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Help a Young Person Use Summer Earnings to Start a Roth IRA

Is your child or grandchild working hard this summer? A summer job can be a valuable experience for a young person. Whether it is making smoothies, serving tables, or being a camp counselor, a summer job can teach life skills and give a first opportunity to manage finances

5 Ways Excess IRA Contributions Happen

You can have too much of a good thing. While it is a good strategy to contribute to an IRA, some contributions are not allowed. When a contribution is not permitted in an IRA, it is an excess contribution and needs to be fixed. Some excess contributions are pretty easy to understand. Others are a little more complicated. Here are 5 ways an excess IRA contribution can happen:

The 10-Year Rule and Eligible Designated Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag

Question: I believe we are all waiting for the IRS to issue rules related to distribution requirements (or not) for beneficiaries who are subject to the 10-year rule under the SECURE Act. Where is the clarification for 2023? In my situation, my children are beneficiaries who inherited an IRA from Grandma, who passed away in 2022.

Why You Should Roll Over Your Retirement Funds to an IRA

If you are like most American workers, you will change jobs many times during your lifetime. With a job change, you will have a decision to make. What should you do with the funds in your retirement plan? One option is to do a rollover to an IRA. An IRA rollover offers some big benefits.

PRIDE MONTH: 5 Retirement Account Planning Tips for Same-Sex Couples

June is Pride Month. While celebrating, same-sex couples may want to take this opportunity to consider plans for their retirement accounts. Since the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 have overhauled the rules, it may be time for a new strategy. Here are 5 retirement account planning tips for same-sex couples.

Spousal Rollovers

Probably the biggest advantage that a spouse beneficiary of an IRA has over other beneficiaries is the ability to do a spousal rollover. Only a spouse beneficiary can do a spousal rollover. Nonspouse beneficiaries do not have this option. With a spousal rollover, inherited retirement account funds become the spouse beneficiary’s own.

Required Minimum Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag

Question: Hello and thank you for all the great, helpful information you continue to send out. I am due to take my first RMD (required minimum distribution) in 2024 which would make my required beginning date April 1, 2025 if I understand correctly. My intention is to empty my traditional IRA next year and convert it to my existing Roth. My question is, if my traditional IRA shows a zero balance by my required beginning date, would that still require a RMD be taken for 2024? I’d like to know if I can convert the entire account or if I have to take an RMD and then convert the rest. I think the answer is I would have to take an RMD, but am not 100% sure. Thanks so much, Dana

HSA Benefits That May Surprise You

You have likely heard of Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), and you may even understand the basics of how an HSA works. These accounts are really not too complicated. If you have a qualifying high deductible health plan, you may contribute to an HSA. Then, you can take tax-free distributions to pay for qualified medical expenses.

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