Retirement Planning in 2026: Why Annuities Deserve a Serious Look

Retirement Planning in 2026: Why Annuities Deserve a Serious Look

Retirement planning in 2026 looks different than it did even a few years ago. Many retirees and pre-retirees are facing a familiar challenge in a new way: they want growth, but they also want stability. They want income they can count on, but they don’t want to feel...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Apprehensive investors pushed markets higher this week, with the small-cap Russell 2000 hitting a new all-time high, while the S&P 500 closed just 50 points below its October all-time high.  Economic data, some of which is quite dated, offered a mixed picture of...
Safe Money Options Heading Into 2026

Safe Money Options Heading Into 2026

A Financial Advisor’s Guide to Protecting What You’ve Worked So Hard to Build When markets are choppy and headlines are loud, many people start asking the same question: “Where can I put my money so it feels safer, but still has a chance to grow?” As we move into...

Stretch RMDs and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello Ed, I have been a fan of yours for a long time (and the owner of a copy of The Retirement Savings Time Bomb) and have always appreciated your insights. We have a client who is age 58 years and is the sole beneficiary of a...

The Crazy-Complicated 2026 SIMPLE IRA Plan Elective Deferral Limits

Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Since 2002, SIMPLE IRA plans have allowed employees who reach age 50 or older by the end of the year to make “catch-up contributions” beyond the usual elective deferral limit. Beginning in 2024, Congress automatically increased the regular...

Who Needs to Take a 2025 RMD?

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education As the calendar runs out on 2025, retirement account owners and beneficiaries may face a looming deadline. December 31 is the deadline for many to take 2025 required minimum distributions (RMDs). Test your...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The holiday-shortened week saw global financial markets trade higher. Increased optimism for a December rate cut, along with some constructive news on the AI front, catalyzed buying across risk assets. Several Fed officials indicated they were inclined to support a...

The Slott Report Gives Thanks

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Thanksgiving Season is upon us! Here at The Slott Report, we are thankful for many things: We are thankful to have a platform to share all the important IRA and retirement account information about which we write. We are thankful...

IRA and Retirement Plan Dollar Limits Increased for 2026

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The IRS has released the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for retirement accounts for 2026, and many of the dollar limits will increase next year. Retirement Plans The elective deferral limit for employees who participate in 401(k),...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Financial markets continued to decline as investors sold AI-related stocks amid valuation concerns, while rotating into more defensive sectors such as healthcare and consumer staples.  A stellar third-quarter earnings report from NVidia prompted investors to step in...

The Right Moves – How to Move Retirement Funds

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The year 2025 has been a turbulent time for the economy. Whether due to job loss or seeking better investment opportunities in volatile markets, the result is that more and more retirement account funds are on the...

The Tricky Still-Working Exception – After Death

  By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst For those who have 401(k)s or other retirement plans, the required beginning date (RBD) when required minimum distributions (RMDs) are officially “turned on” is April 1 of the year after the year a person turns age 73. This...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Markets were choppy and ended the week with mixed results.  Investors poured into risk assets on the idea that the longest US government shutdown was over, but a more hawkish tone from several Fed officials recalibrated expectations for a December rate cut and...

When Can I Take an In-Service Withdrawal from My 401(k)?

  By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst With continuing economic uncertainty, it’s not surprising that the number of employees who need to dip into their 401(k) and other company plan funds is on the rise. Congress originally set strict limits on the ability of employees...

5 Times When You Should Not Name Your Spouse as Beneficiary

  By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education While naming a spouse directly as the IRA beneficiary has many advantages and is a popular choice, it is not always the correct planning strategy. In some cases, another beneficiary may be better such as...