Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
7 Financial Mistakes That Can Derail Your Retirement — And How to Avoid Them
Retirement should be a time filled with freedom, confidence, and peace of mind — not uncertainty and financial stress. Yet many people unknowingly make decisions during...
Retirement Planning in 2026: Building Confidence for the Years Ahead
Retirement is no longer viewed as simply “stopping work.” For many individuals and families, retirement is about creating freedom, protecting the lifestyle they’ve...
Understanding Fixed Indexed Annuities: Balancing Growth Potential and Protection
In today’s unpredictable financial environment, many retirees and pre-retirees are searching for ways to protect their savings while still maintaining the opportunity...
Why Retirement Planning Should Start Earlier Than Most People Think
When people hear the words “retirement planning,” many immediately picture someone in their 60s preparing to leave the workforce. The reality is very different. The...
Why Financial Confidence Starts With a Plan
For many people, financial confidence is not about having millions of dollars or a perfect investment strategy. It is about feeling secure, prepared, and in control of...
Protecting Your Wealth Through Every Stage of Life
When people think about financial planning, they often focus only on retirement accounts or investment strategies. While these are important pieces of the puzzle, true...
The Hidden Risk of “Waiting Too Long” to Get Your Financial House in Order
Most people do not ignore their finances because they do not care.They ignore them because life gets busy. Work takes over. Family needs attention. Retirement feels far...
What Inflation Is Quietly Doing to Your Retirement Plan
When most people think about retirement planning, they focus on the big numbers. How much they have saved. How much income they will need. When they want to retire. But...
Last-Minute Tax Moves Before April 15: IRA, HSA, and Retirement Planning Tips
As April 15 approaches, many people assume the window for tax planning has already closed. The truth is, there may still be time to make a few smart financial moves...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global equity markets rallied in May and received a final boost in the final week of the month on optimism that the US and Iran were close to extending the current...
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all the brave men and women who have served our country to ensure our freedom. Markets took a step forward last week in...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. Hotter-than-expected inflation data, coupled with increased tensions in the Middle East, sent US Treasury...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global markets hit record highs as Q1 earnings continued to exceed expectations. Despite continued tensions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz effectively...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global markets had mixed results last week as headlines about the US-Iran conflict continued to affect trade. Conflicting reports of the US and Iran meeting to...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global markets continued to rally in hopes of an extended ceasefire and Friday’s reopening of the Strait of Hormuz. However, the rally will be tested on Monday after...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global markets rose for a second week as the US and Iran agreed to a two-week ceasefire. The two sides met in Pakistan on Saturday to negotiate an end to the war, but...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week saw US equities advance even as oil prices surged amid uncertainty about the duration of the Iranian conflict. Early in the week, investors...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets fell for the fourth consecutive week as the US-Israel-Iran conflict entered its 5th week. President Trump’s announcement that he would extend the deadline...
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What in the World is Modified Adjusted Income (MAGI), and Why Does It Matter?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Some of you may have come across the term “modified adjusted gross income” (MAGI) and figured it has something to do with “adjusted...
Five Things to Know about the Five-Year Rule on Converted Roth Funds
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education If you are under age 59½ and you converted your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you will need to watch out for the...
Combining Retirement Accounts and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: I have a new client who has an old SEP IRA as well as a traditional IRA with funds that were rolled over...
529-to-Roth: Still No News on 15-Year Clock
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It’s been nearly 3½ years, and still no news. No guidance. No updates. Background: In December 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act was signed...
401(k) Rollovers and Spousal Contributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I have a 401(k) plan with a previous employer that is a mix of pre-tax and Roth money. I’m considering a direct rollover...
The “Required Beginning Date” vs. “First RMD Year” Confusion
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Most of you are probably familiar with the concept of the “required beginning date” (RBD). The RBD is the deadline for taking the first...
New “Trump IRA” Is Fake News
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education On April 30, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order to promote retirement savings for American...
The Net Unrealized Appreciation Strategy and Qualified Charitable Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I have a client who is still working, over age 75, and wants to roll her 401(k) into her IRA. She has stopped contributing and...
The Net Unrealized Appreciation Strategy and Qualified Charitable Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I have a client who is still working, over age 75, and wants to roll her 401(k) into her IRA. She has stopped contributing and...
Understanding Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement Plans: Which One Fits Your Retirement Lifestyle?
Choosing the right Medicare coverage can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available. One of the biggest decisions retirees face is whether to enroll...
Understanding Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement Plans in 2026
Choosing the right Medicare coverage can feel overwhelming, especially with so many options available today. One of the most common questions people ask when...
Understanding Medicare Part D Changes in 2026: What Beneficiaries Need to Know
Medicare continues to evolve each year, and 2026 is bringing several important updates that could directly impact prescription drug costs, coverage choices, and overall...
Understanding Medicare Advantage vs. Medicare Supplement Plans in 2026
Choosing Medicare coverage can feel overwhelming, especially when comparing Medicare Advantage plans and Medicare Supplement plans. Both options are designed to help...
Medicare in 2026: What Every Senior Should Know Before Choosing a Plan
Choosing the right Medicare coverage can feel overwhelming, especially with plan options, deadlines, and yearly changes. For many retirees, Medicare is one of the most...
2026 Medicare Coverage Gaps Seniors Should Know About
Medicare provides valuable health coverage for millions of Americans, but many beneficiaries are surprised to discover that it does not cover everything. Understanding...
Why a Medicare Review Each Year Can Save You Money and Stress
Medicare is not something most people should set once and forget. Your health needs can change, your prescriptions can change, and Medicare plan costs and coverage can...
Why Waiting Too Long to Enroll in Medicare Can Cost You
For many people approaching age 65, Medicare feels like something they can figure out later. After all, if you are still working, covered by a spouse’s plan, or simply...
What Medicare’s Annual Wellness Visit Covers — And What It Does Not
Many people on Medicare have heard of the Annual Wellness Visit, but there is still a lot of confusion about what it actually includes. One of the biggest...