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.
10 Things Retirees Should Stop Spending On Now
Say goodbye to second cars, warehouse stores and other no-longer-necessary expenses Retirement is a time to rethink some things: how we fill our hours and days, what we do for fun and fulfillment. And, maybe, all that stuff we’ve been spending money on for years. You...
10 Simple Financial Tasks You Can Tackle in an Hour
You won't believe how much you can accomplish — and save — in just a few minutes Have 60 minutes to kill? You could spend it watching TV or playing games on your smartphone. Or you could spend it saving money, by ticking some easy but important financial tasks off...
4 Key Decisions for Early Retirement
‘Will your money last?’ isn’t the only question to consider before retiring. I was chatting with a friend the other day about his retirement—possibly an early one. At age 60, he has worked hard, saved aggressively, and invested well. Most important, he’s pretty burned...
How to Plan for Retirement Like a Veteran
Surveys show ex-service members retire with more assets, less debt and greater confidence. Here are six ways to follow their lead. When her son Corbett joined the Marine Corps right out of high school in 2013, Lara Ferguson was surprised to learn that he was required...
6 things to consider when saving for retirement.
Retirement is a time to enjoy your golden years and live life to the fullest. But in order to do that, it's important to start planning early. Retirement savings can be a complex topic, but there are a few key things to keep in mind to get started. 1. Start saving...
The Transition to Retirement: 11 Exceptional Tips for the Average Joe or Jane
Baby boomers were never “average.” The generation wears uniqueness is a badge of honor. However, approximately 10,000 boomers turn 65 everyday. While we each have specific goals, ideas and financial circumstances, there are some things that apply to us all. Here is...
Is 2025 a Bad Year To Retire With the Stock Market in the Dumps?
2025 may seem like a bad year to retire if you're looking at the stock market alone. But that's not the only consideration. It sure seems like a bad year to retire. The stock markets are falling, taking 401(k) balances along with it, tariffs are in place, federal...
5 Dos and Don’ts When Lending Money to Loved Ones
Helping friends or family shouldn’t mean hurting your finances Let’s face it: Money is tight for many people. And if you have loved ones in your life who are struggling financially, you may feel inclined to help them. If you do, proceed with caution. According to a...
11 Mistakes Retirees Make at the Supermarket
It’s not just inflation. Your bad habits may explain why you’re paying too much for groceries. Retirees living on fixed incomes have been feeling the pinch of rising grocery costs. Grocery prices in February rose 2.6 percent year-over-year, according to the U.S....
“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
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Global financial markets tumbled last week as investors moved out of risk assets, fearing that a worldwide trade war would ensue after Trump's tariffs were higher than anticipated. Thursday and Friday’s market action resulted in a $5.4 trillion...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It's been a difficult month for investors, and sentiment indicators tell that story. Wall Street appeared poised to build on the prior week's gains, but regressed again as mixed signals on tariffs and a loss of sentiment gave reason to sell. ...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 avoided a fifth straight week of losses as investors continued to assess the impact of Trump’s policies. A late rally on Friday afternoon, fueled on heavy volume from quarterly options' expiration, helped propel the S&P 500...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Investors endured the fourth consecutive week of losses in US equity markets as concerns around tariffs and their impact on the economy continued to weigh on sentiment. Several investment banks decreased their assessment of US equities and...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Economic growth concerns weighed on US financial markets as manic trade policy fostered uncertainty and volatility. It was a hectic week as investors tried to make sense of Trump’s tariffs on Canada, Mexico, and China. The announcement that...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Growth concerns entered the market narrative as investors continued to look at policy uncertainties on tariffs and the strains on geopolitical relations. The Trump administration confirmed that 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico would be effective...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week saw the S&P 500 hit all-time highs, but late in the week, the move abruptly succumbed to consolidation pressure. Investors are worried about valuations, trade tensions, inflation, and declining consumer sentiment. A...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Despite all of the uncertainties within the investment landscape, global markets were able to post nice gains last week. Fourth-quarter earnings continued to roll in with notable results from Coca-Cola, McDonald's, Roku, Cisco Systems, Draft...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Uncertainty about global trade continued to be at the top of investors' minds as Trump announced 25% tariffs on Mexico and Canada while levying 10% on Chinese goods. Mexico and Canada's immediate reaction was to place tariffs on US goods. But an...
Weekly Market Commentary
Darren Leavitt, CFA US financial markets were extremely busy last week as a rush to download a Chinese AI platform called Deep Seek from Apple’s App Store seemingly changed the narrative around artificial intelligence in a heartbeat and on multiple fronts. Capital...
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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.
5 Times When You Should Not Name Your Spouse as Beneficiary
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education While naming a spouse directly as the IRA beneficiary has many advantages and is a popular choice, it is not always the correct planning strategy. In some cases, another beneficiary may be better such as...
Penalty-Free Withdrawals of Roth Conversions and the First RMD Year: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Greetings, In 2025, I converted a traditional IRA to an existing Roth IRA, which I have held for 20 years. I will turn age 60 in 2026. Can I withdraw the converted money from my Roth IRA penalty free? Or do I have to wait five...
IRAs and 401(k) Plans: Different Rules, Different Worlds
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst At their core, IRAs and 401(k) plans operate in a similar fashion. Contributed dollars avoid taxation until they are withdrawn at some point in the future. Also, Roth is available in both IRA and 401(k) form. Roth dollars grow...
8 Questions Answered About the New Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Rule
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Many employers with company plans, and their recordkeepers, are scrambling to be ready for the soon-to-be-effective SECURE 2.0 rule requiring high-paid employees to make plan catch-ups contributions to Roth accounts. Here are 8...
Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and Inherited Roth IRAs: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: We have a 16-year-old minor inheriting an IRA from her 40-year-old father. Is it true that the child will have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) each year until age 21? Then, at age 21...
New Code Y is Optional for 2025 QCDs
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education A few months ago, the IRS introduced a new Code Y for the reporting of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) by IRA custodians on the 2025 Form 1099-R. The IRS has now issued guidance on its website...
Eligible Designated Beneficiary Trivia
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst TRIVIA QUESTION: John is age 40, he has a traditional IRA, and he is updating his beneficiary form. John wants to be sure that anyone he names on the form is an eligible designated beneficiary (EDB) who can leverage “the stretch,”...
Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and Successor Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: My client is age 71 and divorced. He is the primary beneficiary of his ex-wife’s IRA. She just recently passed away this year at the age of 67. I believe my client is an Eligible Designated Beneficiary (“EDB”) because he...
Why the Once-Per-Year Rollover Rule Is Often Misapplied
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The IRS rollover rules are fraught with complexity. (That’s why we always recommend direct transfers instead of 60-day rollovers.) The rule with the most serious consequences is the “once-per-year” rule. Running afoul of that rule...
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