There is a lot of information out there about how converting to a Roth IRA is a great move for younger people. This is no surprise. A younger person who converts may pay taxes on a smaller IRA balance and have years to accrue tax-free earnings in their Roth IRA. But what about older people? Older individuals should not overlook the potential tax benefits of converting later in life.
This week's Slott Report Mailbag answers a popular required minimum distribution (RMDs) question - can my sister take the inherited IRA RMD for both of us? - and another consumer's inquiry on Roth conversion tax reporting.
Greetings from the 2016 AICPA National Advanced Estate Planning Conference! Having presented the last of my three sessions here on Monday evening, I’ve been enjoying the rest of my time by meeting many CPAs and other professionals here, as well as attending a host of excellent sessions. One session which I particularly enjoyed was presented by Anne Coventry and Karin Prangley, and covered the latest developments in the area of digital estate planning. That may not seem very important to you at first glance, but the reality is that it could be VERY important. And that importance is only likely to grow in the coming years.
You took a distribution from your employer plan or another IRA and the receiving company put it in the wrong account. Your IRA company did not process your 72(t) distribution in the correct amount. An advisor/salesman told you that the company offering a “great” investment could hold it as an IRA. Someone at the bank told you that you could do a rollover in 90 days, or that you could roll over more than one IRA distribution in a year. You get the idea. So who is at fault for these issues?
This week's Slott Report Mailbag examines excess Roth IRA contributions and clarifies the two-year rule on an IRA rollover to a SIMPLE IRA.
Did you know that you can use your IRA to fund your Health Savings Account (HSA)? You may be able to take advantage of a little known part of the tax code that allows a transaction called a Qualified HSA Funding Distribution (QHFD). Here's how.
While reasonably basic to an IRA specialist, the 9 ideas below are often overlooked by consumers and many financial practitioners alike who do not specialize in IRAs. Used appropriately, they may often help individuals and families preserve their retirement wealth. Perhaps they can help you too. Consider researching in more depth on your own, or perhaps broach any of the topics you feel may apply to you in more detail with your financial consultant(s).
Remember those savings bonds Grandma and Grandpa bought for you every year to put away for school? If you’re like most people, you – or your parents – put them in a drawer or safety deposit box until they were needed. After all, how much is there really to do with them? The answer, at least from a tax perspective, can be surprising. Here are five things you should know about the tax treatment of Series EE Bonds.
How is it determined that an IRA has no owner? This will depend on both state law and the procedures in place at the institution holding your IRA or employer plan assets. If you have an IRA or an old employer plan where you are no longer making contributions, then there are no transactions taking place within the account. This could leave the account open to escheatment.
If you are a young worker, you, like many other members of the millennial generation, may be juggling student loans and expensive rent. Retirement? That is likely the last thing on your mind, although you may have a sneaking suspicion that the generous pensions that older generations enjoy probably will not be there for you. What can you do now to save for a more secure retirement? Well, for many millennials the Roth IRA is the way to go. Here are 5 reasons why.
