Hope is
Not
a Financial Plan
Weekly Newsletter
“Third-party Posts”
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 5/17/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The major US equity indices inked a fourth consecutive week of gains as US Treasury yields fell on an in-line CPI print that showed a deceleration of inflation for the first time in three months. Still, Fed...
Why Americans worry changes to the U.S. retirement system could upend their plans
KEY POINTS As wage growth outpaces inflation, Americans have reason to be more optimistic about long-term goals like retirement. But many still fear that uncertainties like a higher cost of living or U.S. government changes to the retirement system may throw them off...
NET UNREALIZED APPRECIATION AND QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I need guidance on a new client with the following information: Is age 55; Has a $700,000 ESOP in a company that he separated from over 10 years ago; and Wants...
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT COMMUNITY PROPERTY AND YOUR IRA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport What do you get when community property mixes with your IRA? Well, you will discover that the results can be confusing. Here are some facts every IRA owner should know. Community...
ED SLOTT’S ELITE ADVISOR GROUP℠ MEETS IN INDIANA
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group℠ gathered in Indianapolis last week for another successful conference. Over 350 member advisors from across the country spent two intense days of training,...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 5/10/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 notched a third consecutive week of gains as the index broke and held above its 50-day moving average. Investors were treated to another dose of first-quarter corporate earnings. Disney, Uber,...
7 Spring Cleaning Moves for Your Finances
Here's how to get your financial house in order Forget cleaning out the closet, scrubbing the floors and washing the windows. The start of spring is an even better time to get your finances in order. “One thing on many people’s minds is cleaning. But what if you put...
QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS (QCDS) AND SOLO 401(K) PLANS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Can a QCD (qualified charitable distribution) be made from a 401(k) plan? Thanks! Answer: No, QCDs can only be made from IRAs and inactive SEP or SIMPLE IRAs. One possible workaround would...
A CHEAT SHEET FOR IRA BENEFICIARY RMDS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport It’s been over four years since the SECURE Act upended the rules for beneficiary IRA required minimum distributions (RMDs), and there’s still plenty of confusion about the new rules. The IRS did give...
YOUR RMD IS NOT ELIGIBLE FOR ROLLOVER
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If you are at retirement age, you might be at a high risk for excess contributions due to rollover mistakes. This is because of the rule that says that the required minimum...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It was an extremely busy week on Wall Street. First-quarter earnings results were highlighted by Apple and Amazon. Investors encouraged by their results sent higher shares on the back of increased dividends, increased share buyback programs, 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,...
ROLLOVERS AND SUCCESSOR BENEFICIARY RULES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: My client is terminating employment and rolling over the funds from his 401(k). He was told that the funds must be rolled over to a “rollover IRA” and kept separate from any other...
ONE 60-DAY ROLLOVER PER YEAR?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport SCENARIO: In one calendar year, Jessie completes the following transactions: 1. Takes a partial distribution from her 401(k) and does a 60-day rollover to an IRA. 2. Does a 60-day rollover...
401(K) RMDS IN THE YEAR OF RETIREMENT
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Here’s a question we get asked often: Say you retire in the year you turn age 73 (or in a later year) and you want to roll over your 401(k) funds to an IRA. Do you have to take a required minimum...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 4/26/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets bounced back last week, with nearly 40% of the S&P 500 companies reporting first-quarter results. The rally was propelled by Microsoft and Google, whose better-than-expected earnings not...
INHERITED IRAS AND QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: My brother died in 2020 and made me the beneficiary of an IRA he inherited from my sister who died in 2017. Can I continue to stretch the payments from this...
How to Deal With a Big Tax Bill
Don’t panic — but do pay the tax tab Bills are a fact of life, though some require more urgent attention than others. Ignore your brother-in-law because you still owe him $50 from last year’s poker game, and you’ll get the cold shoulder. Ignore your debt to Uncle Sam,...
3 QUESTIONS TO ASK TO DETERMINE IF AN HSA IS RIGHT FOR YOU
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The cost of healthcare continues to climb. Are you frustrated with higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs? You are not alone. You may be looking for new strategies to handle these...
FUNDAMENTALS OF THE LIFETIME RMD
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport We answer some pretty complex IRA and retirement plan questions. Our newsletters and other Slott Report entries can get into the weeds on some tricky topics. The thing is, when you spend all...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 4/19/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Financial markets took another step back last week as investors grappled with increased tensions in the Middle East and the recognition that interest rates are likely going to be higher for longer. Iran fired...
