Mar 13, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Women’s History Month is a time to look back at the vital role women have played throughout history. In every industry, women are natural leaders and change makers – from Congress to financial services. In addition to driving change around women’s rights, many women...
Mar 13, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst It’s that time of year again. Tax season is upon us. This is now the time when many individuals consider funding their IRAs. Contributing to an IRA may seem pretty straight forward and in many ways it is! But there can be twists. Here...
Mar 11, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst A disclaimer is an interesting tool. It is a denial or disavowal of legal claim, or a formal refusal to accept an interest in something. “Release” and “waiver” are good synonyms. Oftentimes a disclaimer statement is used by a...
Mar 11, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap Week ending 3.8.19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Economic growth concerns along with the inability of the S&P 500 to maintain a key technical level hobbled the market last week. The market lost ground for five consecutive days. For the week, the S&P 500...
Mar 7, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Question: My Daughter is a 30-year old RN and I want to help her contribute to an IRA. She has a 401K at the hospital where she works, but she only contributes to maximize their 4% matching. It is my understanding she can still...
Mar 6, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst When a legal question is clear, I like to imagine the landscape like the great plains of the midwestern United States. The land is flat and lush, meaning problems are easily identified and the area can be easily traversed. On...
Mar 6, 2019 | Blog, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Last year, our study on the state of America’s workforce showed that over one-third of workers from small businesses say that their employer is “not helpful at all” in terms of retirement planning and that one in eight workers are not offered any type of retirement...
Mar 4, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap Week ending 3.1.19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Last week the proposed increase of trade tariffs on China was postponed while negotiations continued between the countries. Markets continued to view the negotiations as constructive although comments from US Trade...
Mar 4, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Much attention is paid to the favorable options available when spouses are named as IRA beneficiaries. However, a significant portion of IRA assets will end up being inherited by individuals who are not a spouse of the decedent. Many...
Mar 1, 2019 | Market Review and Outlook
Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA The US equity markets rose again during the second month of the new year, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500 both posting their best two-month start to a year in nearly three decades. The indices’ rise was aided by...
Feb 28, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello, I am a CPA and was not sure if in 2019 alimony was considered earned income for making a Roth IRA contribution. Would appreciate any clarification you can provide. Thank you very much. Have a great day! Dale...
Feb 28, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Both annuities and life insurance should be considered in your long-term financial plan. While both include death benefits, you buy life insurance in the event you die too soon and an annuity in case you live too long. In other words, life insurance provides economic...
Feb 27, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Ivan is an inventor at heart, but he is stuck in an office at a job he does not particularly care for. Ivan constantly daydreams about starting his own company and improving everyday life with his inventions. For 20 years Ivan...
Feb 25, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap Week ending 2/22/19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The markets were relatively quiet last week as investors waited for any news stemming from the ongoing US-China trade negotiations. Investors were also treated to a full dose of Fed rhetoric along with the FOMC...
Feb 21, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
“Your article on annuities [Does An Annuity Belong In Your Retirement Plan?] did not demonstrate that an annuity always improves a retirement plan.” True, Warren Buffet’s retirement plan would not be improved by an annuity because he will not face the mortality and...
Feb 21, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Question: In 2017, I opened a Roth IRA through my company. Being over 65, I mistakenly thought I could convert Traditional IRA funds to the Roth if I paid tax on the rollover amount. In August 2018, I had Schwab roll $50,000 into...
Feb 18, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap Week ending 2.15.19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets enjoyed a nice rally last week. The Russell 2000 led the way with a gain of 4.2%, the Dow added 3.1%, the S&P increased by 2.5%, and the NASDAQ advanced 2.4%. Treasuries sold off a bit last week with...
Feb 18, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst There are many gaps. Generation gap, stop-gap, The Gap Band. In baseball you can hit into the gap. Football linemen have an A-gap, B-gap and C-gap to concern themselves with. Of course, there is the Cumberland Gap. And there is a...
Feb 14, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Question: If I convert Trad IRA funds to a Roth IRA, does the ratio of After-Tax Contribution to Total IRA holdings include 401k holdings or only IRA holdings. I am a recently retired pilot and want to make Trad to Roth IRA conversions...
Feb 13, 2019 | Blog, Financial, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
A crystal ball into the stock market’s performance – wouldn’t that be useful! While predicting market performance to-a-t is not possible, you can help protect your savings by preparing for market uncertainty. Market Uncertainty Heightens This past December marked the...
