A new client calls or comes to your office. They tell you that they have just inherited retirement assets from their parent, spouse, sibling, friend – it doesn’t matter who. What is the first and most important question you ask them and what impact does that answer have?
This week's Slott Report Mailbag looks at the process of reporting IRA distributions on your tax return - and what happens if you pay too much tax? - answers a question about a woman's rising Medicare Part B premiums and points out the key 401(k) employer plan provision that could allow you to move employer plan funds outside the plan while still a plan participant.
It's that time of year if you are an IRA owner age 70 ½ or older. You must take your required minimum distribution (RMD) before the end of the year. Not taking your RMD or the correct amount can result in crippling penalties, which is why we cover this topic in great detail at The Slott Report. Today, I examine 3 RMD mistakes you must avoid. Remember, it's not too late to take your RMD, just make sure you do it correctly with the assistance of a competent, educated financial advisor like the ones who trains in this specialized area.
So, what happens to your IRA when your beneficiary dies? It all depends if the beneficiary dies before or after you. Let's look at a few examples to illustrate the differences.
This week's Slott Report Mailbag examines the statute of limitations on assessing additional tax liabilities on required minimum distributions (RMDs) and answers questions on utilizing disclaimers on inherited IRA funds and planning for and paying estimated tax payments.
Many recent college graduates, those just starting a full-time job or growing their family don't think long term. They push off a retirement savings plan to handle more pressing financial needs. This story illustrates why saving for retirement IS actually one of those pressing needs.
The Slott Report Mailbag is full of inquisitive consumers searching for answers on the pro-rata rule, the intricacies of IRA rollovers, and the "due dates" for an IRA owner's first and second required minimum distributions (RMDs).
You inherited an IRA or Roth IRA in 2014. Do you have to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) this year? We examine the answers for non-spouse beneficiaries, spousal beneficiaries and more.
An advisor called about a client who has a bond in his IRA that is in default. He has not taken his required minimum distribution (RMD) from that IRA account for the last three years because the bond is illiquid at this point in time. He does have other IRAs. What should he do?
Consider a typical scenario. There is a married couple, Peggy and Tom, and both have their own revocable trust. They also each have their own retirement accounts. It is frequently recommended that individuals name a trust as the beneficiary of their retirement accounts. We will assume that it is necessary for Peggy and Tom to do this. Whose trust should they name as the beneficiary?
