The Slott Report

Can I Reach My 401(k) Funds While Still Working?

We continue to get questions about the ability of employees to withdraw from 401(k) plans while still working. The tax code includes certain restrictions on these in-service withdrawals. Plans must follow these rules or they risk losing their tax-qualified status.But plans are also free to impose even more restrictive rules than required by the tax code

3 Tips for Making Your 2022 IRA Contribution

Tax season is in full swing. That means that the 2022 tax-filing deadline is not far away. Are you considering making a 2022 IRA contribution? Time is quickly running out. Here are three tips to help you get your contribution done the right way.1. DON’T Miss the Deadline. The deadline for making your 2022 IRA contribution is the tax-filing deadline, Tuesday, April 18, 2023. Do you have an extension? That won’t buy you more time. Even if you have an extension for filing your 2022 federal income taxes, your deadline for making a traditional or Roth IRA contribution is still April 18, 2023.

The Internet Said So

People on TikTok create investment advice videos? And I’m supposed to trust whatever this talking head is telling me? No chance. Of course, the person on TikTok could hold a number of higher education degrees and financial certifications, but until I know for sure who they are, what they are talking about, and what their objective is, I will keep my distance.

INHERITED IRA 10-YEAR RULE AND DISABLED CHILD AS ELIGIBLE DESIGNATED BENEFICIARY: TODAY’S SLOTT REPORT

Question:Hello,I have an inherited IRA which falls under the 10-year rule. I understand that the IRS has tried to clear up the 10-year RMD (required minimum distribution) confusion but I am still not sure which RMD Table I am supposed to use! I am a non-spouse (daughter of the deceased) and it's confusing. Will I need to make up the RMDs for the first two years when the rules were not clearly stated?Thank you,

SECURE 2.0 Glitches and Unanswered Questions

Considering that it made 92 new IRA and retirement plan changes and is 357 pages long, it’s not surprising that the new SECURE 2.0 law has several unintended drafting errors and lots of unresolved questions.The drafting errors will have to be fixed, either by Congress in “technical corrections” legislation or by the IRS. The first concerns the delay in the age when RMDs (required minimum distributions) must start. The way SECURE 2.0 now reads is that someone born during 1959 will have two RMD ages: 73 and 75.

Naming a Minor as Your IRA Beneficiary

If you want to leave your IRA to an adult, you simply name that person on the IRA beneficiary form. Unfortunately, when it comes to minors, it is not that easy.When a minor inherits retirement dollars, the child is not legally able to make financial decisions. A guardian may be needed. Guardians could be named in a parent’s will, and some IRA beneficiary designation forms allow nomination of a guardian. The court can also appoint a guardian, but this can be a long and expensive process.

RBD – Proactive Sally and Oblivious Jerry

Last week the Ed Slott team hosted another highly successful and sold-out 2-day advisor training program at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. Over 250 financial professionals from across the country attended, and we plowed through our 400-page manual. During the two day event we discussed IRA beneficiary rules, trusts as beneficiary, net unrealized appreciation, backdoor Roth IRAs, SECURE 2.0 changes, QCDs, the pro-rata rule, gifting strategies, etc.

SECURE 2.0 Allows Retroactive Solo 401(k) Plans with Elective Deferrals

The new SECURE 2.0 law fixes a glitch that has made it difficult for new solo 401(k) plans to be opened up retroactively for a prior year.A solo 401(k) plan is a great retirement savings vehicle for self-employed business owners with no employees (other than their spouse). In a solo 401(k), the sole proprietor (or other business owner) is considered to wear two hats – as an employee and as an employer. This allows both elective deferrals and employer contributions. The 2023 elective deferral limit is $22,500, or $30,000 if age 50 or older, while the employer contributions maximum is 20% of adjusted net earnings (or 25% of compensation if the business is incorporated). There’s also an overall limit for combined deferrals and employer contributions; in 2023, it’s $66,000 or $73,500 if the $7,500 age-50-or-older deferrals are made.