Feb 11, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap for the week ending 2/8/19 Darren Leavitt, CFA Anxiety over trade and concerns regarding future earnings growth subdued markets last week. Additionally, the 200-day moving average on the S&P held as a line of resistance and induced some technical...
Feb 11, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst If you have an IRA, you may have heard the term “required beginning date” or “RBD.” This is an important date that every IRA owner should understand. The significance of the RBD is not limited to IRA owners. It is a critical date for...
Feb 7, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello Ed, I have an elderly client in his 80’s, not in the best of health. He has named his spouse (also in her 80’s) along with his 4 children as primary beneficiaries of his IRA. That said, I know the 4 children will...
Feb 7, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Tax season has officially started and if you’re an early bird looking ahead to April, you might have already started filing your 2018 taxes. Regardless where you are in the process, here are a few tips to keep in mind for tax season this year. Taxes in retirement are...
Feb 6, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When it comes to 401(k) plans, I feel like the Johnny Cash lyric…“I’ve been everywhere, man.” I’ve wholesaled record keeping platforms to financial advisors and sold direct to business owners. I’ve taught novice investors about...
Feb 4, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap for the Week ending 2/1/19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA It was, as expected, a hectic and interesting week in the financial markets. A steady stream of earnings announcements and economic data were just part of the story in last week’s action. An FOMC meeting...
Feb 4, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst So, you want to invest your IRA money in real estate? Every so often we get this question from advisors wondering what they should look out for. Under the tax code, real estate is a permissible investment for IRAs. However, that...
Jan 31, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Question: Client passed in the middle of December 2018, but did not take her RMD. We are setting up beneficiary IRA accounts. We will be moving assets over to the beneficiary IRA accounts and then the beneficiary will take the...
Jan 30, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Not all contributions to IRAs belong there. When a contribution is not permitted in an IRA, it is an excess contribution and needs to be fixed. The bad news is that excess contributions happen easily and often. The good news is that if...
Jan 30, 2019 | Blog, Financial, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
The last two decades mark a distinct time of change, even in the retirement landscape. As we continue to start 2019 off on the right foot, it is important to keep in mind current retirement trends that could affect our overall well-being during our golden years. So...
Jan 28, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap for the Week Ending 1/25/19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The markets closed Friday with a nice gain, but for the week the markets were generally flat. The S&P 500 lost 0.2% on the week while the Dow and NASDAQ each gained 0.1%. The Russell 2ooo was...
Jan 28, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst There are a number of ways an individual can avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty from their IRA or employer work plan. Some exceptions apply specifically to IRAs (i.e. higher education; first-time home buyer, etc.) and others...
Jan 24, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hi I have a question about 72t “If” I am 45 years old, and calculate the amount to withdraw from my ira under 72t via the RMD method, I understand that I must continue calculating the withdrawal via the RMD method...
Jan 24, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
In case you didn’t know, there is such a thing as a lifetime income club. Of course, it goes by another name: annuities. To an economist, an annuity is the most sensible way to provide safe income in retirement. In fact, economists spend more time researching...
Jan 23, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Mistakes happen, and when dealing with complicated rules like the U.S. tax code, they aren’t exactly uncommon. Thankfully, the IRS has numerous ways various mistakes can be corrected, and one of the most lenient processes is for...
Jan 22, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap for the week ending 1/18/19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Despite somewhat disappointing corporate earnings results and a failed Brexit vote, markets continued to rally last week. The S&P 500 gained 2.9% for the week while the Dow, NASDAQ, and Russell 2000...
Jan 21, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Marie Kondo is a decluttering and tidying expert from Japan. She has a new show on Netflix, Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, that is a huge hit. Thrift shops around the country are reporting a large influx of donations as Americans...
Jan 17, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Question: I am in the process of setting up a QTIP because my current wife (age 64) is not the mother of my 2 children (ages 41 and 38). If I pre-decease, the IRA will go to my wife within the trust. When she passes and the IRA...
Jan 16, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Annuities are getting more and more popular among seniors, and for good reason. Annuities are not right for everyone but are a real blessing for many seniors. Annuities are a popular choice for investors who want to receive a steady stream of income in retirement. The...
Jan 16, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst If I decide to climb on the roof of my house and try to ride a unicycle while blindfolded, it is not illegal. Dangerous, yes, but not in violation of any laws. If I elect to randomly jump off a bridge under the guidance of the...
Jan 14, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap for the week ending 1/11/19 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Constructive rhetoric from US/ China trade negotiations along with more dovish iterations from Fed officials helped markets continue their rally last week. The S&P 500 gained 2.5% for the week while the...
