by Kenny | May 28, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Regardless of the topic, we could all use an occasional refresher. Retirement account rules are incredibly complicated, and we all have our blind spots. Even seasoned financial advisors with extensive client lists can overlook... by Kenny | May 22, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: Thank you for all you do to educate the public. I’m hoping you guys can settle a debate that’s been going on with a few financial advisors and CPAs regarding the 5-year rule for Roth IRA conversions. I was...
by Kenny | May 22, 2025
Say goodbye to second cars, warehouse stores and other no-longer-necessary expenses Retirement is a time to rethink some things: how we fill our hours and days, what we do for fun and fulfillment. And, maybe, all that stuff we’ve been spending money on for years. You... by Kenny | May 21, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) may be one of the biggest tax breaks currently available. If you have a qualifying high-deductible health plan, you may make a deductible contribution to an HSA. There are no income... by Kenny | May 19, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF®| IRA Analyst There are two ways to move money from one IRA to another: a direct transfer or a 60-day rollover. With direct transfers, the funds are sent directly from one custodian to another. The IRA owner has no ability to use the dollars...
by Kenny | May 18, 2025
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It was a busy week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Index and the S&P 500 went positive for the year, catalyzed by the announcement that China and the US would significantly lower tariffs for 90 days as trade negotiations continue. ...
by Kenny | May 15, 2025
You won’t believe how much you can accomplish — and save — in just a few minutes Have 60 minutes to kill? You could spend it watching TV or playing games on your smartphone. Or you could spend it saving money, by ticking some easy but important financial tasks... by Kenny | May 15, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Our client is 75 years old. He just retired on January 1, 2025. The company has recognized his retirement date as being January 1, 2025. When must he take his first required minimum distribution (RMD)? Rick Answer: Hi... by Kenny | May 14, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Many retirement plans base employer contributions on employee compensation. For many years, Congress has limited the compensation that can be taken into account for those contributions. Fortunately, this dollar limit only applies... by Kenny | May 12, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The IRS has introduced a new code for the reporting of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) by IRA custodians on Form 1099-R. How QCDs Work QCDs first became available in 2006, and they were made permanent in...
by Kenny | May 11, 2025
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US financial markets were little changed last week as investors continued to weigh the implications of the Trump administration’s trade policies. A trade agreement between the US and the UK set a constructive tone and is likely to provide a...
by Kenny | May 9, 2025
‘Will your money last?’ isn’t the only question to consider before retiring. I was chatting with a friend the other day about his retirement—possibly an early one. At age 60, he has worked hard, saved aggressively, and invested well. Most important, he’s pretty burned... by Kenny | May 8, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Since I retired in 2020, each year I have been converting amounts from my employer plan to my Roth IRA. I will be age 73 in 2026. Can I take my required minimum distribution (RMD) amount and convert that... by Kenny | May 7, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Roth IRAs follow strict distribution ordering rules. Contributions come out first, then converted dollars, and then earnings. It does not matter how many Roth IRAs a person has, or if the accounts are held at multiple custodians.... by Kenny | May 5, 2025
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The April 23, 2025, Slott Report article, “After-Tax 401(k) Contributions Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought,” discusses how 401(k) after-tax contributions can be moved into Roth accounts through in-plan Roth conversions, the “mega...
by Kenny | May 4, 2025
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Global markets rallied for a second week as the S&P 500 clinched nine consecutive days of gains- something not seen in two decades. News that trade negotiations between the US and seventeen countries would occur over the next few weeks...
by Kenny | May 1, 2025
Surveys show ex-service members retire with more assets, less debt and greater confidence. Here are six ways to follow their lead. When her son Corbett joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 2013, Lara Ferguson was surprised to learn that he was required... by Kenny | May 1, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: My wife and I created a Roth IRA when our two children were young to pay for their college education. Our daughter is finishing her second year of school, and our son will be entering college this fall. We have withdrawn... by Kenny | Apr 30, 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education While most distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable, sometimes distributions can include after-tax dollars. These after-tax dollars are known as “basis.” Handling and tracking basis in your... by Kenny | Apr 28, 2025
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When a person under the age of 59½ needs access to his IRA dollars, there is a 10% early withdrawal penalty applied to any distribution, unless an exception applies. One of the many 10% penalty exceptions is a 72(t) “series of...
