“Third-party posts from Ed Slott’s IRA Blog:”
IRA BLOG
Recharacterization Still Exists
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When a traditional IRA owner wants to convert all or a portion of his account to a Roth IRA, he needs to think long and hard about the transaction. For example, some questions to consider: 1. When will this money be needed?...
Surprising News About the New Statute of Limitations for Missed RMDs and Excess IRA Contributions
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst A big change made by the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 was adding a new statute of limitations (SOL) for the IRS to assess penalties for missed required minimum distributions (RMDs) and excess IRA contributions. On its face, it looks like...
Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and Disclaimers: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: When an IRA owner dies after their required beginning date, can an eligible designated beneficiary choose either the life expectancy option or the 10-year payout rule? Answer: If an IRA owner dies on or...
Recharacterization Deadline Approaches
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education It happens. You have made a 2023 contribution to the wrong type of IRA. All is not lost. That contribution can be recharacterized. While recharacterization of Roth IRA conversions was eliminated by the Tax...
IRA Acronyms
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When presenting a particular section of our training manual, I usually make the joke that, “if we were playing an acronym drinking game, we would all be on our way to a hangover.” The segment is titled: “Missed stretch IRA...
NEW SPOUSAL BENEFICIARY RULES AND EFFECTIVE DATE OF 10-YEAR RULE: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I inherited an IRA from a younger deceased spouse who wasn’t required to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) until this year. Can I take advantage of the new section 327 rules under SECURE 2.0 since the RMDs haven’t...
What’s the First RMD Year for Those Born in 1959?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you were born in 1959, what is the first year that you must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs)? That would seem like an easy question to answer, but because of a snafu by Congress, it isn’t quite so clear. For many...
What You Need to Know About Withholding and Your IRA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education If you take a distribution from your traditional IRA, in most cases you will owe taxes. The government wants to be sure those taxes are paid, so IRA distributions are subject to federal income tax withholding. The...
REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I inherited a traditional IRA from my mother in 2024. She passed before her required beginning date (RBD.) I know that I fall under the 10-year rule. The question is, do I need to start required minimum distributions...
401(k) to IRA Rollover – 3 Buckets
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Workplace retirement plans – like a 401(k) – can hold different types of dollars. Typically, a 401(k) will have a pre-tax bucket and a Roth bucket. Occasionally, a plan will have a third bucket to hold after-tax (non-Roth) money....
401(k) Plans Can Now Offer Matching Contributions On Student Loan Payments
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you are making student loan repayments, you should ask your employer if it will match those payments in the company’s retirement plan. The SECURE 2.0 Act allows for matching contributions on “qualified student loan payments” (or...
Roth 401(K) Rollovers and the Once-Per-Year Rollover Rule: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Can I roll over a Roth 401(k) to an existing Roth IRA or does it need to be in its own separate account? When does the 5-year holding period begin for the Roth 401K rollover? Thank you, Elisabeth Answer: Hi...
New Rules Loosen or Eliminate Documentation Rules for See-Through Trusts
Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The new required minimum distribution (RMD) rules recently issued by the IRS include some good news for trusts named as retirement account beneficiaries. A documentation requirement (that tripped up many trustees...
SUCCESSOR BENEFICIARIES AND INHERITED IRA ROLLOVERS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Under IRS rules, if I am currently receiving required minimum distributions (RMDs) and die today, my non-spouse beneficiary has 10 years to pay out my IRA. If that beneficiary dies five years later (in August 2029), does the...
New Rules: Aggregating Year-of-Death RMDs
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst In my August 19 Slott Report (“Year of Death RMD – Deadline Extended!”), I wrote about the required beginning date, who takes the year-of-death required minimum distribution (RMD), and the deadline for taking that distribution....
New IRA Aggregation Rule When Doing a Rollover in an RMD Year
Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you have multiple traditional IRAs and want to do a 60-day rollover (or Roth conversion) in a year when a required minimum distribution (RMD) is due, the IRS has a surprise for you. RMDs from multiple traditional IRAs (and SEP or...
Roth IRAs and Successor Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I have been getting emails from a few sites pitching their subscriptions. They claim that Roth IRAs will all be taxable in the future. They say there are things you can do to avoid these taxes, but to find out what...
