The Slott Report

With the signing of the 2010 Tax Act last week, qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) from IRAs have been extended for 2010 and 2011 – with a twist.

We have begun to receive the official numbers behind the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 President Obama will sign into law likely later today. Click to read the IRS Notice.

The holiday season is upon us. It is time for friends, family and financial security. The answers to these consumer questions can help you wrap up your year-end planning.

Your client is making contributions to an employer plan and he/she wants to know if its possible to also contribute to a traditional IRA or to a Roth IRA.

The holiday season is upon us. It is time for friends, family and financial security. The answers to these consumer questions can help you wrap up your year-end planning.

Your client is over 70 ½ and is still working. Does he have to take an RMD? The answer is, it depends.

IRAs, IRAs, IRAs. We have a full plate (leftovers from Thanksgiving) of IRA questions in this week's Mailbag. These questions touch on topics such as SEP IRAs, inherited IRAs and naming the trust as the beneficiary of IRAs.

IRS has released guidance on the conversion of 401(k) and 403(b) plan assets to Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b) accounts in Notice 2010-84. This guidance also applies to governmental 457(b) plans beginning January 1, 2011. Here are the highlights: Plan participants, spouses, and alternate payees who are current or former spouses can do the in-plan Roth conversion.

The holiday season is a time for checklists. The good news is you don't have to make this list, but make sure to check it twice. Ed Slott created this year-end IRA checklist just for ALL OF OUR LOYAL READERS. You can read about many of the often-overlooked year-end items that could lead to a retirement savings windfall. Guard the money you have worked and saved for this holiday season.

This week's Slott Report Mailbag discusses the main IRA topic that will dominate year-end planning...a 2010 Roth conversion.