Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
Retirement Income Planning: A Practical Guide for Turning Savings Into a Sustainable Paycheck
Key Takeaways (TL;DR) Retirement success is less about “the number” and more about cash-flow durability, tax efficiency, and risk control. A resilient plan blends...
Integrating Life Insurance & Fixed Indexed Annuities: A Smarter Way to Protect, Grow, and Distribute Retirement Wealth
Big idea: Life insurance and fixed indexed annuities (FIAs) aren’t either/or. Used together, they can help protect income, manage taxes, and transfer wealth more...
Why Fixed Indexed Annuities Are a Smart Choice for Retirement Planning
When planning for retirement, one of the greatest challenges is balancing growth potential with protection of principal. Many investors seek opportunities that allow...
The 4% Rule: How Much Can You Spend in Retirement?
How much can you spend without running out of money? The 4% rule is a popular rule of thumb, but you can do better. Here are guidelines for finding your personalized...
Fixed Index Annuity
What Is a Fixed Index Annuity? A fixed index annuity is a financial product whose terms are defined by a contract between you and an insurance company. It features...
Why Annuities May Be a Safer Bet in 2025
Many people decide to claim their Social Security benefit when they retire. You may be one of them. It could be that you need the money, or maybe you want to invest it...
Interest in Annuities Is Soaring: Understanding the 2025 Trend
Learn how the market, economy, and demographics are shaping the annuity industry. The annuity industry is having a moment. After years of mixed opinions and confusion...
Annuity Awareness Month 2025: Your Guide to Income Security
Each June, Annuity Awareness Month shines a spotlight on one of retirement’s most misunderstood—but potentially powerful—financial tools: the annuity. In 2025, as...
6 Ways to Secure Your Finances After Retirement
Although your CalPERS service retirement is a lifetime benefit, and you have other income sources available to you, money can still be tight. Making ends meet is a big...
Weekly Market Commentary
Well, the market finally had a significant pullback, but not before the S&P 500 and NASDAQ were able to set another all-time high. The week began with a deal...
Weekly Market Commentary
Investors sent US markets to another set of all-time highs despite concerns about an extended government shutdown. The U.S. government shutdown was largely dismissed...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 hit a 28th record high for the year before settling lower for the week. Investors endured a choppy week of trading as better-than-expected economic data...
Weekly Market Commentary
The major US equity market indices forged another set of all-time highs as investors went all in on risk assets after the Federal Reserve announced a twenty-five basis...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity indices posted another set of all-time highs as investors increased expectations for three, twenty-five basis point rate cuts by year's end. Inflation data...
Weekly Market Commentary
Investors sent the S&P 500 to another all-time high in a holiday-shortened week of trading. President Trump started the week by asking the Supreme Court to...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 posted a gain for the fourth consecutive month as investors continued to embrace the prospects of a September rate cut, a robust economic outlook, and...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets ended the week with a powerful move to the upside after Fed Chairman J. Powell indicated that the balance of risk had shifted to the labor market,...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global financial markets had another positive week as the Dow Jones Industrial Average finally joined the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ with a new all-time high. Benign...
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Another Way to Lose IRA Bankruptcy Protection
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Normally, if you declare bankruptcy, your IRA funds (traditional and Roth) are completely off limits to bankruptcy creditors. But a recent...
October 15 Deadlines Are Approaching
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education October is almost here. This means fall is in full swing. Along with pumpkin spice lattes, football season, and...
IRA Beneficiaries and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: My father passed away in November 2021. I became disabled in April 2022. Am I now an eligible designated beneficiary...
“IRA Distribution Confusion”
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Traditional and Roth IRA owners often get confused about the distributions they take from their IRAs. Mix-ups and misunderstandings...
IRS Confirms Effective Date of Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Rule
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst In final regulations issued on September 15, 2025, the IRS confirmed that company retirement plans must comply with the SECURE 2.0 Act’s...
PAYMENT OF THE FIRST RMD AND THE ONCE-PER-YEAR RULE: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hi, If my birthday is in December 2026, when I turn 73 years old, can I take my required minimum distribution (RMD) on January...
5 Things You Need to Know About 2025 Qualified Charitable Distributions
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst If you are thinking about doing a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) for 2025, time is running out. The deadline is December...
Participation in Multiple Retirement Plans
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Can a person who works at two different, unrelated companies participate in the retirement plan offered by each of those...
The “Still-Working Exception” and December 31 Retirement
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst As the end of the year approaches, you may have plans to retire on December 31. However, if you are using the “still-working exception” to...
7 Smart Moves to Cut Health Costs and Get Better Coverage with Medicare (and the Right Insurance Pairings)
If you’re approaching 65, already on Medicare, or helping a parent navigate coverage, you’ve probably noticed two things: The rules change often, and 2) small choices...
What Is Medicare? A Friendly Guide to Parts A, B, C & D
Meta: A simple walkthrough of Medicare Parts A, B, C & D—what each covers, who’s eligible, and how they work together.Takeaways: Four parts, different roles...
Medicare in 2025: What You Need to Know About Your Coverage
As we step into 2025, understanding your Medicare needs is more important than ever. With healthcare costs rising and plan options evolving, staying informed ensures...
How are Medicare costs and benefits changing for 2026?
Learn how premiums, out-of-pocket costs and income-related surcharges are changing for 2026 Medicare coverage What are the changes to Medicare benefits for 2026?...
Six Changes Coming to Social Security in 2026
Big changes are coming to Social Security in the year ahead, impacting everything from the size of your benefit check to your full retirement age. Here's what you need...
Vaccines Medicare Covers for Free in 2025
The U.S. is experiencing an outbreak of measles and is on track to have the most whooping cough cases since 1948. These vaccines Medicare covers for free can keep you...
Seven Medicare Changes Coming in 2026
Learn about the benefits that become permanent features of Medicare in 2026 and other changes as they are released. Knowing how Medicare is evolving and which benefits...
Navigating Medicare Changes in 2025 for People Living with ALS: A Comprehensive Guide
Living with ALS presents a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing your health care needs and medications. In 2025, important changes are coming...
Colorectal cancer screenings can save your life
Get a colorectal cancer screening at no extra cost to you. Learn more about life-saving screening options. Have you been putting off your colorectal cancer screening?...