The Roth IRA Advantage Under the Final RMD Rules
Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In 2020, the SECURE Act completely changed the game for nonspouse IRA beneficiaries. Now, most are subject to the 10-year payout rule. Recently released final RMD rules keep the controversial proposed rule that...
Year-of-Death RMD – Deadline Extended!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When a person reaches the required beginning date (RBD) – generally April 1 of the year after the year the person turns age 73 – required minimum distributions (RMDs) must officially start on traditional IRAs. But what if an IRA...
The 10% Penalty and Required Minimum Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Hello, I’m in my sixties, in the golden years for Roth conversions, which I’ve been doing. I’ve had a small Roth IRA account for more than 5 years. Last year I converted $90,000. This year will be about...
Roth 401(k) Dollars Are No Longer Subject to RMDs
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you have both pre-tax and Roth accounts in a 401(k) (or a 403(b) or governmental 457(b)) and are subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs), be aware of new rule changes made in the 2022 SECURE 2.0 law. The rules were clarified...
Proposed Regs Bring New Rules for Spouses Beneficiaries When Death is Before the RBD
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Of all the many provisions in the SECURE 2.0 Act, none has been more perplexing than Section 327, which changed the rules for spouse beneficiaries. It has been hard to figure out what Congress intended in drafting...
INHERITED ROTH IRAs AND NUA: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MALBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Thank you for all of the wonderful information. I have a question as to how the July 18, 2024 final regulations impact inherited Roth IRAs. My daughters inherited Roths from their grandmother 3 years ago. She was age 101. They...
A PHILOSOPHICAL SLOTT REPORT ENTRY
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Trapped. For two nights in July, I slept on the floor at Atlanta Hartsfield International Airport – a victim of the mass Delta computer outage. Booking a hotel after midnight (when the final cancellation hit) was not worth the...
IRS FINAL REGULATIONS LOOSEN DEFINITION OF “ELIGIBLE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY”
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the positive outcomes of the new IRS final SECURE Act regulations on required minimum distributions (RMDs), released on July 18, is that more beneficiaries will be able to stretch RMDs over their lifetime. Under the 2020 SECURE...
INHERITED IRAS AND NET UNREALIZED APPRECIATION: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
QUESTION: I inherited both a traditional and a Roth IRA from my significant other (non-spouse) who passed away in 2021. He had started taking required minimum distributions (RMDs). I am less than 10 years younger than he was. Question is: do I or do I not have...
NEW RMD REGS HAVE A SURPRISING RESULT FOR MINOR CHILD BENEFICIARIES
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In newly released final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations, the IRS is doubling down on its position that annual RMDs are required for some beneficiaries during the SECURE Act’s 10-year payout period....
PART 2: INHERITED ROTH IRA BY SPOUSE BENEFICIARY – 5-YEAR CLOCK ISSUES?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst In Part 1 (July 17), I discussed 5-year clock issues when a non-spouse beneficiary inherits a Roth IRA. In Part 2, I will hit on the important concepts and options available when a spouse inherits a Roth IRA. Keep as...
HOW ARE ANNUAL RMDS IN THE 10-YEAR PERIOD CALCULATED?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst In the July 22, 2024 Slott Report, my colleague Sarah Brenner explained how the IRS, in its final SECURE Act required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations issued on July 18, did not budge on a controversial position it had taken in its...
REQUIREMENT DURING 10-YEAR RULE STANDS
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education On July 18, 2024, the IRS issued final required minimum distribution (RMD) regulations under the 2020 SECURE Act. The newly issued regulations fine-tune existing rules for trust beneficiaries and aggregation...
ROTH CONVERSIONS AND SIMPLE IRA RMDS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: One of our clients wants to cash out his IRA and then roll it into a Roth IRA within 60 days. Can this be done directly, or does it have to be rolled back into an IRA first and then converted? Thanks, Samuel Answer: Hi Samuel, A...
PART 1: INHERITED ROTH IRA BY NON-SPOUSE BENEFICIARY – 5-YEAR CLOCK ISSUES?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When an IRA owner does a Roth conversion, there is typically a 5-year clock for the earnings on the converted dollars to be tax free. If a person already had a Roth IRA for 5 years AND is over 59 ½, there is no conversion...
