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7 steps to prepare for your upcoming retirement

7 steps to prepare for your upcoming retirement

Planning to retire within the next 10 years? Taking these actions now could help bolster your portfolio as you approach your planned retirement date. After decades of working and saving, you can finally see retirement on the horizon. But now isn't the time to coast....

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Getting Ready for Retirement Checklist

Getting Ready for Retirement Checklist

If the word “retire” is becoming your new mantra, we suggest you make a retirement checklist before you receive your last paycheck. It’s never too early (or too late) to start planning your retirement. So why not start now, using the handy checklist below. 10 Steps...

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The Most Important Ages of Retirement

The Most Important Ages of Retirement

Retirement is a series of milestones that arrive as you age. Here are the ones you should know about. The retirement clock doesn't start the day you stop working. It's better to think of this period of your life as a range of important dates and milestones spread...

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Planning to retire in 2025? Do these 7 things now

Planning to retire in 2025? Do these 7 things now

A wonderful retirement is the goal of many people, and you want it to come off without any major snags. But retirement plans always face challenges, whether it’s the volatility of the markets, the affordability of healthcare or the risks posed by inflation. Plus,...

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3 Retirement Mistakes That Can Still Be Fixed in 2025

3 Retirement Mistakes That Can Still Be Fixed in 2025

Retirement planning is rarely perfect. Life throws curveballs—health issues, market downturns, career changes—and even the most diligent savers can stumble along the way. If you’ve made financial missteps or feel unprepared as you approach retirement, you’re not...

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8 Ways to Keep From Going Broke in Retirement

8 Ways to Keep From Going Broke in Retirement

Budgeting, saving and investing tips to help make your money last as long as you do No matter how diligently you’ve been saving for retirement, it’s hard not to worry about outliving your money. But you can take several steps to contain your expenses, manage your nest...

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A Loved One Died and Left You an Inheritance. Now What?

A Loved One Died and Left You an Inheritance. Now What?

Take these steps when you receive a windfall Perhaps you are among the growing number of Americans fortunate enough to receive an inheritance. As older generations pass away and leave money to their families, a great wealth transfer is underway. Those bequests could...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Markets forged another set of all-time highs before taking a step back last week as a deluge of information had to be digested by investors.  August 1st was the tariff deadline, and while some deals were made ahead of the deadline, several other countries had their...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The S&P 500 and NASDAQ reached another set of all-time highs, driven by constructive rhetoric on global trade and positive second-quarter earnings results from influential companies such as Alphabet.  The S&P is up 8.6% year to date, while the NASDAQ is up...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

U.S. equity markets were little changed for the week; that said, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ were able to forge another set of all-time highs. A busy Q2 earnings calendar saw 12% of the S&P 500 report earnings.  Earnings from several large banks came in better than...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

A barrage of tariff letters sent to over 20 countries by President Trump yielded very little movement in the financial markets.  Trump announced that there would not be additional extensions to negotiations and that tariff levels sent in these letters would go into...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The holiday-shortened week produced another week of gains for US equity indices.  The S&P 500 was up 10.6 % in the 2nd quarter, while the NASDAQ composite rose 17.8%.  Trump’s reconciliation bill was passed by the Senate and subsequently approved by the House,...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ joined the NASDAQ 100 in forging new all-time highs in an extremely busy week for Wall Street.  A de-escalation of the Iran-Israel-US conflict happened on the twelfth day after Israel's initial strikes.  The US bombed three key nuclear...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Despite there being plenty for investors to consider, the holiday-shortened week ended pretty much where it started. Israel and Iran continued to exchange missile attacks, while global leaders tried to find a resolution to the conflict. President Trump opened the door...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

US markets advanced in an erratic week of trading. The S&P 500 ended the week above the 6000 level and is up nearly 24% from the April 7th lows. Investors continue monitoring global trade policy, hoping more trade deals will be signed soon.  Trump acknowledged...

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Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week was busy. Trade uncertainties continued to be on investors' minds, with several trade stories hitting the tape throughout the week.  News on Tuesday that President Trump had extended the timeline for negotiations with...

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Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group (Ed Slott Group) is a membership organization owned by Ed Slott and Company, LLC. Logos and/or trademarks are property of their respective owners and no endorsement of (Wealth Conscious) is stated or implied. Ed Slott Group and Ed Slott and Company, LLC are not affiliated with Wealth Conscious.

For the detailed requirements of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group, please visit: https://www.irahelp.com/EliteGroup

 

2025 Year-End Retirement Account Deadlines

  By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The end of the year always brings a flurry of retirement account deadlines and planning opportunities. This year is no different. And, new for 2025, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) brings new...

Do QCDs Actually Reduce AGI?

  By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It has come to our attention that confusion exists as to how qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) impact one’s taxes. It is said that QCDs can reduce adjusted gross income (AGI). But is this true? Yes, it is true…but...

Tapping an ESA for Back-to-School Expenses

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education It’s August and that means it is back-to-school time! The 2025-2026 school year is upon us. Kids are already back in the classroom and ready to learn. Any parent will tell you that back-to-school time is an...

The Craziest Stuff I’ve Heard

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst The Ed Slott team has answered literally tens of thousands of IRA and retirement plan questions over the past few years. That is not hyperbole—we track it all. The questions we’re asked run the gamut from basic to extremely...

In ERISA Retirement Plans, Spouse Beneficiaries Rule

  By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst At Ed Slott and Company, we continually stress how important the beneficiary designation form is. Because it’s that form – and not the retirement account owner’s will or other estate planning documents – that usually dictates who...

 

Why You Need Part D

Why You Need Part D

Key Points Medicare Part D is a voluntary program, but if you do not enroll in a plan, you won’t have coverage for expensive medications. You will also have a late enrollment penalty if you don’t have other creditable coverage. Medicare Part D is a huge time...

Medigaps

Medigaps

Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of most services. But what about the other 20%? Or the other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or inpatient copays? Let’s discuss Medigaps, which can help cover these costs. What are Medigaps? Medigaps are health...

Here’s How Much Medicare Will Cost in 2025

Here’s How Much Medicare Will Cost in 2025

Medicare pays for a bulk of older Americans’ health care costs, but not all. And each year Medicare adjusts key costs that are paid by enrollees. I want to walk through Medicare out-of-pocket costs for 2025. I sure hope those of you who are not yet 65 pay close...

What If My Medicare Doctor “Opts Out”?

What If My Medicare Doctor “Opts Out”?

Finding a doctor you like and trust can be a long process, so I understand that it can be frustrating when your doctor no longer accepts Medicare. If your doctor has “opted out” of Medicare, this means that he or she no longer accepts Medicare assignment...

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