“Third-Party Posts”
The views reflected by the author in this article are subject to change at any time without notice. Insure With Arama deems reliable any statistical data or information obtained from or prepared by third party sources included in this article, but in no way guarantees its accuracy or completeness.
Could Your Retirement Plan Handle a Change of Plans?
You may have a clear picture of retirement: more time with family, a few trips you have been putting off, and the freedom to spend your days doing what matters most. But a retirement plan also needs room for the things you cannot schedule. An unexpected home repair. A...
The Four Risks That Can Quietly Undermine Your Retirement Plan
Retirement planning is about more than reaching a particular savings goal. Even a substantial portfolio can face pressure from risks that are easy to underestimate—including market volatility, inflation, rising healthcare costs, and the possibility of living longer...
Tax-Efficient Retirement Planning: It’s Not Just What You Save—It’s What You Keep
Saving for retirement is one of the most important financial commitments you can make. But building a sizable retirement account is only part of the equation. The amount you are ultimately able to spend may also depend on how—and when—your retirement income is taxed....
The Retirement Expense Many Families Forget to Plan For
Why Long-Term Care Deserves a Place in Your Financial Strategy Most people spend years preparing for retirement. They estimate how much income they may need, decide when to claim Social Security, review their investments, and think about Medicare. Yet one potentially...
Your Retirement Plan May Look Complete—But Is It Truly Connected?
Most people do not build their retirement strategy all at once. They accumulate different financial products and accounts throughout their lives. A 401(k) may come from a former employer. An IRA may be held somewhere else. Life insurance might have been purchased...
The Human Advantage: Why Financial Advice Matters More in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is changing nearly every industry, and financial services are no exception. Today, consumers have access to sophisticated calculators, retirement projections, investment research, budgeting applications, and AI-powered tools that can provide...
Fixed Indexed Annuities: A Retirement Strategy Designed for Growth Potential Without Direct Market Risk
As retirement approaches, one question becomes increasingly important: How do you continue growing your retirement savings while protecting what you've worked so hard to build? For many Americans, market volatility has made that decision more challenging than ever....
Life Insurance in 2026: It’s More Than a Death Benefit
When many people hear the words "life insurance," they immediately think about protecting loved ones after they're gone. While that remains one of its most important purposes, today's life insurance solutions can offer much more. In 2026, life insurance has evolved...
How a Fixed Indexed Annuity Can Work for You in 2026
As Americans continue preparing for retirement in an uncertain economic environment, many are looking for ways to protect their savings while still having the opportunity for growth. With inflation, market volatility, and changing interest rate expectations continuing...
The views reflected by the author in this article are subject to change at any time without notice. Insure With Arama deems reliable any statistical data or information obtained from or prepared by third party sources included in this article, but in no way guarantees its accuracy or completeness.
Weekly Market Commentary
It was a volatile week on Wall Street as traders assessed monetary policy decisions from several central banks, including the Federal Reserve. The Fed did, as expected, raise its policy rate by 25 basis points to 3.75%-4.00%, but Fed Chairman Warsh's very hawkish...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets fell in the holiday-shortened week as oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel, raising inflation concerns and pushing interest rates higher. Additionally, elevated inflation data announced during the week increased the likelihood that the Federal Reserve...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed as investors assessed the escalation of tensions between the US and Iran and recalibrated expectations of Federal Reserve monetary policy. The week started with sharp declines after the US hit targets on an island in the Strait of...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets ended the week mixed as investors assessed the implications of the US economic isolation of Iran, the fallout of increased tariffs on Canada, Nvidia Q2 earnings results, and the Fed Chairman’s speech at the Kansas City Federal Reserve’s Economic Symposium in...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets took a step back last week in what turned out to be a very busy week. Increased yields on the long end of the curve prompted Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent to double buybacks of 10- to 30-year US Treasuries in an effort to temper the rise in...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 forged a new all-time high as investors recalibrated interest-rate-hike expectations after an in-line print of the Consumer Price Index and a cooler-than-expected print of the Producer Price Index. The probability of a rate hike in September fell to...
