IRA Alert

 

Ed Slott, a certified public accountant, is a financial expert specializing in retirement planning, IRAs and tax issues. He created the IRA Leadership Program and Ed Slott's Elite IRA Advisor Group. X: @theslottreport

Displaying 173 results
4 unusual IRA issues related to deaths in 2020
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT MAY 29, 2020
4 unusual IRA issues related to deaths in 2020

New tax rules for this year may change the results that you expected

By Ed Slott
The ABCs of coronavirus-related distributions
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT MAY 12, 2020
The ABCs of coronavirus-related distributions

Who qualifies to pull money penalty-free from IRAs and company retirement plans under the relief provided by the CARES Act

By Ed Slott
Retirement relief Congress should consider now
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT MAR 25, 2020
Retirement relief Congress should consider now

People with retirement accounts have seen losses through no fault of their own and they need a helping hand

By Ed Slott
Delay in 2019 tax filing date means deadline for 2019 IRA contributions also extended
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT MAR 20, 2020
Delay in 2019 tax filing date means deadline for 2019 IRA contributions also extended

Advisers need to watch for administrative errors on the part of financial institutions, though

By Ed Slott
No stretch IRA? No problem
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT MAR 02, 2020
No stretch IRA? No problem

5 reasons why the elimination of the stretch IRA is not the end of the world

By Ed Slott
What will replace the stretch IRA?
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT JAN 30, 2020
What will replace the stretch IRA?

In the wake of the SECURE Act, most people who inherit IRAs will be subject to a 10-year rule

By Ed Slott
The stretch IRA is dead
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT DEC 27, 2019
The stretch IRA is dead

Advisers’ top 5 questions on how the new SECURE Act rules will work

By Ed Slott
The most misunderstood Roth conversion tax rule
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT OCT 08, 2019
The most misunderstood Roth conversion tax rule

Qualified distributions are the holy grail for Roth IRAs, but there is confusion around the time requirements

By Ed Slott
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT OCT 08, 2019
The most misunderstood Roth conversion tax rule

Qualified distributions are the holy grail for Roth IRAs, but there is confusion around the time requirements.

By Ed Slott
Rollovers are all bad! Use only direct transfers
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT SEP 05, 2019
Rollovers are all bad! Use only direct transfers

A mistake on a rollover can cost a client their life savings.

By Ed Slott
5 reasons to keep some funds in traditional IRAs, even for Roth IRA lovers
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT AUG 19, 2019
5 reasons to keep some funds in traditional IRAs, even for Roth IRA lovers

Clients can use traditional IRAs to realize tax benefits related to medical expenses, business losses and charitable contributions.

By Ed Slott
The perils of do-it-yourself IRA transactions
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT JUL 02, 2019
The perils of do-it-yourself IRA transactions

A $20,000 Roth conversion turns into a $2 million tax disaster, demonstrating why clients need advisers for critical IRA moves.

By Ed Slott
IRA trusts could become an estate planning disaster
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT JUN 11, 2019
IRA trusts could become an estate planning disaster

If Congress eliminates the stretch IRA, advisers will have to rethink IRA trust planning.

By Ed Slott
What happens during the 60 days stays in the 60 days
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT MAY 08, 2019
What happens during the 60 days stays in the 60 days

IRA funds withdrawn and timely rolled back into the IRA are protected in bankruptcy — no matter what the funds were used for while outside the account.

By Ed Slott
5 things clients learned about Roth conversions this tax season
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT APR 09, 2019
5 things clients learned about Roth conversions this tax season

Advisers can use this information to begin planning for 2019

By Ed Slott
100% required minimum distributions
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT MAR 06, 2019
100% required minimum distributions

In some cases, the RMD is the entire IRA balance — or more!

By Ed Slott
Were any required minimum distributions missed last year?
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT FEB 05, 2019
Were any required minimum distributions missed last year?

Who is responsible, and what to do now that it's happened.

By Ed Slott
A younger spouse can lower required minimum distributions
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT DEC 10, 2018
A younger spouse can lower required minimum distributions

If the IRA owner's spouse is more than 10 years their junior, the holder can use a different IRS table to calculate RMDs.

By Ed Slott
Last-Minute Retirement Moves: 2018 Strategies
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT NOV 15, 2018
Last-Minute Retirement Moves: 2018 Strategies

Complete rollovers, take care of qualified charitable distributions and be sure all funds related to a lump-sum distribution have been withdrawn.

By Ed Slott
Seizing Opportunities: Last-Chance Retirement Moves in 2018
RETIREMENT IRA ALERT NOV 12, 2018
Seizing Opportunities: Last-Chance Retirement Moves in 2018

Complete rollovers, take care of qualified charitable distributions and be sure that all funds related to a lump-sum distribution have been withdrawn.

By Ed Slott