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...
ROTH IRA DISTRBUTION RULES AND COMBINING IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Can you please clarify a question I have about whether I should take a Roth IRA withdrawal? I am much older than age 59 ½, and my first Roth IRA was opened over 20 years ago. I now own a...
IRS WAIVES 2024 RMDS FOR IRA BENEFICIARIES SUBJECT TO THE 10-YEAR RULE
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If you’re an IRA beneficiary subject to the 10-year payout period and would have had a 2024 required minimum distribution (RMD), you’re in luck. In IRS Notice 2024-35, issued yesterday (April 16), the IRS...
TWO RMD STRATEGIES TO AVOID IRMAA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport You have carefully saved for retirement and now you have accumulated a substantial amount of funds in your IRA. At some point the funds that you have been putting away for years...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 4/12/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Financial markets pulled back for the second consecutive week as investors continued to recalibrate monetary policy expectations and assess the most recent conditions in geopolitics. A stronger-than-anticipated...
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS AND QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: Dear IRA Help, My mother passed away in April of 2023 and no required minimum distribution (RMD) was taken. The entire IRA account was paid out to the charity that was the...
As baby boomers hit ‘peak 65’ this year, what the retirement age should be is up for debate
KEY POINTS More Americans are expected to turn 65 through 2027 than in any time in history. Despite the ‘silver tsunami,’ the correct age to retire is still in question. A fight is brewing in Washington over whether the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots...
THE WISE SHOPPER – ROTH CONVERSIONS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Imagine walking through a grocery store, intent on purchasing a specific item. As you turn down an aisle, little colorful tags proclaiming “Special Deal” and “Buy 1, Get 1” protrude from each...
JUST A FEW DAYS LEFT TO FIX 2023 EXCESS 401(K) DEFERRALS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If you exceeded the 2023 limit for 401(k) deferrals, time is of the essence to correct the error. If you don’t act quickly, the tax consequences can be serious. The maximum amount of pre-tax and Roth...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Wall Street took a step back in the first week of the second quarter as robust economic data induced a recalibration of rate cut expectations. The recalibration was further influenced by Minneapolis Fed Governor Neel Kashkari's suggestion that the...
THE 10-YEAR RULE 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 general question regarding the 10-year time frame for emptying an inherited IRA. Your guidance says that the deadline is the END of the tenth year following death....
10 Things Boomers Should Consider Selling in Retirement
Retirement is not just about what you should buy or invest in — it’s equally about decluttering and letting go of assets that may no longer serve a purpose or even cost you money. For baby boomers, the following are items worth considering selling in retirement to...
4 WAYS TO REDUCE YOUR RMD TAX BITE
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Markets continue to climb. That is good news for your retirement account. However, there is a downside. When you contribute to a traditional IRA or a pre-tax 401(k), you make a deal...
10 POINTS: FIXING EXCESS IRA CONTRIBUTIONS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport ‘Tis the season for identifying and correcting excess IRA contributions. It seems as if every other recent inquiry is about this subject. To keep readers on the straight and narrow, here are ten...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 3/28/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 hit another all-time high this week as investors appeared to rebalance positions into quarter end. The week started with some weakness on the announcement that the EU was investigating Meta,...
RMD RULES FOR IRA BENEFICIARIES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Hi, My last remaining parent, my mother, passed away in May 2017, and my younger brother and I inherited her IRA (equally split into inherited IRA accounts). We were of the understanding we could...
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...
ARE 529-TO-ROTH IRA ROLLOVERS SUBJECT TO STATE TAX?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Previous Slott Report articles have covered the new SECURE 2.0 provision allowing 529 funds to be rolled over to Roth IRAs. We’ve reported that there are several unanswered questions concerning this new...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets forged another set of new highs in an extremely busy week on Wall Street. Global Central Banks took center stage, headlined by the Bank of Japan, the US Federal Reserve, and the Bank of England. The BOJ, as expected, moved away...
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS AND ELIGIBLE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARIES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: I know you can delay taking your first required minimum distribution (RMD) until April 1 of the year after you turn age 73. If you convert your entire IRA into a Roth before that date, but...