Jan 14, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst In my last installment, I talked about one of my two favorite beginning of the year topics when it comes to retirement planning: New Year’s Resolutions...
Jan 10, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
If you work while collecting Social Security benefits, you can get hit with hefty benefit reductions. Here are the earnings limits for this year. Can you work and collect Social Security at the same time? The short answer is yes, it’s possible. However, if you...
Jan 10, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Question: Dear Ed, Thanks for all your work on the retirement frontier. I have a question…we have married clients who are age 70 (he) and 62 (she). Both clients have IRAs. The 62-year-old client just passed away. I know that the...
Jan 9, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst A word we don’t see much in daily conversation is “deem.” I imagine a sweeping proclamation made by an authority figure from an ivory tower: “It is deemed that the third day of the standard workweek shall henceforth be called...
Jan 8, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Below is a snapshot of 2018’s performance and what to watch in coming year from Chadd Mason, Cabana CEO and co-founder. Looking back on 2018… Equity markets ended the year down across the board. International markets fared the worst, all down double digits. U.S....
Jan 7, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Roth IRAs offer a trade-off. You decide to pay taxes now on your contribution (or conversion) in exchange for tax-free earnings down the road. Don’t miss out on Roth IRA benefits by making mistakes when you take a distribution. Here...
Jan 4, 2019 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets started 2019 in the same manner it left off in 2018, with extreme volatility. A preannouncement from Apple, a much stronger than anticipated jobs report, and a more measured tone out of Fed Chairman Powell, provided investors plenty to...
Jan 3, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Question: Hi Mr. Slott: I turn 70 ½ years old this year (D.O.B. 5-28-49) and must commence RMDs for an IRA total asset value as of 12/31/2018. When do I have to report this RMD on my tax return – before or no later than...
Jan 2, 2019 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Sarah O’Brien While some people might have been saving and planning for decades for retirement, others might not have given much thought to their life after full-time work. If you plan to continue working in some capacity, keep in mind the effect it could have...
Jan 2, 2019 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst When it comes to tax law and retirement planning, there are two things I like to talk about at the beginning of a new year: (1) some of most important rulings issued and laws passed in the prior year; and (2) the steps you can...
Jan 1, 2019 | Market Review and Outlook
January 2019 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA It’s déjà vu all over again. 2019 is off to a good start, just like January of 2018. Stocks climbed during the first month of the year, with the S&P 500 rising the most in January since 1987,...
Dec 31, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap week ending 12/28/18 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Wow, what a week for the markets- if you were out for the holidays you missed a historic week on Wall Street. Extremely oversold conditions coupled with year-end portfolio rebalancing and the fact that many were...
Dec 27, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Patrick J. Skerrett Former Executive Editor, Harvard Health For many people, retirement is a key reward for decades of daily work—a time to relax, explore, and have fun unburdened by the daily grind. For others, though, retirement is a frustrating period marked by...
Dec 27, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Beverly DeVeny IRA Analyst Question: I am 64 and opened my only Roth IRA over 5 yrs ago. I originally contributed $32.5K ($6.5K for 5 yrs) to this Roth IRA but now find it at $22.5K in value. Can I close this account and take a $10K capital loss? Kaptain Kurt...
Dec 24, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Happy holidays from Slott Report! We would like to wish all of our readers and their families a joyous holiday season and a Happy New Year! Thank you for taking your valuable time to read the Slott Report in 2018. Throughout the year...
Dec 24, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentarfy, Weekly Market Commentary
Below is a snapshot of last week’s market performance and what to watch in the week ahead from Chadd Mason, Cabana CEO and co-founder. I would like to start this week’s commentary off by thanking all of our clients for their support and trust in us. I got into this...
Dec 24, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentary
Market Recap Week ending 12/21/2018 -Darren Leavitt, CFA Last week Wall Street posted its worst weekly performance in a decade. The Fed’s decision to raise the federal-funds target range by 25 basis points to 2.25%-2.5%, along with political discord in Washington...
Dec 20, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Every New Year we think about our resolutions, which typically includes some promise to better ourselves. Pledging to go the gym more, eat healthier, be more active, spend additional time with friends and family, and decrease our social media intake, are a few that...
Dec 20, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello IRAHelp, I have a copy of Your Complete Retirement Planning Road Map and find it to be an extremely useful resource. I have uncertainty regarding optimum means for funding a Health Savings Account (HSA). I am 61. In...
Dec 19, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentary
Market Update 12.19.18 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The Federal Reserve increased rates by 25 basis points today and suggested they were poised to raise rates two more times in 2019. The hike was generally accepted to be the consensus, but investors were perhaps looking for...
