by Kenny | Dec 5, 2024
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: If you continue to work past age 73, are you exempt from required minimum distributions (RMDs)? My 73 year-old wife is still working and contributing to her company’s 401(k), and she doesn’t own more than 5% of the...
by Kenny | Dec 5, 2024
Retirement Vs. Resignation: Which Is Better? There is a big difference between retirement and resignation. However, both involve leaving your place of work. If you choose to retire, you may be entitled to some social benefits such as pension and healthcare, which can...
by Kenny | Dec 4, 2024
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Year after year, this topic continues to bubble up. Confusion exists over when a QCD can be done in relation to the RMD. Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) can offset all or a portion of an RMD (required minimum...
by Kenny | Dec 2, 2024
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Get ready! Several new 401(k) provisions from the SECURE 2.0 Act kick in on January 1, 2025. One that we’ve already written about is the ability of employees to make extra catch-up contributions in a year they turn age 60, 61, 62...
by Kenny | Dec 2, 2024
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Get ready! Several new 401(k) provisions from the SECURE 2.0 Act kick in on January 1, 2025. One that we’ve already written about is the ability of employees to make extra catch-up contributions in a year they turn age 60, 61, 62...
by Kenny | Dec 1, 2024
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week saw the S&P 500 and Dow rise to new all-time highs. Investors cheered the nomination of Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, who is seen as a fiscal hawk and someone who will support Trump’s trade policies. US...
by Kenny | Nov 29, 2024
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) made significant improvements to Medicare prescription drug access and affordability, including by restructuring the Part D benefit to limit enrollee expenses. Those changes began in January 2024, when the IRA eliminated cost sharing...
by Kenny | Nov 28, 2024
Navigate these tax and retirement milestones to optimize savings and avoid penalties. Staying on top of year-end tasks helps you avoid penalties and take full advantage of tax benefits. Key Takeaways Contributions to retirement accounts like 401(k)s must be made by...
by Kenny | Nov 27, 2024
Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Each year it is a Thanksgiving tradition here at the Slott Report to take a moment to give thanks for the rules that are helpful to retirement savers. There are many times when rules governing retirement accounts can...
by Kenny | Nov 25, 2024
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When an IRA owner dies, what is the payout schedule for the beneficiary? The key to distinguishing the correct program (i.e., 10-year rule, stretch RMDs, 5-year rule, etc.) is to identify all the important variables. But...
by Kenny | Nov 24, 2024
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets bounced back as investors reengaged the pro-growth Trump 2.0 trade. President-elect Trump continued to fill out his cabinet and, late Friday announced Scott Bessent as his nominee for Treasury Secretary. Wall Street has endorsed Bessent,...
by Kenny | Nov 23, 2024
Now is the time for people who need health insurance in 2025 to shop for coverage. For those without employer, Medicare, or Medicaid coverage, Healthcare.gov or their state exchange is the place to shop for Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans. Most shoppers will be able...
by Kenny | Nov 21, 2024
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: Hello Ed Slott Team, We have a client with an IRA who wants to do a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) to a charity. The charity also has an account with the same custodian of the IRA and has asked that the...
by Kenny | Nov 21, 2024
The Social Security Administration has announced the 2025 final COLA, wage cap, and amount needed to earn SS credits. Anticipating changes coming to Social Security in 2025 can help you start planning for the new year and identify any adjustments you can make to...
by Kenny | Nov 20, 2024
Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Here’s something you can only find in the Internal Revenue Code: Starting in 2025, there will be not one, not two, but three different catch-up limits for older SIMPLE IRA participants. Like IRAs and workplace plans like 401(k)s, SIMPLE IRAs...
by Kenny | Nov 18, 2024
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) continue to become more popular. If you have a qualifying high deductible health plan, you may make deductible contributions to an HSA. Then, you can take tax-free...
by Kenny | Nov 17, 2024
When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, they increase the payments when plans enroll sicker people. This is called risk adjustment, and it is an important guardrail to ensure that all people with Medicare...
by Kenny | Nov 17, 2024
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets pulled back last week as investors took profits from the outsized move higher seen following the US election. Sticky inflation prints, coupled with solid retail sales and hawkish comments from Federal Reserve Chairman J. Powell,...
by Kenny | Nov 13, 2024
Downsizing for retirement is a good way to simplify your life and cut down on expenses. Making some key changes, like moving into a smaller home, could reduce financial strain and improve your quality of life. It could also give you room to grow in new, unexpected...
by Kenny | Nov 13, 2024
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Roth IRA conversions remain as popular as ever. However, based on some recent questions we’ve received, it is apparent that folks don’t fully understand all the nuances of this transaction. Here are some of the basic...