3 Ways Retirement Planning is Changing in 2024
The calendar page has turned and 2024 is well on its way. Before we get too far down the road, be sure to check out these changes around retirement savings. Every so often the federal government approves changes to the contribution limits for tax-advantaged retirement...
WHAT IS RETIREMENT? FANTASY VS. REALITY
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Three times a week, every week, we add to the Slott Report. Two article entries and a mailbag. All factual, measurable information. “This is what to consider when you name a trust as your...
HOW SECURE 2.0 IMPACTS COMPANY PLAN IN-SERVICE WITHDRAWALS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Retirement plan funds are designed for retirement, but Congress continues to make it easier for employees to pull out those funds while still working. The SECURE 2.0 law adds several new in-service...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 3/15/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets pulled back this week as investors assessed hotter-than-anticipated inflation data. US Treasuries sold off across the curve as the higher-for-longer narrative strengthened ahead of the coming Federal...
HIGHER EDUCATION AND BACKDOOR ROTH CONVERSIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I have a client who is under age 59 ½ with a small traditional IRA. She wants to cash it in and use the funds for college education for her daughter. If I remember...
Five new retirement numbers to know in 2024
The new year has brought some new math for anyone running their retirement planning numbers. Social Security checks are a bit higher this month, thanks to the annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) - but higher Medicare Part B premiums will take a bite out of the...
TAX TIME TIPS FOR IRAS
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport IRAs are an important, but often overlooked, part of your overall tax planning. As the deadline for filing 2023 tax returns approaches, it is a good time to incorporate your IRA plan...
WHAT’S THE PROCESS WHEN A TRUST (OR ESTATE) IS IRA BENEFICIARY?
The same conversation has, understandably, been repeated many times. The questions are similar: “What do we do when a trust (or estate) is IRA beneficiary? How do we set up the account? Aren’t we now stuck with the high trust tax rates?” Of course, there is not enough...
COVERDELL ESA ACCOUNTS AND FIRST RMD YEAR DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Hi Ed, I have Coverdell ESA accounts for my 5 grandchildren. My question is whether Coverdell ESAs can be treated the same as 529 plans under the new law when it comes to unused funds being...
WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR 401(K) IN-SERVICE WITHDRAWALS?
Congress has determined that 401(k) and other company plan funds, with certain exceptions, should be saved for retirement. For that reason, it has imposed strict restrictions on the ability of employees to withdraw from these plans while still working. Plans must...
TAX COURT RULES NEW SECURE 2.0 STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON EXCESS CONTRIBUTION PENALTY IS NOT RETROACTIVE
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The Tax Court recently ruled that the new SECURE 2.0 statute of limitations (SOL) on the 6% excess IRA contribution penalty is not retroactive. SECURE 2.0 Changes SECURE 2.0...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets pushed back on an early week sell-off to close at record highs for the S&P 500 and NASDAQ. A building sense that the market is due for a pullback was met with inline consensus inflation data, continued outperformance in the...
As baby boomers hit ‘peak 65’ this year, what the retirement age should be is up for debate
KEY POINTS More Americans are expected to turn 65 through 2027 than in any time in history. Despite the ‘silver tsunami,’ the correct age to retire is still in question. A fight is brewing in Washington over whether the mandatory retirement age for airline pilots...
ROTH CONVERSIONS AND QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: How many times in one year can a person do a Roth conversion? Thank you. ANSWER: A person can do an unlimited number of Roth conversions in a year. Roth conversions do not count against the...
5 COMMON IRA MISTAKES AND PROPER CORRECTIVE ACTION…IF AVAILABLE!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Year after year, many of the same IRA errors happen again and again. Based on the volume of times these mistakes occur, it seems appropriate to create a short list of repeat offenders…and...
A WAY TO JUMP-START 529-TO-ROTH ROLLOVERS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport We have covered in The Slott Report the new SECURE 2.0 provision that allows unused 529 plan funds to be rolled over to Roth IRAs. It originally appeared that this new rule was to be effective for 2024....
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 and the Dow Industrial Average forged new all-time highs despite investors taking profits early in the holiday-shortened week. Semiconductor stalwart NVidia’s fourth-quarter earnings results induced a massive rally in the stock...
10 Things No One Tells You About Early Retirement
The reality of quitting work can be far different from the fantasy. Here's what you need to know Even if you love your job, there are times when you'd rather be alphabetizing the spice shelf than riding a packed train alongside hundreds of sniffling fellow commuters....
