The Slott Report

Moving an IRA That is Making 72(t) Distributions

You are under age 59 ½ and need funds from your IRA to live on. You set up an early distribution payment plan that will be exempt from the 10% early distribution penalty (called 72(t), SOSEPP, or SEPP payments). You now want to move that account from your current IRA custodian to a new one. Can you do that? Click to find out.

Roth IRA Contributions: 3 Keys You Need to Know

Ed Slott and Company IRA Technical Consultant Jeffrey Levine discusses 3 key factors you need to know when planning or thinking about a Roth IRA contribution. You can view the video below and make sure to subscribe to our IRAtv YouTube page for the latest IRA, retirement and tax planning videos.

Using Your IRA to Buy Your First Home

IRA distributions that you take before age 59 ½ are considered early distributions that are subject to an IRS 10% early distribution penalty unless an exception applies. For IRAs, there are many exceptions to the penalty including death, disability, higher education, and others. A lesser known exception to the penalty applies if you use IRA funds to buy your first house.

Automatic IRAs Proposed in Congress

Approximately half of all Americans work for employers that currently don't have a retirement plan. That works out to be around 78 million employees. This issue, combined with a declining national savings rate and the projected funding problems of the Social Security system, has forced some lawmakers to propose ways to entice Americans to increase their savings for retirement. One example of such proposed legislation is the Automatic IRA.

Advisor Perspective: Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group

Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group is a membership group of financial advisors who are committed to their IRA education and serving their clients' best financial and retirement planning interests. At our last workshop this May in Dallas, Texas, Ed Slott and Company IRA Technical Consultant Jeffrey Levine spent some time with several members to get their perspective on the educational expertise they receive and how it has elevated their standing in the industry and enhanced their business. Below are two roundtable discussions with seven members of Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group.

ROBS Plans and IRS Form 5500

In late 2009 IRS started a project on rollovers as business start-ups (ROBS). This is a strategy that has been heavily marketed by several companies and targets individuals that want to finance business ventures using their retirement funds. They are directed to establish a self-directed IRA, a corporation, and a 401(k) plan for the corporation. The plan allows participants to roll in IRA funds.

Slott Report Mailbag: Back to Basics with Key IRA Questions

We are going back to basics in this week's Slott Report Mailbag with questions revolving around the foundation of IRA planning. Converting and accessing funds and avoiding penalties are the fundamental keys you and your financial team grapple with each day.