by Kenny | Feb 19, 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I really appreciate your emails and find them very helpful. Please continue the great work. I read your advice in the recent Slott Report article that IRA contributions need to be in cash, but was wondering about Roth... by Kenny | Feb 18, 2026
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst A member of Ed Slott’s Elite Advisor Group℠ emailed us recently with a question about a minor child as beneficiary of her father’s IRA. The question was brief, and I think the expectation was that our reply would be of... by Kenny | Feb 16, 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst In the January 5 edition of the Slott Report, we mentioned that the federal Thrift Savings Plan (for government workers and the military) started offering in-plan Roth conversions on January 28. This article will provide more... by Kenny | Feb 12, 2026
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Please explain the rules and qualifications for rolling over a portion of an IRA to a Health Savings Account (HSA). Thank you, Bill Answer: Hi Bill, A Qualified HSA Funding Distribution (QHFD) is... by Kenny | Feb 11, 2026
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education If you are age 73 or older in 2026, you will need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your IRA. Usually, an RMD is calculated using the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table. However, if you are married... by Kenny | Feb 9, 2026
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Each year, in different cities, the Ed Slott team hosts several advisor training events for financial professionals serious about learning. These 2-day programs start with our cannonballing into the retirement account pool,... by Kenny | Feb 5, 2026
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I am age 75 and have just one IRA. I normally do multiple qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) during the year. I also make one or more partial Roth conversions during the year. Please confirm or correct my... by Kenny | Feb 4, 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst With all the tax changes made by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), it’s no surprise that the IRS has made significant changes to the 2025 Form 1040 and supporting schedules and forms. Near the beginning of each year’s 1040... by Kenny | Feb 2, 2026
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Everyone has heard the horror stories of how unneeded and unwanted trusts disrupted what should have been a smooth transition of wealth. However, it is important to recognize that estate planning for IRAs is... by Kenny | Jan 29, 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: If I have had my Roth IRA for 20 years and I do a conversion from my traditional IRA, is the five-year rule in effect for each conversion? I’m under the impression that once I held my Roth for more than five years I don’t have... by Kenny | Jan 28, 2026
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Excess IRA contributions occur for many reasons, like making a contribution without eligible compensation, accidentally exceeding the Roth IRA phase-out limits, rolling over a required minimum distribution (RMD), etc. Excess... by Kenny | Jan 26, 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Thinking about leaving your job? Make sure you understand the vesting schedule that applies to your retirement plan. It may pay to stick it out a little longer to become more “vested” in your plan. Otherwise, you may lose out on... by Kenny | Jan 22, 2026
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Hello! I have been a big fan for a long time. I have a question regarding a Roth IRA I inherited from my younger brother last year. I have heard that I must empty this account by the end of 2035. I... by Kenny | Jan 21, 2026
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education IRA and Roth IRA contributions are only permitted when you have taxable “compensation” or earned income. Typically, whether or not a person has compensation is a relatively straightforward determination. For... by Kenny | Jan 19, 2026
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst In our December 8, 2025 Slott Report entry (“Yes, RMDs Apply to Inherited Roth IRAs, But…”), we wrote about the application of required minimum distributions (RMDs) to inherited Roth IRAs. As expected, that article received... by Kenny | Jan 15, 2026
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: Hello, I am searching for confirmation that Roth SIMPLE IRA contributions are not limited by modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) in the same way that Roth IRA contributions are. This is not addressed in any of the... by Kenny | Jan 14, 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the most common retirement account transactions – rolling over Roth 401(k) funds to Roth IRAs – is also one of the most complicated tax-wise. That’s because the rollover involves two five-year holding periods, one for... by Kenny | Jan 12, 2026
Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The rules for required minimum distributions (RMDs) can be complicated and, under the law, the responsibility to get it right rests with the IRA owner. If you are required to take an RMD from your IRA for 2026,... by Kenny | Jan 8, 2026
Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Does a non-spouse eligible designated beneficiary (EDB) have to pay taxes on required minimum distributions (RMDs) either at the end of ten years or with annual RMDs? Answer: Any EDB (other than a minor child) can stretch... by Kenny | Jan 7, 2026
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It’s a new year, and the slate is wiped clean. Here we go again! While we are only one week into 2026, there are some important IRA and work plan transactions to be aware of: First RMDs. For anyone turning age 73 in 2026, this year...
