Blogs
“Third-Party Posts”
The Biggest Retirement Risk Isn’t the Market—It’s Having No Plan
When people think about retirement, they often focus on one thing: the stock market. They worry about the next downturn, the next recession, or the next headline predicting financial uncertainty. While market volatility is certainly something to consider, it may not...
read more
Why Financial Confidence Starts With a Plan, Not a Product
Retirement isn't built on luck—it’s built on preparation. While investment performance, insurance coverage, and market conditions all play important roles, one factor often has the greatest impact on long-term success: having a comprehensive financial plan. Whether...
read more
Why a Retirement Income Plan Matters More Than Your Investment Returns
Many people spend decades focused on growing their retirement savings. They watch the markets, contribute to retirement accounts, and celebrate when their balances increase. But when retirement finally arrives, one question becomes far more important than, "How much...
read more
The Retirement Tax Trap: Why Keeping More of Your Money Matters More Than Chasing Higher Returns
When people think about retirement, they often focus on growing their investments. They search for higher returns, the next great investment opportunity, or ways to outperform the market. While investment performance is important, many retirees discover that one of...
read more
The Retirement Mistake Nobody Talks About: Having a Plan But Never Updating It
Many Americans spend years preparing for retirement. They contribute to their 401(k)s, open IRAs, purchase insurance, and work diligently to build their nest egg. Yet one of the biggest mistakes retirees and pre-retirees make isn't failing to create a financial...
read more
Mid-Year Financial Checkup: Why June Is the Perfect Time to Reassess Your Financial Plan
As we reach the halfway point of the year, many people take stock of their health, careers, and personal goals—but often overlook one of the most important areas of their lives: their finances. Just as an annual physical helps identify potential health concerns before...
read more
Retirement Isn’t Just About Saving Money—It’s About Creating Income You Can Count On
For many Americans, retirement planning begins with one simple question: "How much money do I need to retire?" While building savings is important, a more critical question is often overlooked: "How will I create a reliable income throughout retirement?" Retirement...
read more
7 Financial Mistakes That Can Derail Your Retirement — And How to Avoid Them
Retirement should be a time filled with freedom, confidence, and peace of mind — not uncertainty and financial stress. Yet many people unknowingly make decisions during their working years that can create major challenges later in life. The good news is that most...
read more
Retirement Planning in 2026: Building Confidence for the Years Ahead
Retirement is no longer viewed as simply “stopping work.” For many individuals and families, retirement is about creating freedom, protecting the lifestyle they’ve worked hard to build, and gaining peace of mind for the future. With rising healthcare costs, market...
read more
The Biggest Retirement Risk Isn’t the Market—It’s Having No Plan
When people think about retirement, they often focus on one thing: the stock market. They worry about the next downturn, the next recession, or the next headline predicting financial uncertainty. While market volatility is certainly something to consider, it may not...
Why Financial Confidence Starts With a Plan, Not a Product
Retirement isn't built on luck—it’s built on preparation. While investment performance, insurance coverage, and market conditions all play important roles, one factor often has the greatest impact on long-term success: having a comprehensive financial plan. Whether...
Why a Retirement Income Plan Matters More Than Your Investment Returns
Many people spend decades focused on growing their retirement savings. They watch the markets, contribute to retirement accounts, and celebrate when their balances increase. But when retirement finally arrives, one question becomes far more important than, "How much...
The Retirement Tax Trap: Why Keeping More of Your Money Matters More Than Chasing Higher Returns
When people think about retirement, they often focus on growing their investments. They search for higher returns, the next great investment opportunity, or ways to outperform the market. While investment performance is important, many retirees discover that one of...
The Retirement Mistake Nobody Talks About: Having a Plan But Never Updating It
Many Americans spend years preparing for retirement. They contribute to their 401(k)s, open IRAs, purchase insurance, and work diligently to build their nest egg. Yet one of the biggest mistakes retirees and pre-retirees make isn't failing to create a financial...
