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“Third-Party Posts”
The information and opinions contained herein are provided by third parties and have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, we make no representation as to their completeness or accuracy. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any products mentioned.
7 Year-End Financial Moves to Consider Before December 31
As the year begins to wind down, your financial plan deserves a year-end review too. The final few months of the year can be an important time to evaluate retirement accounts, taxes, insurance coverage, income needs, and other financial decisions that may affect both...
You’ve Worked Hard to Build Your Future. Is Your Financial Plan Keeping Up?
A new home. A growing family. A career change. Retirement getting closer. Life rarely stays the same for long. Yet financial plans and insurance policies can sit untouched for years—even as the people and priorities they were designed to support change. You may be...
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....
“Third-Party Posts”
The information and opinions contained herein are provided by third parties and have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, we make no representation as to their completeness or accuracy. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any products mentioned.
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed as interest rates increased across the yield curve. Oil prices swung significantly during the week as reports suggested the US and Iran were close to a deal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. This weekend, President Trump rejected the...
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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“Third-Party Posts”
The information and opinions contained herein are provided by third parties and have been obtained from sources believed to be reliable; however, we make no representation as to their completeness or accuracy. The information is not intended to be used as the sole basis for financial decisions, nor should it be construed as advice designed to meet the particular needs of an individual’s situation. Content is provided for informational purposes only and is not a solicitation to buy or sell any products mentioned.
Qualified Charitable Distributions and the 10-Year Rule: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I did a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) in early January of 2026 to cover a portion of my required minimum distribution (RMD), then took the rest of the RMD before I processed a Roth conversion. Am I now allowed to...
How the Once-Per-Year Rollover Rule Works and How to Avoid It
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the mantras we have here at Ed Slott & Company is: “Don’t do 60-day rollovers. Do direct transfers instead.” The reason? 60-day rollovers between IRAs are subject to several rules that have serious tax consequences if not...
Three IRA Transactions You Must Do by October 15
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Fall is in full swing and October is almost upon us. That means that an important IRA deadline looms just ahead. Here are three transactions you must get done by October 15, 2026. 1. Make a SEP IRA contribution for...
Do Inherited Roth IRA Beneficiaries Have RMDs?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst QUESTION: I really enjoy reading the Slott Report articles, but I’m confused about the inherited Roth IRA required minimum distributions (RMD) explanations. My understanding was Roth IRAs do not have RMDs even when inherited. Am I...
NUA: Average Cost Basis vs. Specific Identification
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst For those workplace retirement plan participants fortunate enough to own highly appreciated company stock in their plan – like a 401(k) or ESOP – the net unrealized appreciation (NUA) strategy may be available. NUA allows a person...
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...
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