IRS “HYPOTHETICAL RMD RULE” PREVENTS SURVIVING SPOUSES FROM AVOIDING RMDS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the more interesting rules (if any could be called “interesting”) from the 2022 IRS proposed regulations requires spouse beneficiaries in some situations to take RMDs (required minimum distributions) before doing a spousal...
INHERITED ROTH IRAS AND QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: Do required minimum distributions (RMDs) need to be taken when a non-spouse beneficiary inherits Roth IRA? It seems this has been a point of confusion for some time. ANSWER: This is something that confuses a lot of...
12 QCD RULES YOU MUST KNOW
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education If you are charitably inclined and have an IRA, a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) can be a great strategy. With a QCD, you can move IRA funds to the charity of your choice tax-free. Here are 12 QCD rules...
EXCESS CONTRIBUTION FIX: SAME IRA, DIFFERENT DOLLARS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst If I pour too much water into a glass, removing liquid from a different glass does not correct the problem. The excess water must be removed from the “offending” receptacle. Such is the case with excess IRA contributions. If too...
IRS GIVES GUIDANCE ON PENALTY-FREE WITHDRAWALS FOR FINANCIAL EMERGENCIES AND FOR VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC ABUSE
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you take a taxable withdrawal from your IRA or 401(k) (or other company plan) before age 59 ½, you normally have to pay a 10% penalty in addition to taxes. But Congress continues to carve out exceptions to this penalty, and there are...
ROLLING OVER YOUR IN-PLAN CONVERSION? WATCH OUT FOR THE RECAPTURE RULE
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education More and more Americans have retirement savings in Roth 401(k)s. With their rising popularity come some complicated tax issues. These funds are often rolled over to Roth IRAs at retirement or when a...
ROTH IRA DISTRIBUTIONS AND SELF-DIRECTED IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: I have a question about the Roth IRA distribution ordering rules based on a client’s situation: 1. The client is 45 years old. 2. She has had a Roth IRA open for five plus years. 3. She made a $6,000...
BEER PONG & IRA CUSTODIAL RULES
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst You know the game “beer pong?” Arrange 6 or 10 cups in a triangle, fill each one with a couple of ounces whatever beverage you are enjoying, and your opponent tries to toss a ping-pong ball into one of the cups. If a throw is...
FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT ROTH 401(K)S
By Ian Berger, JDIRA Analyst A recent survey found that over 80% of 401(k) plans now offer employees the option of making Roth 401(k) employee contributions. More and more employees are now taking advantage of that opportunity. (In this article, I use the term “Roth...
TRUSTS AS A BENEFICIARY AND QUALIFIED CHARITABLE DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
QUESTION: I attended the Mid-Year IRA Planning Opportunities 2024 Webinar on May 14th. I missed the reasons for not naming a trust as a beneficiary in an IRA. I know you can name a trust, but what would be the downside? Thank you, Victoria ANSWER: Victoria, There are...
SIMPLE IRA RMDS AND IRS LIFE EXPECTANCY TABLES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JDIRA Analyst Question: Does a SIMPLE IRA owner who is over age 73 and still works for the same company that sponsors the SIMPLE IRA plan have to take an RMD (required minimum distribution)? He does not own any of the company. Answer: Yes. SIMPLE and...
DON’T OVERLOOK YOUR BENEFICIARY FORM
By Sarah Brenner, JDDirector of Retirement Education You have been contributing to your IRA for years. The market is up, and you are watching those investments grow. Maybe you have rolled over funds to your IRA from your company plan. You may now have a significant...
PARTICIPATION IN MULTIPLE WORK PLANS – IT CAN BE DONE!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It is perfectly acceptable for a person to participate in multiple work plans in the same year (even at the same time). For example, a 401(k) and a SEP. Or maybe a 401(k) and another 401(k). However, care must be taken to...
IRA ROLLOVERS AND REQUIRED MINIMUM DISTRIBUTIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
QUESTION: At age 80, after I take my required minimum distribution (RMD), can I then do a rollover from my IRA to my Roth IRA? If I can, is there a limit as to how much? I know that it is all taxable. Thanks, John ANSWER: John, Once your RMD has been satisfied, yes,...
