Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
Why a Retirement Income Plan Matters More Than Your Investment Returns
Many people spend decades focused on growing their retirement savings. They watch the markets, contribute to retirement accounts, and celebrate when their balances...
The Retirement Tax Trap: Why Keeping More of Your Money Matters More Than Chasing Higher Returns
When people think about retirement, they often focus on growing their investments. They search for higher returns, the next great investment opportunity, or ways to...
The Retirement Mistake Nobody Talks About: Having a Plan But Never Updating It
Many Americans spend years preparing for retirement. They contribute to their 401(k)s, open IRAs, purchase insurance, and work diligently to build their nest egg. Yet...
Mid-Year Financial Checkup: Why June Is the Perfect Time to Reassess Your Financial Plan
As we reach the halfway point of the year, many people take stock of their health, careers, and personal goals—but often overlook one of the most important areas of...
Retirement Isn’t Just About Saving Money—It’s About Creating Income You Can Count On
For many Americans, retirement planning begins with one simple question: "How much money do I need to retire?" While building savings is important, a more critical...
7 Financial Mistakes That Can Derail Your Retirement — And How to Avoid Them
Retirement should be a time filled with freedom, confidence, and peace of mind — not uncertainty and financial stress. Yet many people unknowingly make decisions during...
Retirement Planning in 2026: Building Confidence for the Years Ahead
Retirement is no longer viewed as simply “stopping work.” For many individuals and families, retirement is about creating freedom, protecting the lifestyle they’ve...
Understanding Fixed Indexed Annuities: Balancing Growth Potential and Protection
In today’s unpredictable financial environment, many retirees and pre-retirees are searching for ways to protect their savings while still maintaining the opportunity...
Why Retirement Planning Should Start Earlier Than Most People Think
When people hear the words “retirement planning,” many immediately picture someone in their 60s preparing to leave the workforce. The reality is very different. The...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week saw the end to the best 2nd quarter in six years as the S&P 500 added over $8 trillion in market value. The Semiconductor sector...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed, with a noticeable rotation out of mega-cap technology issues to healthcare, real estate, and consumer staples. Concerns about the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. The holiday-shortened week brought gains to US equities and saw the Japanese and South Korean markets forge new...
Weekly Market Commentary
It was a hectic week on Wall Street as investors contended with heightened tensions in the Middle East, awaited the largest IPO in history, and received elevated...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 was unable to make it a 10th straight week of gains as the market pulled back sharply late in the week amid a sense that the AI trade may have gone too...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global equity markets rallied in May and received a final boost in the final week of the month on optimism that the US and Iran were close to extending the current...
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all the brave men and women who have served our country to ensure our freedom. Markets took a step forward last week in...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. Hotter-than-expected inflation data, coupled with increased tensions in the Middle East, sent US Treasury...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global markets hit record highs as Q1 earnings continued to exceed expectations. Despite continued tensions in the Middle East and the Strait of Hormuz effectively...
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The Pro-Rata Rule and Non-U.S. Citizen Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: If someone has a SIMPLE IRA and is interested in doing a backdoor Roth IRA conversion, does the SIMPLE IRA count under the...
IRS Provides Fix for Trump Account Gift Tax Issue
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In just a few days, on July 4, Trump accounts will be available. As we come down to the wire, the IRS has stepped...
“The Law of the Plan is the Law of the Land”
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When it comes to the rules governing specific workplace retirement plans like a 401(k), there are the foundational rules dictated...
Breaking the Barriers to Access Your Retirement Plan Funds While Working
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report described the strict barriers employees face when attempting to access their 401(k) and other plan funds...
Trump Accounts Are Almost Here: What Parents Need to Know
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education On July 4, contributions to Trump accounts, a new savings vehicle for children, will become available. In these...
529 Plan Rollovers and Investments in Trump Accounts: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: Our client has funds left over in her 529 plan. She is not working. Can she roll over the 529 dollars to a Roth IRA? Does...
Form 8606 and the Pro-Rata Rule: Not the End of the World
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst If a person has after-tax (non-deductible) money in any traditional IRA, SEP or SIMPLE IRA, then the pro-rata rule is just...
Accessing 401(k) Funds While You’re Still Working
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you are faced with expenses that require you to tap into your savings, what are your options? You should always look to non-retirement...
Children vs. Grandchildren Beneficiaries and the First Required Minimum Distribution Year: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Are the rules for a grandchild who inherits an IRA the same as the rules for a child who inherits? Thank you, Steven Answer: Hi...