Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
7 Year-End Financial Moves to Consider Before December 31
As the year begins to wind down, your financial plan deserves a year-end review too. The final few months of the year can be an important time to evaluate retirement...
You’ve Worked Hard to Build Your Future. Is Your Financial Plan Keeping Up?
A new home. A growing family. A career change. Retirement getting closer. Life rarely stays the same for long. Yet financial plans and insurance policies can sit...
Could Your Retirement Plan Handle a Change of Plans?
You may have a clear picture of retirement: more time with family, a few trips you have been putting off, and the freedom to spend your days doing what matters most....
The Four Risks That Can Quietly Undermine Your Retirement Plan
Retirement planning is about more than reaching a particular savings goal. Even a substantial portfolio can face pressure from risks that are easy to...
Tax-Efficient Retirement Planning: It’s Not Just What You Save—It’s What You Keep
Saving for retirement is one of the most important financial commitments you can make. But building a sizable retirement account is only part of the equation. The...
The Retirement Expense Many Families Forget to Plan For
Why Long-Term Care Deserves a Place in Your Financial Strategy Most people spend years preparing for retirement. They estimate how much income they may need, decide...
Your Retirement Plan May Look Complete—But Is It Truly Connected?
Most people do not build their retirement strategy all at once. They accumulate different financial products and accounts throughout their lives. A 401(k) may come from...
The Human Advantage: Why Financial Advice Matters More in the Age of AI
Artificial intelligence is changing nearly every industry, and financial services are no exception. Today, consumers have access to sophisticated calculators,...
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...
Weekly Market Commentary
As we move from the third quarter into the fourth, investors have a lot to consider in this crazy market. US equities finished the week mixed in volatile trade. A...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed as interest rates increased across the yield curve. Oil prices swung significantly during the week as reports suggested the US and Iran...
Weekly Market Commentary
It was a volatile week on Wall Street as traders assessed monetary policy decisions from several central banks, including the Federal Reserve. The Fed did, as...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets fell in the holiday-shortened week as oil prices surpassed $100 a barrel, raising inflation concerns and pushing interest rates higher. Additionally,...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed as investors assessed the escalation of tensions between the US and Iran and recalibrated expectations of Federal Reserve monetary...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets ended the week mixed as investors assessed the implications of the US economic isolation of Iran, the fallout of increased tariffs on Canada, Nvidia Q2 earnings...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets took a step back last week in what turned out to be a very busy week. Increased yields on the long end of the curve prompted Treasury Secretary Scott...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 forged a new all-time high as investors recalibrated interest-rate-hike expectations after an in-line print of the Consumer Price Index and a...
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...
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Qualified Charitable Distributions and the 10-Year Rule: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I did a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) in early January of 2026 to cover a portion of my required minimum...
How the Once-Per-Year Rollover Rule Works and How to Avoid It
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the mantras we have here at Ed Slott & Company is: “Don’t do 60-day rollovers. Do direct transfers instead.” The reason? 60-day...
Three IRA Transactions You Must Do by October 15
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Fall is in full swing and October is almost upon us. That means that an important IRA deadline looms just ahead....
Do Inherited Roth IRA Beneficiaries Have RMDs?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst QUESTION: I really enjoy reading the Slott Report articles, but I’m confused about the inherited Roth IRA required minimum distributions...
NUA: Average Cost Basis vs. Specific Identification
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst For those workplace retirement plan participants fortunate enough to own highly appreciated company stock in their plan – like a...
Do We Use the Life Expectancy of the IRA Owner, or the Beneficiary to Calculate RMDs?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education QUESTION: I understand that the SECURE Act 10-year payout rule applies to certain beneficiaries. I also understand...
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...
Medicare Open Enrollment 2027: 7 Things to Review Before December 7
Medicare Open Enrollment is one of the most important times of the year for people who already have Medicare. From October 15 through December 7, 2026, Medicare beneficiaries have an opportunity to review their current coverage and make changes for 2027. Any coverage...
Before Your Next Appointment: 5 Medicare Questions That Can Help Prevent Costly Surprises
You schedule an appointment, hand over your insurance card, and assume your coverage will take care of the rest. Then a bill arrives—or the pharmacy tells you that your new prescription needs approval. Understanding your Medicare coverage before you use it can help...
Your Medicare Plan Changed. Did You Notice?
You recognize the insurance company. You have the same membership card. Your coverage has worked well so far. But does it still fit the year ahead? It is easy to treat Medicare coverage as a decision you have already finished. Yet a plan that met your needs last year...
7 Medicare Enrollment Mistakes to Avoid When Turning 65
Turning 65 is an exciting milestone—but it also brings important Medicare decisions. With multiple enrollment periods, coverage options, and deadlines to understand, even a small mistake could lead to delayed coverage, unexpected expenses, or lifelong penalties. Here...
Original Medicare vs. Medicare Advantage: What Should You Choose at 65?
As your 65th birthday approaches, you will have several important Medicare decisions to make. One of the biggest is choosing how you want to receive your Medicare benefits. Should you select Original Medicare, or would a Medicare Advantage plan better fit your needs?...
Medicare Wellness Visits Explained: What Is Covered—and What Is Not
When you become eligible for Medicare, you may hear several similar-sounding terms: the “Welcome to Medicare” visit, the Annual Wellness Visit, and a routine physical exam. Although these appointments can all play a role in managing your health, they are not the...
Medicare Isn’t “Set It and Forget It”: 7 Life Changes That Should Trigger a Coverage Review
Choosing Medicare coverage is an important decision—but it is not necessarily a one-time decision. The coverage that worked well when you first enrolled may not continue to fit as your health, prescriptions, finances or lifestyle change. Unfortunately, many people...
Medicare Preventive Benefits: Are You Taking Advantage of What Medicare Covers?
When most people think about Medicare, they think about coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, prescriptions, and medical treatment. But Medicare also provides access to a wide range of preventive services designed to help beneficiaries stay healthier and...
Medicare Preventive Care: The Benefits You’ve Already Paid For—Are You Using Them?
When most people think about Medicare, they focus on health insurance coverage for doctor visits, hospital stays, and prescription medications. What often gets overlooked is one of Medicare's most valuable features: preventive care. Original Medicare covers a wide...