Weekly Market Commentary
Giddy up! US equity markets ripped higher in the first week of August as 2nd quarter earnings continued to impress. According to FactSet, 88% of the S&P 500 have reported earnings, of which 86% have beaten Earnings Per Share estimates, while Earnings Per Share...
Weekly Market Commentary
It was an extremely busy week on Wall Street, with investors having to assess increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East alongside a deluge of corporate 2nd-quarter earnings results, several central bank monetary policy decisions, and a full economic...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity indices declined for a second consecutive week despite a strong start to second-quarter earnings. With just over 25% of the S&P 500 reporting, top- and bottom-line growth rates have been better than anticipated. Results this week from Google, Intel, and...
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Do We Use the Life Expectancy of the IRA Owner, or the Beneficiary to Calculate RMDs?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education QUESTION: I understand that the SECURE Act 10-year payout rule applies to certain beneficiaries. I also understand that, if the IRA owner died after his required beginning date (RBD), annual required minimum...
Time is Running Out for Penalty-Free Correction of 2025 IRA Contributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Believe it or not, you still have some time if you are having second thoughts about that IRA contribution you made for 2025. Maybe you made a Roth IRA contribution and then discovered your income was too high....
Part 2: Who Should NOT Convert to a Roth IRA?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst In our August 31, 2026, Slott Report entry, we offered a list of situations where Roth conversion could make sense. In that article, we also said that a Roth conversion is not for everyone. Conversion is NOT a universally...
Can I Do a Conversion From the Inherited IRA Into the Inherited Roth IRA?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I am age 74 and inherited both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA from my older sister who recently died. Can I do a conversion from the inherited IRA into the inherited Roth IRA? Daniel ANSWER: Daniel, Non-spouse...
An Update on State Law Tax Treatment of Trump Accounts
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst A Slott Report article from April 20, 2026, reported that a number of states intended to tax Trump accounts less favorably than they are taxed under the federal tax code, and others were undecided about state tax treatment. Since then,...
Should My Daughter Continue Contributing to Her Son’s 529 Plan or Open Up a Trump Account?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Can I roll over my pre-tax 401(k) funds to a traditional IRA and my Roth 401(k) funds to a Roth IRA? I am concerned about the once-per-year rollover rule. Thanks, Ken Answer: Hi Ken, I have good news for you. The once-per-year...
Qualified Disaster Distributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Hurricane season is upon us. Wildfires are raging in the West, and many states are dealing with flooding from summer storms. Natural disasters are increasingly common. After the impact comes the cleanup…and the...
Can I Do a Roth Conversion With No Earned Income?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Can I convert my traditional IRA to a Roth IRA even though I have no earned income for this year? Answer: While having earned income or taxable compensation is a requirement for making a tax-year...
IRS Issues Guidance on Permissible Trump Account Investments
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the most important features of Trump accounts is that they must be invested a certain way during the period before January 1 of the year the child turns age 18. (The IRS calls this the “growth period.”) The IRS recently issued...
The views reflected by the author in this article are subject to change at any time without notice. Insure With Arama deems reliable any statistical data or information obtained from or prepared by third party sources included in this article, but in no way guarantees its accuracy or completeness.
Your Medicare Plan Changed. Did You Notice?
You recognize the insurance company. You have the same membership card. Your coverage has worked well so far. But does it still fit the year ahead? It is easy to treat Medicare coverage as a decision you have already finished. Yet a plan that met your needs last year...
read more
7 Medicare Enrollment Mistakes to Avoid When Turning 65
Turning 65 is an exciting milestone—but it also brings important Medicare decisions. With multiple enrollment periods, coverage options, and deadlines to understand, even a small mistake could lead to delayed coverage, unexpected expenses, or lifelong penalties. Here...
read more
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: What Should You Choose at 65?
As your 65th birthday approaches, you will have several important Medicare decisions to make. One of the biggest is choosing how you want to receive your Medicare benefits. Should you select Original Medicare, or would a Medicare Advantage plan better fit your needs?...
read more
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: What Should You Choose at 65?
