The Slott Report

This week's Slott Report Mailbag answers questions on inherited IRAs (beneficiary forms vs. wills), splitting an IRA at death and IRA contributions.

It's a New Year, and Ed Slott brings you his 3 New Year's Retirement Planning Resolutions in this week's video blog. We hope you enjoy the video and make sure to share it with friends, family and colleagues as well as view more videos at our YouTube page.

If you don't need all the funds currently in your IRA you might want to "stretch" them. This refers to the process of extending the term of your IRA over multiple lifetimes through the use of existing distribution rules, the power of tax beneficial compounding and sound estate planning techniques.

I just read a private letter ruling (PLR) issued by IRS allowing an individual extra time to complete a rollover of his IRA assets so that they would not be treated as a taxable distribution. Here is what happened.

This week's Slott Report Mailbag includes several questions on issues not handled by year-end that have carried over into the first month of 2012. One reader also asks our advice on using an IRA to fund a share in a contracted apartment building.

There are many things to consider when determining how much you must take out of your retirement accounts commencing at age 70 ½. You must know how many different accounts you have and what type they are, such as IRAs, 401(k)s and/or 403(b)s. Most importantly, you’ll want to insure that your required distributions (RMDs) are properly calculated and paid in a timely manner because the tax penalty for not doing so is quite severe.

This week's Slott Report Mailbag includes questions on Roth conversion options from a company plan, spousal rollovers, and Roth recharacterizations.

Ed Slott and Company IRA Technical Consultant Jeffrey Levine talks about very popular and important year-end retirement planning strategies in this video.

We have written many times on the subject of annually funding retirement vehicles such as 401(k) plans and IRAs so you will have enough money to enjoy a financially secure retirement. The earlier you start contributing to your retirement accounts, the more you will have when you actually reach retirement age.

Time is running out to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) due for this year. Many companies have cut-off dates for distributions, so if you have not yet taken your RMD you need to act now. The penalty for not taking a distribution is 50% of the amount not taken. It must be reported on Form 5329 and if it is not reported, the statute of limitations does not start to run. Following are answers to questions that come up frequently at this time of year.