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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...
2026 Retirement Planning Goals: A Simple Roadmap to Start the Year Right
Kick off 2026 with clear retirement planning goals. Learn the 6 most important steps to protect your income, reduce taxes, and stay on track. 2026 Retirement Planning Goals: A Simple Roadmap to Start the Year Right A new year is the perfect time to reset...
Why Annuities Can Be a Great Fit Heading Into 2026
As we move into 2026, many investors are asking the same question: How do I protect what I’ve built—without giving up the ability to grow? That’s exactly where annuities can play a meaningful role. Annuities aren’t for everyone, and they’re not “one-size-fits-all,”...
Heading into 2026: A Smart Retirement Checkup (Without the Overwhelm)
As we turn the page into 2026, it’s the perfect time to run a simple “retirement checkup.” Not a stressful deep dive. Just a clear look at a few areas that tend to make the biggest difference—because small adjustments now can help protect your lifestyle later. Whether...
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...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets ended the New Year holiday-shortened week with losses. Mega-cap Technology issues sold off on low volume, as did Financial and Consumer Discretionary sectors. That said, the S&P 500 posted its third straight year of double-digit gains as investors...
Weekly Market Commentary
The Christmas-shortened week produced gains across all major US indices, with the S&P 500 and Dow Jones hitting record highs. Mega-cap Tech assumed its leadership role with the semiconductor sector having relative strength. Nvidia announced a $20 billion deal...
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Five Last-Minute Tips for 2025 IRA Contributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The tax-filing deadline is almost here. Are you thinking about making a 2025 IRA (traditional or Roth) contribution? Time is quickly running out. Here are some last-minute tips to keep in mind as you make your IRA...
Tax Withholding from a Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD) and from a Roth Conversion: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I had my IRA custodian send my required minimum distribution (RMD) from my IRA to our church, but had 20% federal taxes withheld. Subsequently, I received two Form 1099-Rs from the custodian. One showed the withheld...
No Joke – Today is a Required Beginning Date!
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Today is April 1, and that’s a big day! No, not because it’s April Fool’s Day, but because today is the required beginning date (RBD) for any traditional IRA owner who turned age 73 in 2025. Based on census data, that could...
8 Rules to Help Navigate the Multiple Plan Contribution Limits
Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst More and more Americans are taking on “side gigs” or switching jobs. When that happens, they often wind up participating in two different employer retirement plans at the same time or in the same year. Here are 8 rules to help you understand...
Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Hi Ed and team, If a parent, age 86, inherited their son’s 401(k) after the son passed at age 58, does the parent still have 10 years to withdraw the funds? A lot is discussed about beneficiaries...
5 Things You Need to Know about the Roth IRA Five-Year Rules
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Here at the Slott Report, we get a lot of questions on all sorts of different IRA topics. However, one area where we consistently get the most inquiries is the five-year rules for Roth IRA distributions....
Young Spouse, Spousal Rollover, Year-of-Death RMD…and a Penalty?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When an IRA owner reaches the required beginning date (RBD), required minimum distributions (RMDs) are officially “turned on.” For IRAs, the RBD is April 1 of the year after the year the IRA owner turns age 73. If an IRA owner died...
Roth 5-Year Clocks and Spousal IRA Contributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I’m age 72 and my wife is age 63. I want to open a spousal Roth IRA. I already have a Roth for myself that I’ve owned for more than 5 years. Would she have to wait 5 years before she can make a withdrawal without a...
Moving the Clocks Ahead and Reviewing the Roth IRA 5-Year Clocks
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst A few Saturdays ago, many of us moved our clocks one hour ahead to usher in Daylight Saving Time. Adjusting our clocks is a reminder to review the confusing rules surrounding the Roth IRA distribution clocks. It’s no surprise that...
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...
read more
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...
read more
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...
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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...
read more
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...
read more
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....
read more
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...
read more
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...
read more
Medicare in 2026: What’s New, What’s Changing, and What Your Clients Should Do Now
2026 is shaping up to be one of the most “noticeably different” Medicare years in a while—not because the rules are unrecognizable, but because the cost and prescription-drug pieces are moving in ways that many beneficiaries will actually feel in their monthly budget....
read more
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 in 2026: What’s New, What’s Changing, and What Your Clients Should Do Now
2026 is shaping up to be one of the most “noticeably different” Medicare years in a while—not because the rules are unrecognizable, but because the cost and prescription-drug pieces are moving in ways that many beneficiaries will actually feel in their monthly budget....