The Slott Report

Tax Time 1040 Madness

With just 5 days left in the 2013 tax season, you might be scrambling to prepare your tax returns at the last minute, but as you go to reach for that 1040, here’s the question… which one? Yes, believe it or not, there are actually many different 1040 options available to you. Which one you should use depends on a number of factors, such as your filing status, your residency/citizenship status, the credits and deductions you’re eligible to claim and even how much taxable income you have!

IRA Bankruptcy Exemption Amount Increases

As of April 1, 2013, the maximum bankruptcy exemption amount for IRAs increased from $1,171,650 to $1,245,475. This exemption amount is subject to cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). Since most Americans don’t have IRA balances anywhere near $1 million, the IRAs of almost everyone will be fully protected from their creditors if they declare bankruptcy.

Slott Report Mailbag: How Do I Set Up a Roth IRA For My Grandmother?

This week's Slott Report Mailbag broadens the scope to issues that touch on IRAs, but also involve other forms of retirement accounts and retirement planning concepts. We look at 10-year averaging, required minimum distributions for employer plans and how to set up a Roth IRA for an older individual working a part-time job.

Your Last-Minute Tax Questions Answered

We are now less than 2 weeks away from the big April 15th tax filing deadline. Regrettably, but not surprisingly, many people are just now getting around to gathering up their tax information or filing their returns. With crunch time upon us, the questions have been pouring in, so with that in mind, here are the answers to 5 of the most common questions we have been hearing over the past few weeks.

Moving Your Roth IRA to another Roth IRA

If you have a Roth IRA, you may want to move that money to another Roth IRA elsewhere. There are two ways to move Roth IRA money to another Roth IRA - we detail them below.

Using the Internet as Your Financial Planner

The Internet is a great thing. You can probably find any piece of information you want somewhere out there. It is only a matter of asking the right question. My mother thinks I look everything up on the Internet. However, along with great information available on the worldwide web, there is a lot of misinformation. Some things are just plain wrong and some are very misleading. The Internet is no substitute for expert financial and retirement planning advice - as a recent bankruptcy court case proves.

5 Facts About the April 1 Required Beginning Date

It might sound hard to believe, but amazingly enough, we are just a few days away from the start of April. Its first day, Monday, April 1st, is known as April Fool’s Day to many, but to those in the retirement world, it’s better known as the required beginning date. Unfortunately, this date often causes a great deal of confusion for pre- and post-retirees, so with that in mind, below we explore 5 key facts you need to know about the April 1st deadline. Make sure you know these rules well, or come April Fool’s Day, the joke might be on you.

Using a Power of Attorney for an IRA

If you are elderly, or your parents are elderly and you help them with their finances, you should consider getting a Power or Attorney (POA). A POA lets you name or appoint someone to handle important legal and financial issues for you, either now or in the future if you are unable to make decisions for yourself. A POA can also be used to manage or make decisions related to your IRAs.