Mid-Year Financial Checkup: Why June Is the Perfect Time to Reassess Your Financial Plan
As we reach the halfway point of the year, many people take stock of their health, careers, and personal goals—but often overlook one of the most important areas of their lives: their finances. Just as an annual physical helps identify potential health concerns before...
Retirement Isn’t Just About Saving Money—It’s About Creating Income You Can Count On
For many Americans, retirement planning begins with one simple question: "How much money do I need to retire?" While building savings is important, a more critical question is often overlooked: "How will I create a reliable income throughout retirement?" Retirement...
7 Financial Mistakes That Can Derail Your Retirement — And How to Avoid Them
Retirement should be a time filled with freedom, confidence, and peace of mind — not uncertainty and financial stress. Yet many people unknowingly make decisions during their working years that can create major challenges later in life. The good news is that most...
Retirement Planning in 2026: Building Confidence for the Years Ahead
Retirement is no longer viewed as simply “stopping work.” For many individuals and families, retirement is about creating freedom, protecting the lifestyle they’ve worked hard to build, and gaining peace of mind for the future. With rising healthcare costs, market...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. The rotation from technology into other parts of the market reversed this week, as leadership from mega-cap tech names and semiconductors powered the market higher. News that China would allow the purchase of...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week saw the end to the best 2nd quarter in six years as the S&P 500 added over $8 trillion in market value. The Semiconductor sector recorded its best quarter ever with a gain of 87.75% as AI demand for chips continued. That said the...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed, with a noticeable rotation out of mega-cap technology issues to healthcare, real estate, and consumer staples. Concerns about the return on investment from a massive capital-expenditure binge on artificial intelligence resurfaced. ...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. The holiday-shortened week brought gains to US equities and saw the Japanese and South Korean markets forge new all-time highs. The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran extended the...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
It was a hectic week on Wall Street as investors contended with heightened tensions in the Middle East, awaited the largest IPO in history, and received elevated inflation readings. The US and Iran appear to be very close to extending a fragile ceasefire, but as I...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 was unable to make it a 10th straight week of gains as the market pulled back sharply late in the week amid a sense that the AI trade may have gone too far, too fast. Technology issues were absolutely hammered on Thursday and Friday after...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
Global equity markets rallied in May and received a final boost in the final week of the month on optimism that the US and Iran were close to extending the current ceasefire agreement. However, the negotiations between the two parties were described as “clear as mud”...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all the brave men and women who have served our country to ensure our freedom. Markets took a step forward last week in what I would consider a complete reversal of the prior week's action. A broadening-out trade could...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. Hotter-than-expected inflation data, coupled with increased tensions in the Middle East, sent US Treasury yields significantly higher. The US-China summit ended with both sides with no real incremental...
read more
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. The rotation from technology into other parts of the market reversed this week, as leadership from mega-cap tech names and semiconductors powered the market higher. News that China would allow the purchase of...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week saw the end to the best 2nd quarter in six years as the S&P 500 added over $8 trillion in market value. The Semiconductor sector recorded its best quarter ever with a gain of 87.75% as AI demand for chips continued. That said the...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets finished the week mixed, with a noticeable rotation out of mega-cap technology issues to healthcare, real estate, and consumer staples. Concerns about the return on investment from a massive capital-expenditure binge on artificial intelligence resurfaced. ...
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Father’s Day to all the fathers out there. The holiday-shortened week brought gains to US equities and saw the Japanese and South Korean markets forge new all-time highs. The signing of a memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran extended the...
Weekly Market Commentary
It was a hectic week on Wall Street as investors contended with heightened tensions in the Middle East, awaited the largest IPO in history, and received elevated inflation readings. The US and Iran appear to be very close to extending a fragile ceasefire, but as I...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 was unable to make it a 10th straight week of gains as the market pulled back sharply late in the week amid a sense that the AI trade may have gone too far, too fast. Technology issues were absolutely hammered on Thursday and Friday after...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global equity markets rallied in May and received a final boost in the final week of the month on optimism that the US and Iran were close to extending the current ceasefire agreement. However, the negotiations between the two parties were described as “clear as mud”...
