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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Time is Running Out for Penalty-Free Correction of 2025 IRA Contributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Believe it or not, you still have some time if you are having second thoughts about that IRA contribution you made...
Part 2: Who Should NOT Convert to a Roth IRA?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst In our August 31, 2026, Slott Report entry, we offered a list of situations where Roth conversion could make sense. In that...
Can I Do a Conversion From the Inherited IRA Into the Inherited Roth IRA?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I am age 74 and inherited both a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA from my older sister who recently died. Can I do a...
An Update on State Law Tax Treatment of Trump Accounts
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst A Slott Report article from April 20, 2026, reported that a number of states intended to tax Trump accounts less favorably than they are...
Should My Daughter Continue Contributing to Her Son’s 529 Plan or Open Up a Trump Account?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Can I roll over my pre-tax 401(k) funds to a traditional IRA and my Roth 401(k) funds to a Roth IRA? I am concerned about the...
Qualified Disaster Distributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Hurricane season is upon us. Wildfires are raging in the West, and many states are dealing with flooding from...
Can I Do a Roth Conversion With No Earned Income?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Can I convert my traditional IRA to a Roth IRA even though I have no earned income for this year?...
IRS Issues Guidance on Permissible Trump Account Investments
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the most important features of Trump accounts is that they must be invested a certain way during the period before January 1 of the...
Avoid These 4 Common IRA Trust Mistakes
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Naming a trust as your IRA beneficiary can help you meet important estate planning goals. However, if you are...