Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
Understanding Annuities: Turning Retirement Savings Into Reliable Income
Planning for retirement has changed dramatically over the past few decades. In the past, many retirees relied on pensions and Social Security to provide dependable income throughout retirement. Today, pensions have largely disappeared, leaving many retirees...
The Retirement Wildcard: How Healthcare Costs Can Impact Your Financial Future
When most people think about retirement planning, they focus on the obvious questions: Will my savings last? How much income will I need? When should I take Social Security? But there’s one major expense that often catches retirees off guard. Healthcare. In fact,...
The Retirement Income Plan Most People Think They Have — But Don’t
Retirement isn’t about how much you’ve saved. It’s about how you turn your savings into income you can rely on — for 20, 30, or even 40 years. Most people believe their 401(k), IRA, or brokerage account is their retirement plan.But an investment account is not an...
Personalized Retirement Strategy: A Plan Built Around You
Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all. Two people can retire the same year with the same savings and still need completely different strategies—because income needs, taxes, risk tolerance, health care costs, and family priorities are never identical. A personalized...
Annuities: Why They Can Be a Smart Addition to Your Portfolio
When you think about building a strong retirement plan, most people focus on a mix of stocks, bonds, and cash. But for many retirees and pre-retirees, there’s another tool that can add stability, predictability, and confidence: annuities. Annuities aren’t...
2026 Retirement Income Planning: A Practical Guide to Turning Savings Into Paychecks
Retirement planning changes once the paychecks stop. In your working years, the goal is usually growth. In retirement, the goal becomes reliable income, tax efficiency, and protecting your lifestyle—all while navigating market ups and downs. If you’re retired (or...
Long-Term Care Planning in 2026: The “Quiet” Risk That Can Reshape a Retirement Plan
When most people think about retirement planning, they focus on the big three: income, taxes, and investments. But there’s a fourth category that can quietly undo even a strong plan if it’s ignored: Long-Term Care (LTC) — the cost of ongoing help when someone needs...
A Well-Rounded Financial Plan Starts With the Whole Picture
When people think about “financial planning,” they often picture investing—choosing funds, watching the market, or trying to pick the right time to buy. But a truly well-rounded financial plan is bigger than a portfolio. A strong plan examines your total financial...
Retirement in 2026: 7 Smart Moves to Turn Savings Into a Paycheck (and Sleep Better Doing It)
Retirement planning in 2026 isn’t just about “saving more.” It’s about building a reliable income plan, keeping taxes predictable, and making sure your money is positioned to handle inflation, market swings, and healthcare costs—all while staying aligned with your...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets regressed as several themes that have propelled the market higher over the last couple of years have had to be reassessed. Return on investment from AI capex, a Federal Reserve on hold, tariff uncertainty, and increased geopolitical tensions have...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week produced gains across US indices and saw an emerging market ETF break out to all-time highs. The start of the Chinese Lunar New Year and Ramadan tempered international trading volumes. The tail end of Q4 earnings continued to show...
Weekly Market Commentary
US financial markets regressed in choppy trade. The narrative around the disruptive nature of AI continued to impact markets. Rotation away from growth and mega-cap issues continued while proceeds flowed to defensive sectors and small caps. Interest rate-sensitive...
Weekly Market Commentary
Investors endured a volatile week on Wall Street as 4th quarter earnings continued to roll in. Concerns about massive capital expenditures resurfaced after Amazon and Google announced $200 billion and $185 billion in capex, respectively. This comes after last week’s...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets ended the week mixed. With just over a third of the S&P 500 having reported fourth-quarter earnings, this earnings season appears much better than anticipated. That said, despite better-than-expected results, many companies have sold off after the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global equity markets finished the week mixed, with US markets posting their second straight week of losses. Geopolitical concerns and trade tensions were top of mind for investors as global leaders met in Davos at the World Economic Forum. President Trump’s sharp...
