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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.
Coming Soon: The Thrift Savings Plan Will Start Offering In-Plan Roth Conversions
Kick off 2026 with clear retirement planning goals. Learn the 6 most important steps to protect your income, reduce taxes, and stay on track. 2026 Retirement Planning Goals: A Simple Roadmap to Start the Year Right A new year is the perfect time to reset...
Why Annuities Can Be a Great Fit Heading Into 2026
As we move into 2026, many investors are asking the same question: How do I protect what I’ve built—without giving up the ability to grow? That’s exactly where annuities can play a meaningful role. Annuities aren’t for everyone, and they’re not “one-size-fits-all,”...
Heading into 2026: A Smart Retirement Checkup (Without the Overwhelm)
As we turn the page into 2026, it’s the perfect time to run a simple “retirement checkup.” Not a stressful deep dive. Just a clear look at a few areas that tend to make the biggest difference—because small adjustments now can help protect your lifestyle later. Whether...
Fixed Indexed Annuities in 2026: A Smarter Way to Balance Growth and Protection in Your Retirement Portfolio
As we move into 2026, many retirees and pre-retirees are asking the same question: “How do I keep my retirement plan growing without exposing everything to the next market swing?” After several years of elevated volatility and changing interest-rate conditions, more...
Retirement Planning in 2026: Why Annuities Deserve a Serious Look
Retirement planning in 2026 looks different than it did even a few years ago. Many retirees and pre-retirees are facing a familiar challenge in a new way: they want growth, but they also want stability. They want income they can count on, but they don’t want to feel...
Safe Money Options Heading Into 2026
A Financial Advisor’s Guide to Protecting What You’ve Worked So Hard to Build When markets are choppy and headlines are loud, many people start asking the same question: “Where can I put my money so it feels safer, but still has a chance to grow?” As we move into...
Retirement Income Planning Going Into 2026: Turning Your Savings Into a Lifetime Paycheck
For most people, retirement isn’t about a specific age or account balance—it’s about confidence.Confidence that the bills will be paid, that you can handle surprises, and that you won’t run out of money before you run out of life. As we approach 2026, retirement...
Estate Planning & You: Getting Ready for 2026 (Without Freaking Out)
Estate planning sounds like something for billionaires in marble mansions… not for regular people with a mortgage, a 401(k), a dog, and a favorite taco spot. But here’s the truth:If you love someone or own something, you need some kind of estate plan. As we head...
Retirement Planning in 2026: How to Prepare for a New Era of Retirement
If you feel like retirement has gotten more complicated, you’re not imagining things. Between market volatility, rising costs, new tax rules, and longer life expectancies, “set it and forget it” retirement planning just doesn’t work anymore. The good news? With a...
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.
Coming Soon: The Thrift Savings Plan Will Start Offering In-Plan Roth Conversions
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Since 2010, participants in certain private sector 401(k) plans have been able to boost their Roth retirement savings by doing an “in-plan Roth conversion” of non-Roth plan funds to a Roth account within the same plan. This plan feature...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets ended the New Year holiday-shortened week with losses. Mega-cap Technology issues sold off on low volume, as did Financial and Consumer Discretionary sectors. That said, the S&P 500 posted its third straight year of double-digit gains as investors...
Weekly Market Commentary
The Christmas-shortened week produced gains across all major US indices, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hitting record highs. Mega-cap Tech assumed its leadership role with the semiconductor sector having relative strength. Nvidia announced a $20 billion deal...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets finished the week mixed, with a late-week rally in technology mitigating early-week losses. Micron Technology’s third-quarter results were excellent and helped propel technology stocks after the announcement. Western Digital, Seagate, and Sandisk, other...
Weekly Market Commentary
The Federal Reserve, as expected, cut its monetary policy rate by twenty-five basis points to 3.50%-3.75% and tempered expectations for further cuts in 2026. The decision was not unanimous, as a divided Fed considered elevated inflation against a weakening labor...
Weekly Market Commentary
Apprehensive investors pushed markets higher this week, with the small-cap Russell 2000 hitting a new all-time high, while the S&P 500 closed just 50 points below its October all-time high. Economic data, some of which is quite dated, offered a mixed picture of...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week saw global financial markets trade higher. Increased optimism for a December rate cut, along with some constructive news on the AI front, catalyzed buying across risk assets. Several Fed officials indicated they were inclined to support a...
