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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.
The Biggest Retirement Risk Isn’t the Market—It’s Having No Plan
When people think about retirement, they often focus on one thing: the stock market. They worry about the next downturn, the next recession, or the next headline predicting financial uncertainty. While market volatility is certainly something to consider, it may not...
Why Financial Confidence Starts With a Plan, Not a Product
Retirement isn't built on luck—it’s built on preparation. While investment performance, insurance coverage, and market conditions all play important roles, one factor often has the greatest impact on long-term success: having a comprehensive financial plan. Whether...
Why a Retirement Income Plan Matters More Than Your Investment Returns
Many people spend decades focused on growing their retirement savings. They watch the markets, contribute to retirement accounts, and celebrate when their balances increase. But when retirement finally arrives, one question becomes far more important than, "How much...
The Retirement Tax Trap: Why Keeping More of Your Money Matters More Than Chasing Higher Returns
When people think about retirement, they often focus on growing their investments. They search for higher returns, the next great investment opportunity, or ways to outperform the market. While investment performance is important, many retirees discover that one of...
The Retirement Mistake Nobody Talks About: Having a Plan But Never Updating It
Many Americans spend years preparing for retirement. They contribute to their 401(k)s, open IRAs, purchase insurance, and work diligently to build their nest egg. Yet one of the biggest mistakes retirees and pre-retirees make isn't failing to create a financial...
Mid-Year Financial Checkup: Why June Is the Perfect Time to Reassess Your Financial Plan
As we reach the halfway point of the year, many people take stock of their health, careers, and personal goals—but often overlook one of the most important areas of their lives: their finances. Just as an annual physical helps identify potential health concerns before...
Retirement Isn’t Just About Saving Money—It’s About Creating Income You Can Count On
For many Americans, retirement planning begins with one simple question: "How much money do I need to retire?" While building savings is important, a more critical question is often overlooked: "How will I create a reliable income throughout retirement?" Retirement...
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 their working years that can create major challenges later in life. The good news is that most...
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 worked hard to build, and gaining peace of mind for the future. With rising healthcare costs, market...
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
Markets took a step back last week despite a better-than-expected start to second-quarter earnings and benign inflation data. Semiconductor names continued to come under pressure, especially the memory names, as the sector entered into bear territory, off 20% in just...
US markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. The rotation from technology into other parts of the market reversed this week, as leadership from mega-cap tech names and semiconductors powered the market higher. News that China would allow the purchase of...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week saw the end to the best 2nd quarter in six years as the S&P 500 added over $8 trillion in market value. The Semiconductor sector recorded its best quarter ever with a gain of 87.75% as AI demand for chips continued. That said the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed, with a noticeable rotation out of mega-cap technology issues to healthcare, real estate, and consumer staples. Concerns about the return on investment from a massive capital-expenditure binge on artificial intelligence resurfaced. ...
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. The holiday-shortened week brought gains to US equities and saw the Japanese and South Korean markets forge new all-time highs. The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran extended the...
Weekly Market Commentary
It was a hectic week on Wall Street as investors contended with heightened tensions in the Middle East, awaited the largest IPO in history, and received elevated inflation readings. The US and Iran appear to be very close to extending a fragile ceasefire, but as I...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 was unable to make it a 10th straight week of gains as the market pulled back sharply late in the week amid a sense that the AI trade may have gone too far, too fast. Technology issues were absolutely hammered on Thursday and Friday after...
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 ceasefire agreement. However, the negotiations between the two parties were described as “clear as mud”...
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 what I would consider a complete reversal of the prior week's action. A broadening-out trade could...
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Avoid These 4 Common IRA Trust Mistakes
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Naming a trust as your IRA beneficiary can help you meet important estate planning goals. However, if you are considering this, you should proceed with caution. Here are four common mistakes with IRA trusts you...
Inherited Roth IRAs and Contributions: today’s Slott Report Mailbag
Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I inherited a Roth IRA from a sister who was one year younger than me. If I choose to stretch distributions over my life expectancy, which chart do I use, and whose age do I use for the first required minimum distribution...
Roth Distribution Rules: IRAs vs. Plans
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst The foundational premise of a Roth IRA and a Roth 401(k) is the same – after-tax dollars go into the Roth account (either via contribution or conversion), and eligible earnings are tax-free. Pretty easy. But when it comes to...
IRS Issues Guidance on Trump Account Employer Contributions
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Recent IRS guidance confirms that any employer that wishes to make employer contributions to Trump accounts must comply with several administrative requirements. Especially for small employers, these requirements are likely to be...
The Five-Year Holding Period for Roth IRA Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst QUESTION: Does each conversion from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA require a five-year holding period? I have made several conversions and know that taxes are due when conversions are done. But how long must each conversion remain in the...
The Look-Through Rules for Trusts
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The SECURE Act, the SECURE 2.0 Act, and subsequent regulations have brought us a complex set of rules for IRA beneficiaries, including trusts. Only individuals who are named on the IRA beneficiary form (or named...
The Roth Conversion Transaction Custodians Dislike
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Anyone with a traditional IRA can do a Roth conversion. As long as the funds are eligible to be rolled over, they can be converted. With a Roth conversion, traditional IRA funds are moved into a Roth IRA. This movement of funds is...
Does the Secure Act’s 10-Year Rule Apply to Inherited Roth IRAs?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education QUESTION: Does the SECURE Act’s 10-year rule apply to inherited Roth IRAs? ANSWER: Yes, the SECURE Act’s 10-year rule also applies to inherited Roth IRAs for non-eligible designated beneficiaries (NEDBs). That...
