Question:Ed,My client recently passed away at the age of 86 and the beneficiaries were his twin grandchildren who are six years old. Does their 10-year clock to withdraw the funds start right away, or can they wait until they are 18 years old to start their 10-year clock to withdraw the funds?
It’s back to school time! Any parent will tell you that education can be expensive. You cannot afford to miss out on any possible option out there that may help you save. One savings tool that you might overlook is the Coverdell Education Savings Account (ESA). Here are 10 things you need to know about ESAs.
We continue to get lots of questions about the company savings plan contribution limits. There are actually two different contribution limits – the “deferral limit” and the “overall limit.” This makes things very confusing, especially if you’re in multiple plans at the same time or you change jobs in the middle of the year.
Question:I read of a way to move money from an IRA to a Roth without incurring any taxes. You set up an IRA account and make a non-deductible contribution of $6,000, then you convert it into a Roth. Is this legal and possible?Thanks!
Regardless of whether you open an IRA, participate in a 401(k) plan, buy a life insurance policy, or start a college saving plan for a child, there is a critical detail which should never be overlooked: naming a beneficiary. Typically, the account application will include a space for doing just that. Sometimes a second form may be required when a person wants to change an existing beneficiary.
A Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) is a way for you to move funds out of your IRA to a qualifying charity income tax free. This can be a great strategy for those who are charitably inclined and looking to save on taxes. Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about QCDs.How old do you have to be to take a QCD?IRA owners who are age 70½ and over are eligible to do a QCD. Sounds easy, right? This is more complicated than it might sound. A QCD is only allowed if the distribution is made on or after the date you actually attain age 70 ½. It is not enough that you will attain that age later in the year.
Question:Can you put funds into a Roth IRA for a 14 year old using money you have paid the child for doing chores?Client was told all he needed to do was keep a record of what was paid by to the child.I have always enjoyed your presentations.Thank you,Cathy
Suppose you inherit 401(k) (or other ERISA plan) funds and then file for bankruptcy before receiving those funds. Can you lose those 40(k) dollars to your bankruptcy creditors? According to a recent decision of a Bankruptcy Court in North Carolina, you don’t have to worry.
We all know that if you want tax-free earnings in your Roth IRA, you must wait five-years. The Roth IRA owner has to have some “skin in the game,” so to speak, before the IRS grants the tax break. One must demonstrate a commitment to retirement savings in order to receive the tax-free carrot. Makes sense.But five years is so long! That’s more time than it takes to complete high school! Over the next five years there will be a Winter Olympics in Beijing and a Summer Olympics is Paris and we will be preparing for another Winter Olympics in Italy. So, if you want tax-free earnings in your Roth IRA by the time competitors are slaloming down the Dolomites, you better make that contribution or complete that Roth IRA conversion ASAP.
Question:If you are an employee who participates in a 401(k) who retires at age 73, do you have to take an RMD in the year you retire, or can you take your RMD by April 1 of the year following retirement? If you can take your RMD by April 1 of the following year, does that mean you have to take two RMDs in that year?