A WISH LIST FOR THE IRS BENEFICIARY RMD FINAL REGULATIONS
After more than two years, we might actually soon be getting answers from the IRS on several important unanswered questions concerning required minimum distributions (RMDs) for those who inherit IRAs or company plan accounts. The 2019 SECURE Act completely changed the...
THE SLOTT REPORT TAKES ON AI
We are surrounded with information – and misinformation. Finding accurate up-to-date facts is increasingly difficult. Do an internet search and you will likely run into obsolete websites that have not been updated in years, paywalls demanding you subscribe before...
SECURE ACT REGULATIONS AND INHERITED IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
Question: When can we expect final SECURE Act regulations from the IRS? Mike Answer: Hi Mike, No one knows for sure. However, there is now some hope that these may be coming sooner rather than later. In recently released Notice 2024-35, the IRS said that final...
ROTH 401(K) TO A ROTH IRA ROLLOVER: HOW DOES THIS WORK?
As retirement account questions go, this is the shortest inquiry with the longest answer. When asked what factors to consider and what 5-year clocks apply with a Roth 401(k) to Roth IRA rollover, I take a big breath and say, “Pull up a chair.” There are a number of...
GOVERNMENT REPORT HIGHLIGHTS CONFUSION OVER 401(K) DISTRIBUTION OPTIONS
A recent government report highlights how confused 401(k) participants are when they have to decide what to do with their savings after leaving employment. Tax rules require401(k) plans (and 403(b) and governmental 457(b) plans) to provide a written notice when...
THE AGE 55 EXCEPTION AND ROLLOVERS OF ROTH IRAS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
Question: Can an individual who is using the age 55 exception to the 10% early distribution penalty roll over a part of a 403(b) account to an IRA and leave a portion in the 403(b) to take penalty-free withdrawals? Thank you, Jamie Answer: Hi Jamie, There is no rule...
FIVE RMD FACTS EVERY IRA OWNER SHOULD KNOW
If you have an IRA and you are approaching retirement age, you have probably heard the term “required minimum distribution” (RMD). But do you know the details of how the rules work and what they mean for you? Here are five facts about RMDs that every IRA owner should...
SIMPLE PLAN CONTRIBUTION LIMITS: INCREASED FOR MANY
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport We have written about this subject in the past (December 2023), but as is our philosophy here, learning is all about repetition, repetition, repetition. Surprisingly (he says with tongue...
WHEN A REVERSE ROLLOVER MAKES SENSE
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport In a famous “Seinfeld” episode, George Costanza, unemployed, living with his parents and without a girlfriend, decides to do the opposite of what he would normally do. It pays off for him big time as he...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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....
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...
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...
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...
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...
QCDS AND THE ROTH 5-YEAR CLOCK: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: My brother passed away in May 2023. He had a small IRA with no beneficiary. He was 73 at the time of his death. His estate is to be divided equally among his eight brothers and sisters,...
CONGRESS MAKES SIMPLE IRA PLANS LESS SIMPLE
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport SIMPLE IRA plans are a popular retirement savings option for small businesses. The plans are available for companies with 100 or fewer employees who received at least $5,000 in pay from the company in the...
DEADLINE TO TAKE YOUR 2023 RMD IS ALMOST HERE
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport It is December. The halls are decked, and Starbucks holiday cups are everywhere. The end of the year is not far away. That means the deadline is near for taking a required minimum...
BAD SANTA & THE GRINCH OFFER HORRIBLE IRA ADVICE – PART 1
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If the Grinch and Bad Santa both passed their FINRA Series 7 exam and decided to open an investment advisory firm, I’m pretty sure they would combine forces to intentionally deliver some of the WORST...
TURNING BACK THE CLOCKS AND REVISITING THE ROTH IRA FIVE-YEAR CLOCKS
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport A few weeks ago, many of us were required to turn back our clocks one hour and say goodbye to daylight savings time. And with that change came the usual reminder to change the batteries in our smoke...
4 IRA TAX BREAKS FOR WHICH WE GIVE THANKS IN 2023
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Thanksgiving is almost here! This is a time for us to gather together and express our gratitude for all the good things in our lives. When it comes to our retirement accounts, we...
STILL-TIME-LEFT TO-DO LIST
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Year-end to-do lists are commonplace. The problem is, they always seem to get published in mid-to-late December. I can almost hear the collective “thanks for nothing” comment from readers as the...
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