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 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 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 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...
by Kenny | Jan 30, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I have an IRA holding an immediate annuity as well as other IRAs. With the passage of the SECURE 2.0 Act, l understand that I may be able to apply my monthly annuity payments against my RMD requirement for all of my IRAs....
by Kenny | Jan 29, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst You probably know there’s a limit on the amount of pre-tax and Roth contributions you can make to your company savings plan each year. The 2025 elective deferral limit is $23,500 for 401(k), 403(b) and 457(b) plans and is either...
by Kenny | Jan 27, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Many of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. There are currently a number of proposals in the works in Congress to extend these tax cuts. A serious hurdle is how...
by Kenny | Jan 23, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: I have a large non-qualified 457 deferred compensation plan and I am required to take distributions. I am looking to minimize taxes. Can I roll over these funds to an IRA? Answer: Unfortunately,...
by Kenny | Jan 22, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When the “check engine” light comes on in a vehicle, most people are rightfully concerned that something is wrong. When a fire alarm blares through a building, it is wise to take stock of your surroundings. And when a member...
by Kenny | Jan 20, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Today is Inauguration Day. A new administration has arrived. We also have a new Congress. With the arrival of newly elected officials, many will have hopes of legislative change. When it comes to retirement...
by Kenny | Jan 16, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: My wife has two after-tax traditional IRAs at two separate institutions. We are hoping to consolidate them, then convert to a Roth in the next 18 months. She is already retired. She also has an inherited IRA (from her...
by Kenny | Jan 15, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the more controversial rules in the 2022 SECURE 2.0 Act is the requirement that plan catch-up contributions by certain highly-paid employees be made on a Roth basis. Last Friday, (January 10, 2025) the IRS issued proposed...
by Kenny | Jan 13, 2025
We are two weeks into 2025. Have you been following through on your New Year’s resolutions? As our readers already know, for an IRA owner not to follow through on his or her annual check up of beneficiary forms could have dire consequences. Repeat after me: In 2025, I...
by Kenny | Jan 9, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I am planning for a required minimum distribution (RMD) from both my IRA and 403(b) plan for 2026, my first RMD year. I am in the third year of a 10-year period in which I am rolling over 10% of my 403(b) funds each year to my...
by Kenny | Jan 8, 2025
When the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, a number of new retirement account provisions became effective. We’ve previously written about each of these new rules in The Slott Report. This article will serve as a checklist, with links to the prior...
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Despite all of the uncertainties within the investment landscape, global markets were able to post nice gains… Read more: Weekly Market Commentary