As your 65th birthday approaches, you will have several important Medicare decisions to make. One of the biggest is choosing how you want to receive your Medicare benefits. Should you select Original Medicare, or would a Medicare Advantage plan better fit your needs?...
read more
Medicare Wellness Visits Explained: What Is Covered—and What Is Not
When you become eligible for Medicare, you may hear several similar-sounding terms: the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, the Annual Wellness Visit, and a routine physical exam. Although these appointments can all play a role in managing your health, they are not the...
read more
Medicare Wellness Visits Explained: What Is Covered—and What Is Not
When you become eligible for Medicare, you may hear several similar-sounding terms: the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, the Annual Wellness Visit, and a routine physical exam. Although these appointments can all play a role in managing your health, they are not the...
read more
Medicare Isn’t “Set It and Forget It”: 7 Life Changes That Should Trigger a Coverage Review
Choosing Medicare coverage is an important decision—but it is not necessarily a one-time decision. The coverage that worked well when you first enrolled may not continue to fit as your health, prescriptions, finances or lifestyle change. Unfortunately, many people...
read more
Medicare Isn’t “Set It and Forget It”: 7 Life Changes That Should Trigger a Coverage Review
Choosing Medicare coverage is an important decision—but it is not necessarily a one-time decision. The coverage that worked well when you first enrolled may not continue to fit as your health, prescriptions, finances or lifestyle change. Unfortunately, many people...
read more
Medicare Preventive Benefits: Are You Taking Advantage of What Medicare Covers?
When most people think about Medicare, they think about coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and medical treatment. But Medicare also provides access to a wide range of preventive services designed to help beneficiaries stay healthier and...
read more
Your Medicare Plan Changed. Did You Notice?
You recognize the insurance company. You have the same membership card. Your coverage has worked well so far. But does it still fit the year ahead? It is easy to treat Medicare coverage as a decision you have already finished. Yet a plan that met your needs last year...
7 Medicare Enrollment Mistakes to Avoid When Turning 65
Turning 65 is an exciting milestone—but it also brings important Medicare decisions. With multiple enrollment periods, coverage options, and deadlines to understand, even a small mistake could lead to delayed coverage, unexpected expenses, or lifelong penalties. Here...
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: What Should You Choose at 65?
As your 65th birthday approaches, you will have several important Medicare decisions to make. One of the biggest is choosing how you want to receive your Medicare benefits. Should you select Original Medicare, or would a Medicare Advantage plan better fit your needs?...
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: What Should You Choose at 65?
As your 65th birthday approaches, you will have several important Medicare decisions to make. One of the biggest is choosing how you want to receive your Medicare benefits. Should you select Original Medicare, or would a Medicare Advantage plan better fit your needs?...
Medicare Wellness Visits Explained: What Is Covered—and What Is Not
When you become eligible for Medicare, you may hear several similar-sounding terms: the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, the Annual Wellness Visit, and a routine physical exam. Although these appointments can all play a role in managing your health, they are not the...
Medicare Wellness Visits Explained: What Is Covered—and What Is Not
When you become eligible for Medicare, you may hear several similar-sounding terms: the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, the Annual Wellness Visit, and a routine physical exam. Although these appointments can all play a role in managing your health, they are not the...
Medicare Isn’t “Set It and Forget It”: 7 Life Changes That Should Trigger a Coverage Review
Choosing Medicare coverage is an important decision—but it is not necessarily a one-time decision. The coverage that worked well when you first enrolled may not continue to fit as your health, prescriptions, finances or lifestyle change. Unfortunately, many people...
Medicare Isn’t “Set It and Forget It”: 7 Life Changes That Should Trigger a Coverage Review
Choosing Medicare coverage is an important decision—but it is not necessarily a one-time decision. The coverage that worked well when you first enrolled may not continue to fit as your health, prescriptions, finances or lifestyle change. Unfortunately, many people...
Medicare Preventive Benefits: Are You Taking Advantage of What Medicare Covers?
When most people think about Medicare, they think about coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and medical treatment. But Medicare also provides access to a wide range of preventive services designed to help beneficiaries stay healthier and...