Creditor Protection for Your Retirement Accounts
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst How well are your retirement plan account funds protected from creditors? The answer depends on which kind of creditors you are worried about. There are two types of creditors that might be coming after your retirement savings. The first...
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.
Medicare Preventive Care: The Benefits You’ve Already Paid For—Are You Using Them?
When most people think about Medicare, they focus on health insurance coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. What often gets overlooked is one of Medicare's most valuable features: preventive care. Original Medicare covers a wide...
read more
Don’t Miss These Medicare Benefits: Preventive Services That Can Help You Stay Healthier in 2026
Growing older doesn't mean slowing down—it means being proactive about your health. One of the most valuable, yet often overlooked, advantages of Medicare is the wide range of preventive services designed to help detect health concerns early, prevent illness, and...
read more
Why Every Medicare Beneficiary Should Take Advantage of Their Annual Wellness Visit
When most people hear the words "annual checkup," they assume they're talking about a physical exam. Under Medicare, however, there's an important difference between an Annual Wellness Visit and a routine physical—and understanding that difference can help you stay...
read more
7 Medicare Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands in Retirement
As retirement approaches, Medicare becomes one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. While the program provides valuable healthcare coverage, choosing the wrong plan—or missing important enrollment deadlines—can result in unnecessary expenses,...
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Medicare Myths That Could Cost You Money in Retirement
For many Americans, Medicare is one of the most valuable benefits they'll ever receive. Yet every year, countless individuals make important healthcare decisions based on misinformation or outdated advice. The truth is, understanding how Medicare works doesn't have to...
read more
Medicare in 2026: Why an Annual Medicare Review Could Save You Money and Protect Your Coverage
As healthcare costs, prescription drug plans, and Medicare options continue to evolve, reviewing your Medicare coverage each year has never been more important. Many people assume that once they enroll in Medicare, they're set for life. Unfortunately, that's one of...
read more
Medicare and Retirement: Why Turning 65 Is More Than Just a Medicare Decision
For many Americans, turning 65 feels like a major milestone. While Medicare enrollment is often the first thing people think about, the reality is that Medicare is just one piece of a much larger retirement puzzle. Decisions made during this period can have a lasting...
read more
The Medicare–Social Security Timing Puzzle: How One Decision Can Affect Your Retirement Income
For many Americans approaching retirement, two of the most important financial decisions they will make involve Medicare and Social Security. While these programs serve different purposes, the timing of when you enroll and claim benefits can have a lasting impact on...
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Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): How to Review Your Coverage and Avoid Costly Surprises
As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period approaches, many beneficiaries assume their current plan will remain the best option for the coming year. Unfortunately, Medicare plans, provider networks, prescription drug formularies, and costs can change annually. Taking...
read more
Medicare Preventive Care: The Benefits You’ve Already Paid For—Are You Using Them?
When most people think about Medicare, they focus on health insurance coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. What often gets overlooked is one of Medicare's most valuable features: preventive care. Original Medicare covers a wide...
Don’t Miss These Medicare Benefits: Preventive Services That Can Help You Stay Healthier in 2026
Growing older doesn't mean slowing down—it means being proactive about your health. One of the most valuable, yet often overlooked, advantages of Medicare is the wide range of preventive services designed to help detect health concerns early, prevent illness, and...
Why Every Medicare Beneficiary Should Take Advantage of Their Annual Wellness Visit
When most people hear the words "annual checkup," they assume they're talking about a physical exam. Under Medicare, however, there's an important difference between an Annual Wellness Visit and a routine physical—and understanding that difference can help you stay...
7 Medicare Mistakes That Could Cost You Thousands in Retirement
As retirement approaches, Medicare becomes one of the most important financial decisions you'll make. While the program provides valuable healthcare coverage, choosing the wrong plan—or missing important enrollment deadlines—can result in unnecessary expenses,...
Medicare Myths That Could Cost You Money in Retirement
For many Americans, Medicare is one of the most valuable benefits they'll ever receive. Yet every year, countless individuals make important healthcare decisions based on misinformation or outdated advice. The truth is, understanding how Medicare works doesn't have to...
Medicare in 2026: Why an Annual Medicare Review Could Save You Money and Protect Your Coverage
As healthcare costs, prescription drug plans, and Medicare options continue to evolve, reviewing your Medicare coverage each year has never been more important. Many people assume that once they enroll in Medicare, they're set for life. Unfortunately, that's one of...
Medicare and Retirement: Why Turning 65 Is More Than Just a Medicare Decision
For many Americans, turning 65 feels like a major milestone. While Medicare enrollment is often the first thing people think about, the reality is that Medicare is just one piece of a much larger retirement puzzle. Decisions made during this period can have a lasting...
The Medicare–Social Security Timing Puzzle: How One Decision Can Affect Your Retirement Income
For many Americans approaching retirement, two of the most important financial decisions they will make involve Medicare and Social Security. While these programs serve different purposes, the timing of when you enroll and claim benefits can have a lasting impact on...
Medicare Annual Enrollment Period (AEP): How to Review Your Coverage and Avoid Costly Surprises
As the Medicare Annual Enrollment Period approaches, many beneficiaries assume their current plan will remain the best option for the coming year. Unfortunately, Medicare plans, provider networks, prescription drug formularies, and costs can change annually. Taking...