Dec 19, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst In mid-November 2018, the IRS issued proposed regulations altering some of the rules governing hardship distributions from 401(k) and 403(b) plans. Most of the rules weren’t new; instead the IRS adopted changes that were issued...
Dec 17, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Jerry sells widgets for the ACME Widget Company. Jerry is a hard-working employee who participates in the ACME Widget Company 401(k) Plan. Jerry also contributes annually to an IRA account at a local bank. The widget business is a...
Dec 13, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello Mr. Slott, Thanks for your educational broadcasts. I have run into something that might hold your interest. In two separate situations I have asked that retirement checks be made payable to an IRA at another large...
Dec 12, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Beverly DeVeny IRA Analyst I get the same question every year at year end. “My client has an illiquid IRA and can’t take his RMD. Can we just write a note to IRS explaining the problem?” Every year my answer is the same. “NO.” What is an RMD? It is...
Dec 12, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
By Emily Brandon, Staff Writer Workers with an older retirement age get smaller Social Security payments throughout retirement. WHILE YOU CAN START Social Security payments at age 62, your monthly checks are reduced if you begin collecting benefits at this age. To...
Dec 10, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst If you are considering converting an IRA to a Roth IRA in 2018, time is quickly running out. Here are 5 things you need to know when making a decision: 1. The Deadline – The deadline for a 2018 conversion is the end of the...
Dec 7, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentary
Market update 12.6.18-Darren Leavitt, CFAGood afternoon, we wanted to put out a quick note to address the market volatility that we have witnessed over the last couple of sessions. There are a number of different factors that have influenced the recent action. First,...
Dec 6, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Question: Mr. Slott, My spouse turned 70 on June 27th, 2018, so in December 2018 she will be 70 ½. She would like to complete a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). Does the QCD need to be dated from December 27 to December 31,...
Dec 5, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst One piece of advice we commonly reiterate is, when you inherit an IRA or other retirement plan asset, touch nothing! That’s because many transactions cannot be undone, and the IRS rarely grants relief simply because the taxpayer...
Dec 5, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
What’s on your loved one’s gift wish list? Are they asking for the latest technology? Fashionable apparel? A must-have toy? No matter the buzz-worthy item, what they may want consider is a gift that lasts a lifetime. Remember, it is just a matter of time before a new...
Dec 3, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It turns out the Grinch stirs up a blizzard of trouble beyond stealing Christmas trees and presents from the innocent Whos down in Whoville. That candy cane he slipped out of Cindy Lou’s fingers? Child’s play. The breadcrumb he...
Dec 1, 2018 | Market Review and Outlook
December 2018 Market Review and Outlook -Murray Titterington, CFP, CIMA Be careful what you wish for. Last month we hoped for a “Santa Claus” rally in the markets (defined as a rally beginning the day after Christmas and extends through the end of the year). Well, the...
Nov 30, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentary
Weekly Recap for the week ending 11/30/18 -Darren Leavitt, CFA The market had a fantastic week. Investors took a hopeful stance that something constructive would come out of the G-20 meetings this weekend and rhetoric out of Washington seemed to suggest the...
Nov 28, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Discover our most frequently asked questions about fixed indexed annuities (FIAs). Get the answers you need to help calculate your path to retirement. What is an annuity? In the most basic sense, an annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company that says...
Nov 28, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Twenty-six states have adopted revocation-on-divorce statutes similar to each other, and these statutes are impacting court decisions. Example #1: The U.S. Supreme Court, in an 8 – 1 ruling just this past June, concluded that life...
Nov 26, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst If you are thinking about doing a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) for 2018, time is running out. The deadline is December 31, 2018. Many people are missing out on this valuable tax break. If you are both taking required minimum...
Nov 26, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Coming to you from the Indexed Annuity Leadership Council (IALC) is a new recipe to add to your Thanksgiving menu. We all have our Thanksgiving favorites, from turkey to stuffing, to sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and more. But as you sit around your table reflecting on...
Nov 21, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Tim and Robert are identical twins. They wear the same clothes. They have similar hair styles. They have similar jobs and similar incomes. Tim and Robert are both concerned about taxes, and they agree that saving money for the...
Nov 19, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Thanksgiving is only a few days away. This is a time when we gather together and express our gratitude for all the good things in our lives. When it comes to our retirement accounts, we too often complain about the negatives, such as...
Nov 19, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentary
Below is a snapshot of last week’s market performance and what to watch in the week ahead from Chadd Mason, Cabana CEO and co-founder. 11/19/2018 U.S. equity markets ended last week down despite a rally mid-week. As of Friday, the S&P 500 was down 1.2%, the Dow...
