Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
Fixed Indexed Annuities: A Retirement Strategy Designed for Growth Potential Without Direct Market Risk
As retirement approaches, one question becomes increasingly important: How do you continue growing your retirement savings while protecting what you've worked so hard...
Life Insurance in 2026: It’s More Than a Death Benefit
When many people hear the words "life insurance," they immediately think about protecting loved ones after they're gone. While that remains one of its most important...
How a Fixed Indexed Annuity Can Work for You in 2026
As Americans continue preparing for retirement in an uncertain economic environment, many are looking for ways to protect their savings while still having the...
The Biggest Retirement Risk Isn’t the Market—It’s Having No Plan
When people think about retirement, they often focus on one thing: the stock market. They worry about the next downturn, the next recession, or the next headline...
Why Financial Confidence Starts With a Plan, Not a Product
Retirement isn't built on luck—it’s built on preparation. While investment performance, insurance coverage, and market conditions all play important roles, one factor...
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...
Weekly Market Commentary
Giddy up! US equity markets ripped higher in the first week of August as 2nd quarter earnings continued to impress. According to FactSet, 88% of the S&P 500 have...
Weekly Market Commentary
It was an extremely busy week on Wall Street, with investors having to assess increased geopolitical tensions in the Middle East alongside a deluge of corporate...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity indices declined for a second consecutive week despite a strong start to second-quarter earnings. With just over 25% of the S&P 500 reporting, top- and...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets took a step back last week despite a better-than-expected start to second-quarter earnings and benign inflation data. Semiconductor names continued to come...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. The rotation from technology into other parts of the market reversed this week, as leadership from mega-cap tech...
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...
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The Look-Through Rules for Trusts
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The SECURE Act, the SECURE 2.0 Act, and subsequent regulations have brought us a complex set of rules for IRA...
The Roth Conversion Transaction Custodians Dislike
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Anyone with a traditional IRA can do a Roth conversion. As long as the funds are eligible to be rolled over, they can be converted....
Does the Secure Act’s 10-Year Rule Apply to Inherited Roth IRAs?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education QUESTION: Does the SECURE Act’s 10-year rule apply to inherited Roth IRAs? ANSWER: Yes, the SECURE Act’s 10-year...
Creditor Protection for Your Retirement Accounts
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst How well are your retirement plan account funds protected from creditors? The answer depends on which kind of creditors you are worried...
How Your Spouse Can Impact Your Traditional IRA Deduction
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education If you have compensation (or “earned income”), you can always contribute to a traditional IRA, but your...
Is there a penalty because the RMD was not taken prior to Mom’s passing?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: You recently posted an article about the “still-working exception.” Does this apply to solo 401(k) plans? Thanks, Birdie...
530A Trump Accounts: The Compounding Mathematical Facts
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst These days, anything with a hint of politics can be divisive. Trump accounts are no different. Public comments about this new...
Not Child’s Play: How the “Kiddie Tax” Works
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst With contributions to Trump accounts having gone live on July 4, 2026, there has been lots of discussion recently about the “kiddie tax.”...
Does the Five-Year Holding Period Pertain to Me?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst QUESTION: My wife (Keiko) currently does not take a required minimum distribution (RMD) on her retirement account because the plan allows...