
IRA BLOG
MORE ON THE ROTH CATCH-UP CONTRIBUTIONS DELAY
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The August 28, 2023 Slott Report summarized IRS Notice 2023-62, where the IRS delayed the effective date of the SECURE 2.0 rule requiring catch-up contributions by higher-paid older employees to be made on...
THE 10-YEAR RULE AND 529 PLANS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: My name is Bruce. I am 65 years old, and I have a question about the SECURE Act. My mother died at age 89 on April 19, 2023, and I inherited her IRA. She had been receiving...
RULES FOR INHERITED IRAS THAT MAY SURPRISE NONSPOUSE BENEFICIARIES
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Many IRA assets will ultimately go to nonspouse beneficiaries. When these beneficiaries inherit the funds, special rules kick in. Inherited IRAs are not like your own personal IRA...
IRA BENEFICIARY PAYOUT RULES – THE MADNESS CONTINUES
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The lunacy of IRA beneficiary payout rules continues to boggle the mind. As I guide advisors through the options available to their clients, various nuances present one unique scenario after...
IRS DELAYS EFFECTIVE DATE OF MANDATORY ROTH CATCH-UP RULE UNTIL 2026
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Last Friday afternoon (August 25, 2023), the IRS gave employer plans two more years to comply with the controversial SECURE 2.0 rule requiring “catch-up contributions” for high-paid employees to be made on...
THE AGE 50 EXCEPTION AND THE STILL-WORKING EXCEPTION: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport QUESTION: Hello! I recently came across one of your articles and decided to reach out to you in hopes of getting some clarification re: the Secure Act 2.0 and distributions as a qualified public...
3-YEAR STATUTE OF LIMITATIONS – MISSED RMDS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport When an IRA or retirement plan owner reaches a particular age, that account owner typically must begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs.) The RMD is calculated based on the year-end...
SUCCESSOR BENEFICIARIES AND IRA ROLLOVERS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I am struggling to find an answer to my situation. My wife’s 82-year old father passed away about 8 years ago and he was taking IRA distributions. A portion of his IRA was...
NEW LAW MAY LOWER RMDS WHEN ANNUITY IS ANNUITIZED – BUT IRS GUIDANCE NEEDED
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If you are subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) and have annuitized part of your IRA, a recent law change could drastically reduce your RMDs. But, without IRS guidance, it may be difficult to...
RMD RELIEF? NO THANK YOU!
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on X: @theslottreport The IRS unleashed massive confusion last year. To the surprise of many, it released proposed SECURE Act regulations requiring beneficiaries (on some occasions) to take required...
INHERITED IRA AND ROTH IRA RMD RULES: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport Question: I’m age 76. My brother died in December 2022 at 84. Do I take required minimum distributions (RMDs) for the inherited account based on my age or on my brother’s age at death? Answer: Since you’re...
ANOMALIES AND EXCEPTIONS
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport As already-complicated IRA rules spiral further into an abyss of confusion, it comes as no surprise that irregularities exist. Up is down and left is right. Green means stop, red means throw your...
WHAT ARE THE RULES FOR PENALTY-FREE HIGHER EDUCATION EXPENSE WITHDRAWALS?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on X: @theslottreport If you’re facing the unpleasant prospect of paying college bills for the fall semester, you may be thinking of tapping into your retirement savings to help with the costs. If you’re under age 59 ½,...
INHERITED IRAS AND RMDS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Greetings, If I have the beneficiaries on my IRA listed as my wife (50%) and two children over 21 (50%), is my wife still able to move her half of the IRA into her existing IRA when I...
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW IF YOU NAME MINOR AS YOUR IRA BENEFICIARY
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Are you thinking of naming a child or grandchild as your IRA beneficiary? With the start of the SECURE Act in January 2020, the rules for inherited IRAs were upended....
ROTH CONVERSION CONFUSION – TAXES WITHHELD WHEN UNDER 59 ½
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport There is no doubt we have written about this topic in past Slott Report entries. Possibly many times. There is also no doubt that people continue to make this same error, over and over...
INHERITED IRAS AND ROTH CONVERSIONS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: I inherited an IRA in 2022 upon the passing of my father after he had already started his RMDs. I took a 2023 RMD from it in May 2023. Your website says I’m not...
HELP A YOUNG PERSON USE SUMMER EARNINGS TO START A ROTH IRA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Is your child or grandchild working hard this summer? A summer job can be a valuable experience for a young person. Whether it is making smoothies, serving tables, or being a...
Q&AS ON RECENT IRS RMD RELIEF
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport On July 17, we reported that the IRS had issued required minimum distribution (RMD) relief in two situations. First, the Service excused 2023 RMDs for certain IRA (and plan) beneficiaries subject to...
BACKDOOR ROTH IRAS AND BENEFICIARY RMDS: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT MAILBAG
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Follow Us on Twitter: @theslottreport Question: Hi, I have a question regarding solo 401(k)s. Does a solo 401(k) contribution affect the pro-rata rule when considering a backdoor Roth IRA? Best, James Answer: Hi James, No. 401(k) assets...