Weekly Market Commentary
Financial markets continued to decline as investors sold AI-related stocks amid valuation concerns, while rotating into more defensive sectors such as healthcare and consumer staples. A stellar third-quarter earnings report from NVidia prompted investors to step in...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets were choppy and ended the week with mixed results. Investors poured into risk assets on the idea that the longest US government shutdown was over, but a more hawkish tone from several Fed officials recalibrated expectations for a December rate cut and...
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No Joke – Today is a Required Beginning Date!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Today is April 1, and that’s a big day! No, not because it’s April Fool’s Day, but because today is the required beginning date (RBD) for any traditional IRA owner who turned age 73 in 2025. Based on census data, that could...
8 Rules to Help Navigate the Multiple Plan Contribution Limits
Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst More and more Americans are taking on “side gigs” or switching jobs. When that happens, they often wind up participating in two different employer retirement plans at the same time or in the same year. Here are 8 rules to help you understand...
Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Hi Ed and team, If a parent, age 86, inherited their son’s 401(k) after the son passed at age 58, does the parent still have 10 years to withdraw the funds? A lot is discussed about beneficiaries...
5 Things You Need to Know about the Roth IRA Five-Year Rules
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Here at the Slott Report, we get a lot of questions on all sorts of different IRA topics. However, one area where we consistently get the most inquiries is the five-year rules for Roth IRA distributions....
Young Spouse, Spousal Rollover, Year-of-Death RMD…and a Penalty?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When an IRA owner reaches the required beginning date (RBD), required minimum distributions (RMDs) are officially “turned on.” For IRAs, the RBD is April 1 of the year after the year the IRA owner turns age 73. If an IRA owner died...
Roth 5-Year Clocks and Spousal IRA Contributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I’m age 72 and my wife is age 63. I want to open a spousal Roth IRA. I already have a Roth for myself that I’ve owned for more than 5 years. Would she have to wait 5 years before she can make a withdrawal without a...
Moving the Clocks Ahead and Reviewing the Roth IRA 5-Year Clocks
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst A few Saturdays ago, many of us moved our clocks one hour ahead to usher in Daylight Saving Time. Adjusting our clocks is a reminder to review the confusing rules surrounding the Roth IRA distribution clocks. It’s no surprise that...
5 Reasons to Roll Over Your Retirement Funds to an IRA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In these turbulent economic times, the headlines are full of news about layoffs. With job loss can come questions about what to do with retirement savings such as your 401(k) plan. A rollover to an IRA may...
Qualified Charitable Distributions and Roth IRA 5-Year Rules: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello Mailbag Folks, I may have missed something in one of the Ed Slott newsletters, but I thought that if one contributed to a non-profit directly from an IRA account to the non-profit, the amount would not be taxed. I made my...
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 Checkup: 7 Smart Moves to Start the Year Confident
Medicare is not “set it and forget it.” Plans, provider networks, drug formularies, and costs can change each year—sometimes in ways that surprise people after they’ve already scheduled appointments or refilled prescriptions. A quick annual Medicare checkup can help...
read more
Medicare & You: Your 2026 Checklist for Smarter Coverage and Lower Costs
As we head into 2026, Medicare remains one of the most important (and misunderstood) parts of retirement. The good news: you don’t have to “figure it out” alone. A few smart, proactive moves can help you avoid common mistakes, reduce out-of-pocket surprises, and feel...
read more
Medicare in 2026: What’s New, What’s Changing, and What Your Clients Should Do Now
2026 is shaping up to be one of the most “noticeably different” Medicare years in a while—not because the rules are unrecognizable, but because the cost and prescription-drug pieces are moving in ways that many beneficiaries will actually feel in their monthly budget....
read more
Medicare in 2026: What to Know, What to Review, and What to Do Next
If you’re on Medicare (or turning 65 soon), 2026 is a great year to get organized. Medicare isn’t “one-and-done.” Plans, costs, provider networks, and prescription coverage can change from year to year — and even small changes can affect your monthly budget and your...
read more
Medicare Advantage Heading Into 2026: What You Need to Know Before You Enroll
If you’re approaching 65, already on Medicare, or helping a loved one evaluate coverage, you’ve probably noticed something: Medicare Advantage plans are everywhere. And there’s a reason for that. More than half of all people on Medicare now choose a Medicare Advantage...
