Blogs
“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.
Long-Term Care Planning in 2026: The “Quiet” Risk That Can Reshape a Retirement Plan
When most people think about retirement planning, they focus on the big three: income, taxes, and investments. But there’s a fourth category that can quietly undo even a strong plan if it’s ignored: Long-Term Care (LTC) — the cost of ongoing help when someone needs...
A Well-Rounded Financial Plan Starts With the Whole Picture
When people think about “financial planning,” they often picture investing—choosing funds, watching the market, or trying to pick the right time to buy. But a truly well-rounded financial plan is bigger than a portfolio. A strong plan examines your total financial...
Retirement in 2026: 7 Smart Moves to Turn Savings Into a Paycheck (and Sleep Better Doing It)
Retirement planning in 2026 isn’t just about “saving more.” It’s about building a reliable income plan, keeping taxes predictable, and making sure your money is positioned to handle inflation, market swings, and healthcare costs—all while staying aligned with your...
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...
“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.
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...
Weekly Market Commentary
Well, the market finally had a significant pullback, but not before the S&P 500 and NASDAQ were able to set another all-time high. The week began with a deal between OpenAI and AMD, sending AMD shares nearly 24% higher. The deal catalyzed the technology sector...
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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.
What in the World is Modified Adjusted Income (MAGI), and Why Does It Matter?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Some of you may have come across the term “modified adjusted gross income” (MAGI) and figured it has something to do with “adjusted gross income” (AGI). But, unless you’re a tax geek, that may be all you know. That’s a shame...
Five Things to Know about the Five-Year Rule on Converted Roth Funds
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education If you are under age 59½ and you converted your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you will need to watch out for the five-year rule for penalty-free distributions of converted funds. Not understanding how the rule...
Combining Retirement Accounts and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: I have a new client who has an old SEP IRA as well as a traditional IRA with funds that were rolled over from his 401(k) plan. Can we combine these two accounts? Answer: Yes. These accounts can be...
529-to-Roth: Still No News on 15-Year Clock
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It’s been nearly 3½ years, and still no news. No guidance. No updates. Background: In December 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act was signed into law. That legislation contained an extensively discussed provision – allowing excess dollars in...
401(k) Rollovers and Spousal Contributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I have a 401(k) plan with a previous employer that is a mix of pre-tax and Roth money. I’m considering a direct rollover of the 401(k) to an IRA. How would that work since it’s a mix of pre-tax and after-tax funds? Would...
The “Required Beginning Date” vs. “First RMD Year” Confusion
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Most of you are probably familiar with the concept of the “required beginning date” (RBD). The RBD is the deadline for taking the first required minimum distribution (RMD) from an IRA or workplace retirement plan. If you’re a traditional...
New “Trump IRA” Is Fake News
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education On April 30, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order to promote retirement savings for American workers. In its aftermath, we have had a flurry of questions about a new savings option called a “Trump...
The Net Unrealized Appreciation Strategy and Qualified Charitable Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I have a client who is still working, over age 75, and wants to roll her 401(k) into her IRA. She has stopped contributing and wants to move the company stock to her brokerage account using the net unrealized appreciation (NUA)...
The Net Unrealized Appreciation Strategy and Qualified Charitable Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I have a client who is still working, over age 75, and wants to roll her 401(k) into her IRA. She has stopped contributing and wants to move the company stock to her brokerage account using the net unrealized appreciation (NUA)...
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