By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Hello, Our daughter (age 50) is the sole beneficiary of her husband’s (age 52) IRA due to his death in April 2024. Is there a time limit for when she must either take ownership or roll it...
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst I counted them. This year the Slott Report published 101 blog articles. While other sites add “pay-for-content” firewalls, we continue to pump out incredibly valuable and important information, week after week, totally free...
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Market action was mixed in a holiday-shortened week of trade. The Santa Clause rally, which runs for the last five trading sessions of the year through the first two trading sessions of the New Year, kicked off with gains from mega-cap...
Key components of the Inflation Reduction Act’s Part D reforms will be fully implemented for plans offered in 2025. These changes, including the total elimination of the “coverage gap” coverage period, the establishment of a $2,000 cap on beneficiary out-of-pocket...
Key Takeaways A recent Gallup poll showed most Americans feel they are worse off today than four years ago. Data on household finances show that things have changed dramatically since September 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting the economy. Americans have...
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst This is the time of year for good cheer and holiday wishes. In keeping with those traditions, here are some cheers and wishes for the IRS and Congress: Cheers to the IRS: Yes, it did take the IRS 4½ years to issue final required...
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity and fixed-income markets sold off for the second consecutive week as the Federal Reserve delivered an expected twenty-five basis-point rate cut but pivoted to a much more hawkish stance for 2025, where the committee now expects only two...
Medicare payment rules prohibit coverage for a service if a beneficiary is not financially responsible for the care or if another government entity is obligated to provide or pay for the item or service. For years, the Medicare rules interpreting and implementing this...
Key Takeaways An Employee Benefit Research Institute survey found that more than two-thirds of retirees had outstanding credit card debt in 2024, up from 40% in 2022. Even though inflation has cooled, high prices weigh on retirees. Almost a third of retirees said they...
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: If a client opens an IRA at age 75 and makes a contribution this year, this account would not have a required minimum distribution (RMD) for 2024, correct? Since the IRA did not exist last year, there is no...
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The IRA rollover rules are always tricky. However, if you are rolling over an IRA distribution when the calendar year changes, the rules can become especially challenging. Here are four things you need to...
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Tis the season for giving, and qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) are a popular way to donate to a favorite charity. However, rules must be followed. In a recent Slott Report entry (“QCD Timing,” December 4), I...
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The Nasdaq eclipsed the 20,000 level for the first time this week as investors reengaged in buying the mega-cap technology names. Amazon, Google, Tesla, and Meta hit new highs for the year as investors heard about more advances in AI and quantum...
A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) examines trends in health care access and outcomes in rural America. While insurance rates in these areas are improving,...
Key Takeaways Some provisions related to the Secure 2.0, a federal retirement law, will go into effect in 2025. Workers ages 60, 61, 62, or 63 will be able to make catch-up contributions of up to $11,250 in 2025. Workplace retirement plans such as 401(k) and 403(b)...
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Can a person do a rollover from both his traditional AND Roth IRAs in the same twelve months? Best regards, Matthew Answer: Hi Matthew, The once-per-year rollover rule restricts an individual from...
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The holidays are upon us. There is shopping to do, gifts to wrap, and parties to attend. Amidst the hustle and bustle of the season, you may be forgiven if your retirement account is not at the top of your...
The S&P 500 forged another set of all-time highs as investors embraced the idea of an economy running at a pace appropriate for the Fed to consider further rate cuts. Leadership in the market toggled back to the mega-cap technology issues, with the communication...
The S&P 500 forged another set of all-time highs as investors embraced the idea of an economy running at a pace appropriate for the Fed to consider further rate cuts. Leadership in the market toggled back to the mega-cap technology issues, with the communication...
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...