read more
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) for 2025–2026
What to Know About Filling the Gaps in Original Medicare If you’re approaching Medicare or already enrolled, you’ve probably noticed something surprising:Original Medicare (Parts A & B) doesn’t cover everything. That’s where Medicare Supplement Insurance (also...
read more
Medicare Supplement Plans in 2026: What’s Changing, What’s Not, and What It Means for You
If you’re on Medicare — or getting close — you’ve probably heard people talk about “Medicare Supplement” or “Medigap” plans. You’ve also probably heard…👉 “Plan letters”👉 “Original Medicare only covers 80%”👉 “Rates keep going up every year.” It’s a lot. So let’s walk...
read more
Working Past 65? The New Rules of Medicare for Today’s “Unretired” Americans
If you’re turning 65, there’s a good chance you’re not retiring the way your parents did. Many of today’s 60-somethings are still working, consulting, starting businesses, helping with grandkids, or caring for aging parents. Life doesn’t magically slow down at 65—and...
read more
Your Annual Medicare Checklist: What to Review Before You Change Plans
Choosing or changing your Medicare coverage isn’t something to rush. Each year, your health needs, prescriptions, and budget can shift—and plans change too. Use this simple checklist so you can feel confident in your decision. 1) Confirm your doctors and hospitals are...
read more
Medicare Checkup: 7 Smart Moves to Start the Year Confident
Medicare is not “set it and forget it.” Plans, provider networks, drug formularies, and costs can change each year—sometimes in ways that surprise people after they’ve already scheduled appointments or refilled prescriptions. A quick annual Medicare checkup can help...
Medicare & You: Your 2026 Checklist for Smarter Coverage and Lower Costs
As we head into 2026, Medicare remains one of the most important (and misunderstood) parts of retirement. The good news: you don’t have to “figure it out” alone. A few smart, proactive moves can help you avoid common mistakes, reduce out-of-pocket surprises, and feel...
Medicare in 2026: What’s New, What’s Changing, and What Your Clients Should Do Now
2026 is shaping up to be one of the most “noticeably different” Medicare years in a while—not because the rules are unrecognizable, but because the cost and prescription-drug pieces are moving in ways that many beneficiaries will actually feel in their monthly budget....
Medicare in 2026: What to Know, What to Review, and What to Do Next
If you’re on Medicare (or turning 65 soon), 2026 is a great year to get organized. Medicare isn’t “one-and-done.” Plans, costs, provider networks, and prescription coverage can change from year to year — and even small changes can affect your monthly budget and your...
Medicare Advantage Heading Into 2026: What You Need to Know Before You Enroll
If you’re approaching 65, already on Medicare, or helping a loved one evaluate coverage, you’ve probably noticed something: Medicare Advantage plans are everywhere. And there’s a reason for that. More than half of all people on Medicare now choose a Medicare Advantage...
Medicare Supplement Plans (Medigap) for 2025–2026
What to Know About Filling the Gaps in Original Medicare If you’re approaching Medicare or already enrolled, you’ve probably noticed something surprising:Original Medicare (Parts A & B) doesn’t cover everything. That’s where Medicare Supplement Insurance (also...
Medicare Supplement Plans in 2026: What’s Changing, What’s Not, and What It Means for You
If you’re on Medicare — or getting close — you’ve probably heard people talk about “Medicare Supplement” or “Medigap” plans. You’ve also probably heard…👉 “Plan letters”👉 “Original Medicare only covers 80%”👉 “Rates keep going up every year.” It’s a lot. So let’s walk...
Working Past 65? The New Rules of Medicare for Today’s “Unretired” Americans
If you’re turning 65, there’s a good chance you’re not retiring the way your parents did. Many of today’s 60-somethings are still working, consulting, starting businesses, helping with grandkids, or caring for aging parents. Life doesn’t magically slow down at 65—and...
Your Annual Medicare Checklist: What to Review Before You Change Plans
Choosing or changing your Medicare coverage isn’t something to rush. Each year, your health needs, prescriptions, and budget can shift—and plans change too. Use this simple checklist so you can feel confident in your decision. 1) Confirm your doctors and hospitals are...