required minimum distribution

Don’t Fear the 5-Year Rule

Prior to 2002, a default option for paying out required minimum distributions from an inherited IRA to a beneficiary was the 5-year rule. If the IRA owner died before their required beginning date and an election was not made in a timely manner, the account had to be closed by December 31 of the 5th year following the year of death. In 2002, new regulations issued by the IRS changed the default payout to the life expectancy of the designated beneficiary. The 5-year requirement for most beneficiaries was eliminated.

The Piano Man’s First RMD

Every single month since January of 2014, Billy Joel has headlined a sold-out show at Madison Square Garden. Demand for tickets to see the Piano Man has not waned. Ticket sell out quickly. Millions of fans will attest that Billy Joel, who’s music career spans decades, still puts on an incredible show. It’s hard to believe that Billy Joel just recently celebrated his 70th birthday on May 9, 2019. We don’t know for sure that Billy has an IRA, but if like millions of Americans he does, then 2019 is an important year for him.

Widows Can Now Take Control of RMDs When Spouse Passes Away

According to the US Census Bureau, approximately 800,000 people are widowed each year in the United States, and “nearly 700,000 of them are women who lose their husbands.” One of the greatest economic challenges for a large portion of widows in America is higher income taxes when their spouse passes away. Don Rasmussen, member of Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group, outlines how widows can take control of required minimum distributions when their spouse passes away ... lowering their tax bill.

Don’t Make This Common RMD Mistake – It’s a Big Penalty!

With the first group of Baby Boomers turning age 70 ½ this year, there is a whole new group of IRA owners who will begin taking required minimum distributions (RMDs). It is important that they know the rules about aggregating RMDs in order to avoid this frequent mistake made by individuals, advisors, and even IRA custodians and employer plans.

Another RMD Conundrum: How Can I Liquidate My IRA With RMDs Approaching?

This week's Slott Report Mailbag answers a consumer's question on how to handle taxes with charitable gifts and walks a husband through the complicated process of moving IRA funds to a Roth IRA while facing required minimum distributions (RMDs). As always, we recommend you work with a competent, educated financial advisor to keep your retirement nest egg safe and secure.

5 Things You MUST Know (But Probably Don’t) About the “Still Working Exception”

In general, when you reach age 70 ½, you must begin to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your retirement accounts. There are, however, a number of exceptions to this rule. One such exception is commonly known as the “still working exception.” Under this exception, you may not have to take a distribution from your 401(k) or similar plan if...

Who Pays For a Mistake in Your IRA?

You took a distribution from your employer plan or another IRA and the receiving company put it in the wrong account. Your IRA company did not process your 72(t) distribution in the correct amount. An advisor/salesman told you that the company offering a “great” investment could hold it as an IRA. Someone at the bank told you that you could do a rollover in 90 days, or that you could roll over more than one IRA distribution in a year. You get the idea. So who is at fault for these issues?

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