can be complicated,...
by Kenny | Mar 9, 2025
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Economic growth concerns weighed on US financial markets as manic trade policy fostered uncertainty and volatility. It was a hectic week as investors tried to make sense of Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The announcement that...
by Kenny | Mar 6, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Question: Hello, If a person is turning 73 years old in March, s/he would be required to take required minimum distributions for the year. Can a person do Roth Conversion prior to turning age 73 (say in February)? Does the...
by Kenny | Mar 6, 2025
As you approach retirement, you may be wondering what are the next steps for your investments. An annuity may be an effective tool for you in retirement planning by providing a steady and reliable income stream. With 2024 being the year with the greatest number of...
by Kenny | Feb 24, 2025
Important Tasks & Decisions for Each Phase of Retirement Planning Retirement. It tends to be a catch-all word that generally refers to the light at the end of the tunnel after years of hard work. It’s a time to enjoy the things in life that matter the most, like...
by Kenny | Feb 23, 2025
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week saw the S&P 500 hit all-time highs, but late in the week, the move abruptly succumbed to consolidation pressure. Investors are worried about valuations, trade tensions, inflation, and declining consumer sentiment. A...
by Kenny | Feb 20, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Dear Ed Slott and America’s IRA Experts, I have a rollover traditional IRA that was set up when I left my last job. I am no longer employed, so I don’t have any earned income. My husband works full time, and our filing...
by Kenny | Feb 19, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One important provision of the 2022 SECURE 2.0 law is the requirement that most new 401(k) and 403(b) plans must institute automatic enrollment. This rule is effective for plan years beginning after December 31, 2024. A “plan year”...
by Kenny | Feb 17, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Tax season is upon us! This is the time of year when many people consider making a contribution to an IRA. If you are thinking about doing so, here are 10 things you need to know. You can still make an IRA...
by Kenny | Feb 16, 2025
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Despite all of the uncertainties within the investment landscape, global markets were able to post nice gains last week. Fourth-quarter earnings continued to roll in with notable results from Coca-Cola, McDonald’s, Roku, Cisco Systems,...
by Kenny | Feb 13, 2025
Inflation, uncertain markets and a limited Social Security COLA are among the financial hurdles for retirees in 2025. Key Takeaways High interest rates may complicate investment decisions for retirees. Social Security recipients are getting a 2.5% raise, which may lag...
by Kenny | Feb 13, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: I just inherited an IRA from my sister. She died at age 74 and I am age 78. Am I required to use the 10-year rule, or can I stretch distributions from the inherited account over my life expectancy? I am...
by Kenny | Feb 12, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst On January 21, Ichiro Suzuki was elected to Major League Baseball’s Hall of Fame by the Baseball Writers Association of America. It takes 75% of the writer’s support to gain entry, and Ichiro was chosen on 393 out of 394 ballots....
by Kenny | Feb 11, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Here’s one question that keeps coming up: If I retire in the year when I turn 73 (or older) and want to directly roll over my 401(k) funds to an IRA, do I have to first take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from my 401(k)?...
by Kenny | Feb 9, 2025
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Uncertainty about global trade continued to be at the top of investors’ minds as Trump announced 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada while levying 10% on Chinese goods. Mexico and Canada’s immediate reaction was to place tariffs on US...
by Kenny | Feb 6, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: Am I correct that a non-spouse Roth IRA beneficiary does NOT have a yearly required minimum distribution (RMD) over the 10-year period? Ken ANSWER: Ken, You are correct. Non-spouse beneficiaries of Roth IRAs that are...
by Kenny | Feb 6, 2025
Key Points A modest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will make benefit checks bigger. Note that higher earners will pay a bit more in Social Security taxes. Retirees still earning income may have some of their benefits temporarily withheld. The $22,924 Social Security...
by Kenny | Feb 5, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The deadline for most retirement account owners to take their 2025 required minimum distribution (RMD) is December 31, 2025. However, there are good reasons why you should take your RMD now instead of...
by Kenny | Feb 3, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Just over 10 years ago, in June 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled unanimously, 9-0, that inherited IRAs are NOT protected in bankruptcy under federal law. The primary issue before the Court was whether an inherited IRA is a...
