IRAs

A Clever Financial Aid Strategy: Use Roth IRA Distributions to Pay Off Loans

On Monday, we posted an article to The Slott Report detailing 3 reasons why you may want to use a Roth IRA instead of a 529 plan to help save for a child’s college education. Since then, we’ve received a fair amount of feedback from readers and follow-up questions, many of which asked if using a Roth IRA to pay for a child's education expenses now would impact their aid in the future. We have the answer.

Your IRA Required Beginning Date is April 1 NOT April 15

If you turned age 70 ½ last year in 2014 and have a traditional, SEP or SIMPLE IRA, you must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) for that year and every year going forward. When is the required beginning date? IRA Technical Expert Joe Cicchinelli puts you on a deadline you must meet to avoid steep penalties.

3 Reasons to Use a Roth IRA Over a 529 Plan for Education Savings

For some time now, the cost of a college degree has been rising at perilously high rates, and as a result, the dream of one day going to college, for many, remains just that ... a dream. With college tuition and associated costs rising so dramatically, it’s no surprise that people are looking for new and creative ways to save for these expenses. One such alternative method involves the use of a Roth IRA over more traditional college savings vehicles, such as 529 plans and Coverdell education savings account. Here are three reasons why it may be a good move.

SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Are Not Savings Accounts

Did you set up a SEP or SIMPLE IRA thinking it was a savings account for your retirement? While it is a way to save for retirement, it is NOT a savings account. Our IRA Technical Expert Beverly DeVeny explains why.

The Deceased Don’t Make Good IRA Beneficiaries

Almost all IRA owners named their IRA beneficiary when they first opened the account. In many cases, it was their spouse or parent. However, disaster can strike if that primary beneficiary dies before you do and you don't update the IRA beneficiary form. This horror story provides a valuable lesson.

New Ed Slott and Company Resource, IRA Focus

10,000 Baby Boomers retire every day. IRAs make up the largest single share of the retirement market with an estimated $7.3 trillion in assets. This isn't an imposing challenge for your business. It's an immense opportunity. So, how do you reach these individuals, help them navigate Uncle Sam, live the retirement of their dreams and leave a legacy for their heirs? The answer is this new resource from Ed Slott and Company.

My IRA Custodian Won’t Let Me Do What?!

Retirement plans are one area of the tax code where you may not be able to do everything the tax code says you can do. IRA custodians and employer plans can sometimes limit your options. One reason they might do this is to make it easier for them to manage and process your transactions. We detail a few examples of IRA custodians limiting your options.

Spousal IRA Contributions and Divorce: What You Need to Know

In a marriage where one spouse (Annie) has earned income and the other spouse (Bernie) has little or no income, an IRA or Roth IRA contribution can be made for Bernie based on Annie’s income. However, what happens if Bernie makes his contribution early in the year and later in the year he and Annie are divorced or separated?

Content Citation Guidelines

Below is the required verbiage that must be added to any re-branded piece from Ed Slott and Company, LLC or IRA Help, LLC. The verbiage must be used any time you take text from a piece and put it onto your own letterhead, within your newsletter, on your website, etc. Verbiage varies based on where you’re taking the content from.

Please be advised that prior to distributing re-branded content, you must send a proof to [email protected] for approval.

For white papers/other outflow pieces:

Copyright © [year of publication], [Ed Slott and Company, LLC or IRA Help, LLC – depending on what it says on the original piece] Reprinted with permission [Ed Slott and Company, LLC or IRA Help, LLC – depending on what it says on the original piece] takes no responsibility for the current accuracy of this information.

For charts:

Copyright © [year of publication], Ed Slott and Company, LLC Reprinted with permission Ed Slott and Company, LLC takes no responsibility for the current accuracy of this information.

For Slott Report articles:

Copyright © [year of article], Ed Slott and Company, LLC Reprinted from The Slott Report, [insert date of article], with permission. [Insert article URL] Ed Slott and Company, LLC takes no responsibility for the current accuracy of this article.

Please contact Matt Smith at [email protected] or (516) 536-8282 with any questions.