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If you're thinking about converting some or all of your IRAs to a Roth IRA, there are two ways to do it. The two ways are by taking an IRA distribution or by direct transfer. Regardless of which method you choose, it will be treated and reported as a distribution from your IRA and a conversion deposit into your Roth IRA. IRA-to-Roth IRA conversions are taxable to you as ordinary income, but no 10% penalty applies, even if you’re under age 59 ½. Click to learn more about the best way to convert your IRA to a Roth IRA.

A taxpayer we will call "Rebecca" represented that she received a distribution from her IRA on December 4, 2009. It was always her intent to rollover that distribution back into the IRA by the 60-day rollover deadline. She was informed in writing by her financial institution that the redeposit deadline was February 4, 2010 (a date which was actually after the deadline). She followed that procedure and gave her financial advisor a check for the entire rollover amount for redeposit on the specified deadline date (February 4, 2010). Unfortunately, Rebecca's rollover actually happened on day 62.

There are three categories of beneficiaries that might want to stretch distributions from their inherited IRAs. A beneficiary's options will depend on which category they find themselves in. We detail these 3 categories below.

This week's Slott Report Mailbag includes a couple of detailed questions about the handling of retirement accounts after death. Click to read a Q&A with our IRA Technical Expert.

How do you become an IRA expert? You must devote substantial time and resources to a topic you are passionate about and never stop learning. That's what separates experts from those with foundational knowledge. Tax rules governing IRAs are always changing, and we make sure we know these updates and how they affect the IRA landscape as soon as possible. Here's a few of the questions we get from financial advisors and consumers about our methods for staying on top of the IRA world.

Whenever you move IRA money into another IRA at a different financial institution, it can be done in one of two ways. First, you could take a distribution from your IRA that is payable to you and roll over the money to another IRA. The second way is to transfer the funds directly from one IRA to another IRA. We recommend that you move IRA money using the direct transfer method to avoid problems. Click to find out why.

This week's Slott Report Mailbag includes questions about the effects from contributions and rules on retirement plans. Click to read a Q&A with our IRA Technical Expert.

One of the most common Roth IRA questions I'm asked is, "Should I make a Roth conversion?" While Roth conversions can make sense at any age, depending on your particular circumstances, generally speaking, the younger you are, the more it makes sense. In this article we go over 3 reasons to wait until you retire to make a Roth conversion.

An issue we recently discussed with a financial advisor highlighted the rule that there are two separate parts to a SEP (Simplified Employee Pension) plan. If both parts of the SEP are not executed, then severe tax consequences can result to both the employer and any eligible employees. We detail the two parts of a SEP IRA below.

Ed Slott's Elite and Master Elite IRA Advisor Groups are convening this week at the Rosen Centre in Orlando, Florida for our semi-annual workshop. Are you a financial advisor interested in what makes Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group different from other training groups, or a consumer intrigued by what being an "Elite Advisor" means for you as a client of an educated advisor? Click for details!