Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
Getting Ready for Retirement Checklist
If the word “retire” is becoming your new mantra, we suggest you make a retirement checklist before you receive your last paycheck. It’s never too early (or too late)...
The Most Important Ages of Retirement
Retirement is a series of milestones that arrive as you age. Here are the ones you should know about. The retirement clock doesn't start the day you stop working. It's...
Social Security Benefits Changes in 2025: What You Need to Know for Smarter Retirement and Tax Planning
Social Security is one of the most essential yet misunderstood pieces of the American retirement puzzle. With all the recent headlines, ranging from benefit increases...
Planning to retire in 2025? Do these 7 things now
A wonderful retirement is the goal of many people, and you want it to come off without any major snags. But retirement plans always face challenges, whether it’s the...
3 Retirement Mistakes That Can Still Be Fixed in 2025
Retirement planning is rarely perfect. Life throws curveballs—health issues, market downturns, career changes—and even the most diligent savers can stumble along the...
8 Ways to Keep From Going Broke in Retirement
Budgeting, saving and investing tips to help make your money last as long as you do No matter how diligently you’ve been saving for retirement, it’s hard not to worry...
A Loved One Died and Left You an Inheritance. Now What?
Take these steps when you receive a windfall Perhaps you are among the growing number of Americans fortunate enough to receive an inheritance. As older generations pass...
Retirement age change 2025: What it means for your Social Security benefits
A quiet but important shift is happening in 2025: the full retirement age for Social Security is increasing again. If you were born in 1959, the change affects you...
10 Things Retirees Should Stop Spending On Now
Say goodbye to second cars, warehouse stores and other no-longer-necessary expenses Retirement is a time to rethink some things: how we fill our hours and days, what we...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week was busy. Trade uncertainties continued to be on investors' minds, with several trade stories hitting the tape...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It was a busy week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Index and the S&P 500 went positive for the year, catalyzed by the announcement...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US financial markets were little changed last week as investors continued to weigh the implications of the Trump administration's trade policies. ...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Global markets rallied for a second week as the S&P 500 clinched nine consecutive days of gains- something not seen in two decades. News that...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Global financial markets rallied on several reports that suggested significant progress was being made on trade negotiations. Vice President Vance...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity markets regressed during the abbreviated trading week, while US Treasuries found some footing. Trade policies continued to influence markets...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Wow, what a week on Wall Street. Continued uncertainty regarding trade policy induced massive swings in the equity, bond, commodity, and currency...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Global financial markets tumbled last week as investors moved out of risk assets, fearing that a worldwide trade war would ensue after Trump's...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It's been a difficult month for investors, and sentiment indicators tell that story. Wall Street appeared poised to build on the prior week's...
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QCDs and RMDs Before Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I read your blog titled “5 Things You Need to Know About Qualified Charitable Distributions.” I was surprised that you didn’t...
Good Reasons to Name a Trust as IRA Beneficiary
When a trust is named as beneficiary of an IRA, several possible negative issues may be introduced. For example, after the death of the IRA owner, things can become...
State Tax Treatment of 529-to-Roth IRA Rollovers
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst By now, most of you probably know about the SECURE 2.0 Act provision permitting 529 funds to be rolled over to Roth IRAs. Because of this...
Roth Conversions and Qualified Charitable Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Hello Ed Slott Team! I have been doing backdoor Roth IRA conversions for years now. I recently inherited...
5 Steps for Tax-Free Roth IRA Distributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The benefit of funding a Roth IRA is the availability of tax-free distributions in the future. You pay taxes now...
401(k) RMD Rollover Problems…and a Last-Minute Save!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst 401(k) custodians are usually pretty good about distributing required minimum distributions (RMDs) from the plans they oversee....
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...
Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Mandatory?
Key Points While the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is not mandatory, it is a 100% covered preventive service. The Annual Wellness Visit differs from the typical annual...
Why You Need Part D
Key Points Medicare Part D is a voluntary program, but if you do not enroll in a plan, you won’t have coverage for expensive medications. You will also have a late...
Medigaps
Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of most services. But what about the other 20%? Or the other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or inpatient copays?...
Medicare’s 2025 Surprise: Higher Costs, New Caps, and Vanishing Perks
Big changes are coming to Medicare and Social Security in 2025, and if you’re on Medicare—or soon will be—you need to know how these updates could impact your costs and...
Here’s How Much Medicare Will Cost in 2025
Medicare pays for a bulk of older Americans’ health care costs, but not all. And each year Medicare adjusts key costs that are paid by enrollees. I want to walk through...
What If My Medicare Doctor “Opts Out”?
Finding a doctor you like and trust can be a long process, so I understand that it can be frustrating when your doctor no longer accepts Medicare. If your doctor has...
How Medicare Advantage Plans Cover Seniors’ Vision, Hearing, and Dental Needs
Does Medicare Cover Dental and Vision Care? Understanding Your Options Maintaining our vision, hearing, and dental health is important to living a healthy and...
How do Social Security and Medicare work together?
They are separate programs, but the Social Security Administration handles enrollment and collects premiums for many on Medicare Social Security and Medicare are...
Advice Retirees Wish They Knew Sooner
Retirement can be one of the most fulfilling times in life, but getting there comes with its own set of challenges and learning experiences. While reflecting, there may...