Weekly Market Commentary
US financial markets ended the week with mixed results as investors assessed the first week of fourth-quarter earnings. Earnings results from the banks initially prompted selling, but this may have been due to President Trump’s call for a 10% cap on credit card...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets notched new highs in the second week of the new year, even as geopolitical tensions increased in several regions. The new highs came on a broadening out of the rally, with cyclicals and small caps leading the way. It was a busy week, with several...
2026: Here We Go Again!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It’s a new year, and the slate is wiped clean. Here we go again! While we are only one week into 2026, there are some important IRA and work plan transactions to be aware of: First RMDs. For anyone turning age 73 in 2026, this year...
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Combining Retirement Accounts and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: I have a new client who has an old SEP IRA as well as a traditional IRA with funds that were rolled over from his 401(k) plan. Can we combine these two accounts? Answer: Yes. These accounts can be...
529-to-Roth: Still No News on 15-Year Clock
sfgsf By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst It’s been nearly 3½ years, and still no news. No guidance. No updates. Background: In December 2022, the SECURE 2.0 Act was signed into law. That legislation contained an extensively discussed provision – allowing excess...
401(k) Rollovers and Spousal Contributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I have a 401(k) plan with a previous employer that is a mix of pre-tax and Roth money. I’m considering a direct rollover of the 401(k) to an IRA. How would that work since it’s a mix of pre-tax and after-tax funds? Would...
The “Required Beginning Date” vs. “First RMD Year” Confusion
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Most of you are probably familiar with the concept of the “required beginning date” (RBD). The RBD is the deadline for taking the first required minimum distribution (RMD) from an IRA or workplace retirement plan. If you’re a traditional...
New “Trump IRA” Is Fake News
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education On April 30, 2026, President Trump signed an executive order to promote retirement savings for American workers. In its aftermath, we have had a flurry of questions about a new savings option called a “Trump...
Reporting a Recharacterization
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst We know that Roth conversions are permanent. Recharacterization of a conversion is no longer allowed. Once the conversion is done, there is no going back. However, recharacterization is still available for IRA contributions. A...
A Cheat Sheet for Retirement Account Beneficiary RMDs
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The SECURE Act completely changed the rules for beneficiary IRA (and workplace retirement plan) required minimum distributions (RMDs). It’s now been more than 6 years since the SECURE Act became law and almost 2 years since the IRS...
Required Minimum Distributions and Inherited IRAs Prior to 2020: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: My spouse and I have a combined six-figure required minimum distribution (RMD) from my two IRAs and her smaller IRA. Our CPA suggested that for 2026 we only withdraw 50% of her smaller RMD, and that I...
The Once-Per-Year Rollover Rule: Multiple Deposits vs. Multiple Distributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The once-per-year IRA rollover rule sounds easy. However, there are many ways to go wrong. One common confusion with this rule occurs when there are multiple distributions or multiple deposits. These two...
Medicare Annual Checklist: 7 Smart Things to Review Every Year
Even if you feel confident in your Medicare coverage, it’s smart to review your plan at least once a year. Costs change. Networks change. Prescription formularies change. And sometimes your own health needs change — which can make a plan that worked last year less...
Medicare Advantage (Part C): What It Is, Who It’s For, and What to Watch For
Medicare can feel straightforward at first—Part A helps cover hospital care, Part B helps cover doctor and outpatient services—but then you hear about Medicare Advantage and everything gets a little more confusing. Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) is an...
Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Difference (and Can You Have Both)?
If you’re new to Medicare or helping a loved one, it’s easy to mix up Medicare and Medicaid—they sound similar, but they’re very different programs. The good news: once you understand the basics, it becomes much easier to choose coverage confidently and avoid costly...
Medicare Supplements in 2026: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, and How to Choose Confidently
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans can help control out-of-pocket costs in 2026. Here’s what’s new this year, how plans compare, and how to pick the right fit. If you’re on Original Medicare in 2026, predictability matters more than ever Original Medicare (Parts A...
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D): What It Covers, What It Costs, and How to Choose the Right Plan
If you take even one regular medication, Medicare prescription drug coverage can make a meaningful difference in your monthly budget. But Part D can also feel confusing because plans change, formularies change, and costs can vary widely from one person to the...
