Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Darren Leavitt, CFA US financial markets were extremely busy last week as a rush to download a Chinese AI platform called Deep Seek from Apple’s App Store seemingly changed the narrative around artificial intelligence in a heartbeat and on multiple fronts.  Capital...

Are HSAs Going Roth?

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Many of the provisions of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act are scheduled to expire at the end of 2025. There are currently a number of proposals in the works in Congress to extend these tax cuts. A serious hurdle is how...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Darren Leavitt, CFA Wow, what a week! US markets were closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. It was a historic day indeed. The global markets were poised for a barrage of executive...
A Checklist for Retiring in 2025

A Checklist for Retiring in 2025

Our checklist for retiring next year includes everything you need to do before the retirement party. Only you can know if you’re ready for a checklist for retiring in 2025. If you’re 60 or getting there, retirement is no longer a hazy concept in the distance....

Rollovers and Inherited IRAs: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education   Question: I have a large non-qualified 457 deferred compensation plan and I am required to take distributions. I am looking to minimize taxes. Can I roll over these funds to an IRA? Answer: Unfortunately,...

529-to-Roth IRA: False Alarm

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst   When the “check engine” light comes on in a vehicle, most people are rightfully concerned that something is wrong. When a fire alarm blares through a building, it is wise to take stock of your surroundings. And when a member...

One Roth IRA Rule Congress Should Do Away with Now

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Today is Inauguration Day. A new administration has arrived. We also have a new Congress. With the arrival of newly elected officials, many will have hopes of legislative change. When it comes to retirement...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

-Darren Leavitt, CFA Financial markets advanced this week as a solid start to the fourth-quarter earnings season, and some better-than-feared inflation data gave investors a reason to buy the most recent dip.  The financial sector gained 6.1% on the week as bank...

IRS Issues Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Regulations

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the more controversial rules in the 2022 SECURE 2.0 Act is the requirement that plan catch-up contributions by certain highly-paid employees be made on a Roth basis. Last Friday, (January 10, 2025) the IRS issued proposed...

Beneficiary Form Resolutions

We are two weeks into 2025. Have you been following through on your New Year’s resolutions? As our readers already know, for an IRA owner not to follow through on his or her annual check up of beneficiary forms could have dire consequences. Repeat after me: In 2025, I...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

-Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets fell in the first full week of 2025 as investors recalibrated their Federal Reserve monetary policy expectations. Stronger labor data, a robust ISM Services print, and a weaker Consumer Sentiment report showing increased...

RMD Rollover and Aggregation Rules: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I am planning for a required minimum distribution (RMD) from both my IRA and 403(b) plan for 2026, my first RMD year. I am in the third year of a 10-year period in which I am rolling over 10% of my 403(b) funds each year to my...
5 Key Changes to 401(k)s in 2025 and What They Mean for You

5 Key Changes to 401(k)s in 2025 and What They Mean for You

These new rules could make it easier for you to save more money for retirement Participating in a 401(k) plan where you work is a smart way to invest for retirement. Plus, your employer may match some or all of the money you contribute. In 2025 the rules for 401(k)s...

What’s New for 2025

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst When the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, a number of new retirement account provisions became effective. We’ve previously written about each of these new rules in The Slott Report. This article will serve as a checklist,...

5 Things We Are Talking About at the Slott Report in 2025

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education   The year 2025 is upon us! There is no doubt that this will be an eventful time for retirement accounts. As the new year kicks off, here is what we are talking about now at the Slott Report. 1. Increased...