The Slott Report

What’s New and How Does it Impact You? Retirement Plan Contribution Limits for 2017.

There were few changes to the retirement contribution limits for 2017. IRA and Roth IRA limits remain the same. The maximum an individual with earned income can contribute is $5,500 split any way they want between traditional and Roth IRAs. An individual age 50 or older during the year can contribute an additional $1,000 for a total contribution of $6,500.

7 Resolutions for Your IRA for 2017

A new year brings a fresh start and a chance to do things better. You probably have a few resolutions for 2017. You may be planning to eat healthier, get more exercise, or stick to a budget. As you are making your resolutions for the new year, don’t overlook your IRA. Here are a few suggestions for 2017.

5 Ways to Avoid the Time and Expense of Probate

Death is inevitable. It comes for us all at one point or another. Some sooner than later, but none are able to escape its grasp. Whenever that time comes, your “stuff,” including your financial assets, generally live on, and are still essentially yours until they are legally transferred to another person or entity. That transference of assets can occur in any number of ways, but often includes a process known as probate.

Year-End Retirement Account Q & A

Question: When is the last day to make a 2016 Roth IRA conversion? Today's Slott Report goes into popular questions and answers you may have for the end of the calendar year.

2016 Year in Review for Retirement Accounts

As 2016 draws to a close, and we get ready to ring in the new year, it’s a great time to look back. Here is a roundup of six of the big stories in the world of retirement accounts for 2016.

Your 2016 H-O-L-I-D-A-Y Season Action Plan

H – Have your financial institutions send you a copy of the beneficiary information they have on file for you. On more than a few occasions, we’ve seen financial institutions lose copies of beneficiary forms (or in some really egregious cases, destroy them). Asking for this information annually helps ensure that there are no surprises when you’re no longer here. The beneficiary form is the most important document when it comes to your retirement account. Therefore, even though it may seem monotonous to check these forms year after year – especially if you haven’t made any changes – it’s worth the effort.

Tips for Making a Long Term Care Claim. Strategic Decisions as You Age.

Take a look at elder care facilities. Go shopping for your “next home” – now.Timing: Many facilities have long waiting lists (up to 5 years). And in addition, usually you can “defer” 3 times. So, buy yourself some time and get the advantage by signing up today. Don’t be surprised if you are asked for a down payment with your waiting list application, it can be up to one month’s rent ($3000-$6000). This down payment would be deducted from your initial rent/expenses or refunded if you decided not to move into the facility. Also, take into consideration rising costs. Consider renting a one-bedroom +den vs. 2-bedroom if your cash-flow is limited. That $500/month difference can be significant when rent increases by 3-5%/year.