Medicare in 2026: What’s New, What Costs More, and What to Review Now
Medicare costs changed in 2026—Part B premiums and deductibles are higher, Part A hospital costs increased, and Part D now has a firm annual out-of-pocket cap. Here’s what beneficiaries should review and why it matters. The 30-second takeaway 2026 brought higher Parts...
Medicare Part D in 2026 — What It Covers, What It Costs, and How to Choose the Right Plan
Medicare can feel pretty straightforward… until prescriptions enter the picture. That’s where Medicare Part D comes in. If you take medications now (or even think you might later), understanding Part D can help you avoid surprises and keep your costs more predictable....
Medicare Checkup: 7 Smart Moves to Start the Year Confident
Medicare is not “set it and forget it.” Plans, provider networks, drug formularies, and costs can change each year—sometimes in ways that surprise people after they’ve already scheduled appointments or refilled prescriptions. A quick annual Medicare checkup can help...
Medicare & You: Your 2026 Checklist for Smarter Coverage and Lower Costs
As we head into 2026, Medicare remains one of the most important (and misunderstood) parts of retirement. The good news: you don’t have to “figure it out” alone. A few smart, proactive moves can help you avoid common mistakes, reduce out-of-pocket surprises, and feel...
Medicare Annual Checklist: 7 Smart Things to Review Every Year
Even if you feel confident in your Medicare coverage, it’s smart to review your plan at least once a year. Costs change. Networks change. Prescription formularies change. And sometimes your own health needs change — which can make a plan that worked last year less...
Medicare Advantage (Part C): What It Is, Who It’s For, and What to Watch For
Medicare can feel straightforward at first—Part A helps cover hospital care, Part B helps cover doctor and outpatient services—but then you hear about Medicare Advantage and everything gets a little more confusing. Medicare Advantage (also called Part C) is an...
Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Difference (and Can You Have Both)?
If you’re new to Medicare or helping a loved one, it’s easy to mix up Medicare and Medicaid—they sound similar, but they’re very different programs. The good news: once you understand the basics, it becomes much easier to choose coverage confidently and avoid costly...
Medicare Supplements in 2026: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, and How to Choose Confidently
Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans can help control out-of-pocket costs in 2026. Here’s what’s new this year, how plans compare, and how to pick the right fit. If you’re on Original Medicare in 2026, predictability matters more than ever Original Medicare (Parts A...
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D): What It Covers, What It Costs, and How to Choose the Right Plan
If you take even one regular medication, Medicare prescription drug coverage can make a meaningful difference in your monthly budget. But Part D can also feel confusing because plans change, formularies change, and costs can vary widely from one person to the...
Medicare in 2026: What’s New, What Costs More, and What to Review Now
Medicare costs changed in 2026—Part B premiums and deductibles are higher, Part A hospital costs increased, and Part D now has a firm annual out-of-pocket cap. Here’s what beneficiaries should review and why it matters. The 30-second takeaway 2026 brought higher Parts...
Medicare Part D in 2026 — What It Covers, What It Costs, and How to Choose the Right Plan
Medicare can feel pretty straightforward… until prescriptions enter the picture. That’s where Medicare Part D comes in. If you take medications now (or even think you might later), understanding Part D can help you avoid surprises and keep your costs more predictable....
Medicare Checkup: 7 Smart Moves to Start the Year Confident
Medicare is not “set it and forget it.” Plans, provider networks, drug formularies, and costs can change each year—sometimes in ways that surprise people after they’ve already scheduled appointments or refilled prescriptions. A quick annual Medicare checkup can help...
Medicare & You: Your 2026 Checklist for Smarter Coverage and Lower Costs
As we head into 2026, Medicare remains one of the most important (and misunderstood) parts of retirement. The good news: you don’t have to “figure it out” alone. A few smart, proactive moves can help you avoid common mistakes, reduce out-of-pocket surprises, and feel...