The Slott Report

Sometimes It PAYS to Pay a Retirement Account Penalty

Whether it’s in sports, with taxes or in life, we’re programmed to avoid penalties, and that’s usually a good move. Occasionally, however, by simply avoiding penalties, we can be detrimental to ourselves. Indeed, sometimes incurring a penalty on purpose can be the right move. If you don’t believe me, consider the following example.

Ed Slott’s 5 Biggest Retirement Mistakes (VIDEO)

The 5 biggest retirement mistakes - miscues that can cost those saving for and nearing retirement - have nothing to do with investing! I sat down with TheStreet.com to discuss what I believe are the five biggest retirement mistakes people make with their retirement accounts.

When Can I Take Money Out of My Roth IRA?

This week's Slott Report Mailbag, proudly sponsored by GoldCo Precious Metals, delves into more common IRA questions. Can you put your future retirement home in your IRA? Can you make an IRA contribution for a deceased person in their year of death? When can you take money out of your Roth IRA? We have the answers below.

3 Essential Questions to Ask When Preparing a Power of Attorney for an IRA

Giving another person the ability to make significant financial decisions and/or take actions on your behalf is not an easy thing to do. That said, various situations may arise where you no longer want to, or are able to, manage your own finances. In such cases, you want to make sure someone else can act on your behalf. We lay out 3 questions to ask when preparing a power of attorney for an IRA.

Avoid This Trap When Using a Roth IRA to Pay For College

Paying for college is challenging enough. Paying for college while saving for retirement can be nearly impossible. There is only so much money to go around. Roth IRAs can be a great way to bridge the gap between paying for college and saving for your own retirement. But be careful to avoid this trap that could cost you in lost financial aid dollars.

Can I Claim IRA Fees as a Tax Deduction?

This week's Slott Report Mailbag, proudly sponsored by GoldCo Precious Metals, answers questions on claiming IRA fees as a tax deduction and whether or not you should have a separate Roth IRA for every conversion.

Young Savers: Ignore This REALLY Bad 401(k) Savings Advice

Young savers are impressionable. They read an article on a credible website and think it's full of actionable ideas they should start implementing. However, young savers, please don't follow James Altucher's advice on 401(k) planning. Here's why.

Do I HAVE to Take Distributions From My Traditional IRA?

This week's Slott Report Mailbag, proudly sponsored by GoldCo Precious Metals, includes questions on some key IRA principles - taking IRA distributions, handling an inherited IRA as a non-spouse beneficiary and navigating required minimum distributions (RMDs).