BACK-DOOR ROTH IRAS AND ROTH 401KS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: Hi Can we contribute backdoor Roth IRA money to my husband’s Roth IRA since I have existing traditional IRA accounts, but my husband has none? Thank you very much for...
MAKING A 2023 IRA CONTRIBUTION? HERE ARE 4 RULES THAT MAY SURPRISE YOU
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The tax season is upon us. This is the time when many individuals fund their IRAs by contributing for the prior year. Contributing to an IRA may seem pretty straightforward, and in...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 2/16/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Wall Street took a breather last week as hotter-than-expected inflation data forced investors to recalibrate their expectations for rate cuts from the Federal Reserve. Mega-cap issues that have been...
LAST WEEK IN LA JOLLA
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Last week in La Jolla, California, the Ed Slott team hosted another incredibly successful 2-day advisor training program. Nearly 200 financial professionals from across the country chose to join us...
THE PRO-RATA RULE AND INHERITED IRA RMDS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I was given your information by a financial advisor who follows your articles. I have a unique situation with a client who is a high earner with several old 401(k) accounts. My idea was to have...
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...
MORE 401(K) SECURE 2.0 CHANGES ALREADY IN EFFECT – AND ON THE WAY
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport By now, you probably know that a number of SECURE 2.0 provisions pertaining to 401(k) (and other company savings plans) became effective this year. We’ve already discussed two of them in The Slott Report....
THINKING ABOUT A 2023 SEP IRA CONTRIBUTION? HERE ARE 6 RULES YOU NEED TO KNOW
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Are you thinking about making a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) IRA plan contribution for 2023? If so, here are 6 rules you need to know. 1. Only a business can make a SEP...
Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Market Commentary - 2/9/2024 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 hit another record high and topped the 5000 level for the first time as investors focused on better-than-expected Q4 earnings. The economic calendar was light this week but showed continued...
ROTH CONVERSIONS AND INHERITED IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: If an individual has both an IRA and a 401(k) and wants to convert the IRA to a Roth IRA, does he have to take both the IRA and the 401(k) RMD (required minimum distribution) before doing a...
10 Things You Need to Know Before Filing Your Tax Return
Get that 2023 refund fast and keep it safe from fraudsters Financial advisers usually tell you that it’s bad to get a big tax refund. A refund, after all, is money you paid the government that you didn’t owe. You could have used that money during the tax year instead...
GHOST VS. 5-YEAR: THE CALENDAR DICTATES
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Ever since the SECURE Act created a 10-year payout rule for most IRA beneficiaries, that topic has garnered the bulk of conversation. This is understandable. Not only was the 10-year rule a brand-new...
Weekly Market Commentary
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport We’re getting lots of questions about the SECURE 2.0 change that allows annuitized IRA annuities to be aggregated with non-annuity IRA funds for required minimum distribution (RMD) purposes. This change...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It was a turbulent week on Wall Street as investors assessed the Federal Reserve’s decision on monetary policy while economic data and corporate earnings offered mixed results. Tensions in the Middle East escalated as the US hit Iranian proxy...
529 PLANS AND INHERITED IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
Question: I have two questions regarding the 15-year requirement that applies to new rules allowing rollovers from 529 plans to Roth IRAs. If you change beneficiaries, will it reset the 15-year clock? Secondly, if you roll your 529 plan into another 529 plan (say...
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...
HOW DO YOU REPORT 2023 ROTH IRA CONTRIBUTIONS ON YOUR TAX RETURN? THE ANSWER MAY SURPRISE YOU
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Did you make a Roth IRA contribution for 2023? If you have not, you still have some time. The deadline for making a prior year contribution is the tax-filing deadline, not including...
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...
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Your Wealth Must Reside Somewhere!
Your wealth must reside somewhere! It must have a permanent place of residence. You must own, control, and have use your money, or you haven’t built any wealth, you just stashed some money away. About 90 % of Americans keep their wealth in either taxable, unavailable, and/or volatile residences that limit what you can do with their money. If what you thought was true about your money, wasn’t true about your money, when would you want to know? I first heard this question from Don Blanton, a fine southern gentleman with a distinct southern Georgia drawl, and I’ve been unable to “unhear” it, since.