Nov 17, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
YOU CAN PLAN FOR IT, dream about it and try to visualize it, but there’s no way to tell for sure what retirement will be like for you until after you’ve actually pulled the trigger and left the job. As you contemplate this major life change, remember to...
Nov 15, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Question: I am 70 ½ and still working in 2018. If I work part time (still employed) in 2019, can I delay my 401K RMD until 2020? Best regards, Will Answer: Will, If you are still employed by the company that is offering the 401(k)...
Nov 14, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst There is a 131-page bill currently working its way through the U.S. legislature. The proposal would amend the Internal Revenue Code and encourage retirement savings. While the “Retirement Enhancement and Savings Act of 2018,” or...
Nov 12, 2018 | Weekly Market Commentary
Below is a snapshot of last week’s market performance and what to watch in the week ahead from Chadd Mason, Cabana CEO and co-founder. True to form, equity markets have begun the process of bouncing from oversold conditions, which developed during the October...
Nov 12, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst The road to retirement is long. Along the way you may need to move the funds in your IRA. When that time comes, you will want to be sure that everything is done correctly. Moving your retirement funds can be tricky and the consequences...
Nov 8, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Americans are living longer into retirement, but the financial solutions needed to support them have not kept pace with their needs. With a number of bipartisan proposals currently under consideration, the U.S. Congress has the opportunity to take significant steps...
Nov 8, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Sarah Brenner, JD IRA Analyst Question: Dear Ed Slott team members, Would you please address the following scenario. You bought stock in an IRA for a $1000. Ten years later, it has appreciated to $10,000. If the stock was not in an IRA, you would owe capital gains...
Nov 4, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Halloween might get less scary as we age, but there are a lot of frightening aspects of retirement in 2018. In fact, recent data on the state of America’s workforce shows just how underprepared for retirement many Americans are. While running out of money, drastic...
Nov 1, 2018 | Market Review and Outlook
U.S. stock markets closed out the month of October with the largest monthly losses we’ve seen in more than six years. All of 2018’s gains were essentially wiped out over just a few days of trading. Bond markets have been hurt all year as interest rates have continued...
Oct 26, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
With just a few months left in the year, National Financial Planning Month is a great time to take charge of your retirement saving strategy. Some of the most important things you can do are to make sure you’re creating a diverse portfolio that will protect your...
Oct 17, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
October marks National Financial Planning Month, a time when Americans can look at how they are saving, their retirement goals, and how they can create a tailored approach that works for them. October is the perfect time of the year to plan, with summer winding down...
Oct 17, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Beverly DeVeny IRA Analyst After Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria in 2017, Congress passed special legislation allowing expanded access to retirement plan funds for individuals affected by those storms. Congress also previously enacted that sort of legislation...
Oct 15, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst SIMPLE IRAs are popular retirement vehicles for small businesses. They are relatively cheap to adopt and are easy to understand and administer. However, that doesn’t mean problems do not arise. Routinely, we see issues involving...
Oct 11, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Think about your retirement dreams and realities to set a savings goal for the future. By Rachel Hartman, Contributor IN THE PAST, saving $1 million for retirement was considered a benchmark to help you enter retirement comfortably. But times have changed, and that...
Oct 11, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Beverly DeVeny IRA Analyst IRA owners can clearly combine the accounts they own and they can combine the required minimum distributions (RMDs) from multiple IRAs and take them from any one or combination of their IRAs. But what are the rules for inherited IRAs? An...
Oct 8, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Legal training is less about memorization and more about understanding how to break down complex problems. With that mind, I often suggest that people understand the law and not try to memorize it. Why was it enacted and what is...
Oct 4, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Jeremy T. Rodriguez, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hi, I am an advisor and attended the Instant IRA Success workshop in 2017 and found it really useful in my practice. I have a client situation I am trying to clarify and am sure you can help. The client ( husband...
Oct 3, 2018 | IRA Blog
By Beverly DeVeny IRA Analyst I just had a call from an advisor with a “complicated” scenario. “Ralph” died and left his IRA to his spouse “Alice.” Ralph was 62 in the year he died. Alice did nothing with the IRA. It remained an inherited IRA and there were no...
Oct 3, 2018 | Blog, Financial Services Newsletter, New Weekly Newsletter, Weekly Article, Weekly Newsletter
Teachers are among the hardest working professionals and have the unique responsibility to prepare our younger generations for the future. And, as educators across the country are participating in another back-to-school season, it is a good time to highlight how these...
