Hello Ed,
I have faithfully read the Slott Report for a long time. I must thank you for sharing your knowledge. However, it is finally my turn to write you with a question.
I was quite fortunate to work for a company with an employer 401(k) plan. So, I faithfully contributed for years and now have both 401(k) and Roth 401(k) — principal and earnings — to retire on. My employer’s plan rules state that after I retire, I must take it all or nothing.
We are just a few days into the new year, and many people are anxious to get their full IRA contributions in for 2021. However, a common question is, “It’s only the first week of the year and I haven’t received a paycheck yet. Can I still make my contribution now, or do I need to wait until I actually have earned income?”
A new year brings a fresh start, and after 2020, we need that more than ever. You probably have a few resolutions for 2021. When making your list of goals for the new year, don’t overlook your IRA. Here are a few suggestions for your IRA for 2021.
Question:
Can a retired person not working contribute to a Roth IRA?
Answer:
There are no age limits for Roth IRA contributions. This allows older people to contribute. However, the rules do require earned income. For example, income from a part time job would work.
From The Slott Report, December 30, 2019:
“2020 promises to be an exciting year in the IRA and savings plan worlds, as the full ramifications of the new SECURE Act begin to take shape. Beyond that, the IRS will likely finalize the new life expectancy tables expected to become effective in 2021.
Ah, the end of the year. Snow is drifting, music plays quietly in the background. Ma in her kerchief, Papa in his cap, just settling down for a long winter’s nap…
Nope. No time for that. ‘Tis the season of BUSY, BUSY, BUSY!
Did you write a check to a charity from your checkbook IRA in hopes that it would be a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) for 2020? If so, you better make sure the charity in fact CASHES the check before the end of the year.
Question:
Recently, I received two checks, one for all assets in a Traditional IRA and one for all assets in a Roth. Mindful of the 60-day rollover rules, I endorsed one of them to my brokerage company to complete an IRA-to-IRA transfer. When attempting to do the same with the Roth funds, I was told that this would create another rollover and run afoul of the IRS "one-every-12-months" requirement.
We at the Slott Report would like to wish all our readers a happy and safe holiday season. 2020 has been a year like no other. Thank you for taking your valuable time to read the Slott Report during this challenging period.
The end of the year is always a time to look back. 2020 has been a busy year at the Slott Report. In January, the SECURE Act became effective and changed the retirement account landscape.
One year ago from yesterday (December 20, 2019), President Trump signed into law the SECURE Act. At that time, virtually no one had heard of the coronavirus and certainly very few (if any) could have foreseen the global pandemic that’s still very much with us.
Question:
Hello,
Can you still recharacterize a Roth contribution (due to income limits) to a Traditional IRA and then subsequently convert the IRA back to a Roth in the same year? Will this conflict with the new law that prohibits undoing a Roth conversion?
Thanks you for your help,