Weekly Market Commentary
Happy Memorial Day weekend, and thank you to all the brave men and women who have served our country to ensure our freedom. Markets took a step forward last week in what I would consider a complete reversal of the prior week's action. A broadening-out trade could...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets finished the week mixed in volatile trade. Hotter-than-expected inflation data, coupled with increased tensions in the Middle East, sent US Treasury yields significantly higher. The US-China summit ended with both sides with no real incremental...
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How Plan Loans Work
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report outlined the barriers preventing 401(k) and other plan participants from accessing their plan funds while working. The June 24, 2026 article discussed in-plan withdrawals as one way around those barriers....
read more
The Ghost-Life Rule Explained
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The SECURE Act of 2019 changed many rules for inherited IRAs. However, it left intact the rules for non-living (non-person) beneficiaries, such as an estate. For these non-designated beneficiaries (NDBs), the same...
read more
The Pro-Rata Rule and the Still-Working Exception: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I just wanted to verify that a 403(b) plan is not subject to the pro-rata rule when doing a Roth IRA conversion. Can you please let me know if this is correct? Thanks! Lynn ANSWER: Lynn, You are correct. When doing a Roth...
read more
Trump Accounts: Weird Stuff Keeps Happening
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst From its onset, I have been a fan of the concept of Trump accounts. Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), this new savings vehicle for children is now up and running as of July 4, 2026. At their core, Trump accounts...
read more
Treasury Announces Initial Trump Account Investment Options
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst On July 1, 2026, the Treasury Department announced the investment options for initial Trump account contributions. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Congress imposed strict investment restrictions on Trump account contributions...
read more
The Pro-Rata Rule and Non-U.S. Citizen Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: If someone has a SIMPLE IRA and is interested in doing a backdoor Roth IRA conversion, does the SIMPLE IRA count under the pro-rata rule? Answer: The pro-rata rule that determines the taxation of a backdoor Roth IRA conversion...
read more
IRS Provides Fix for Trump Account Gift Tax Issue
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In just a few days, on July 4, Trump accounts will be available. As we come down to the wire, the IRS has stepped in to provide a safe harbor to address concerns about potential gift tax issues with contributions....
read more
“The Law of the Plan is the Law of the Land”
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When it comes to the rules governing specific workplace retirement plans like a 401(k), there are the foundational rules dictated by law, and there are “in-house rules” put into place by the plan itself. Plans can choose to be far...
read more
Breaking the Barriers to Access Your Retirement Plan Funds While Working
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report described the strict barriers employees face when attempting to access their 401(k) and other plan funds while still working. One exception to those barriers is for hardship withdrawals. Plans are not...
read more
How Plan Loans Work
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report outlined the barriers preventing 401(k) and other plan participants from accessing their plan funds while working. The June 24, 2026 article discussed in-plan withdrawals as one way around those barriers....
The Ghost-Life Rule Explained
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The SECURE Act of 2019 changed many rules for inherited IRAs. However, it left intact the rules for non-living (non-person) beneficiaries, such as an estate. For these non-designated beneficiaries (NDBs), the same...
The Pro-Rata Rule and the Still-Working Exception: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I just wanted to verify that a 403(b) plan is not subject to the pro-rata rule when doing a Roth IRA conversion. Can you please let me know if this is correct? Thanks! Lynn ANSWER: Lynn, You are correct. When doing a Roth...
Trump Accounts: Weird Stuff Keeps Happening
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst From its onset, I have been a fan of the concept of Trump accounts. Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), this new savings vehicle for children is now up and running as of July 4, 2026. At their core, Trump accounts...
Treasury Announces Initial Trump Account Investment Options
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst On July 1, 2026, the Treasury Department announced the investment options for initial Trump account contributions. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Congress imposed strict investment restrictions on Trump account contributions...
The Pro-Rata Rule and Non-U.S. Citizen Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: If someone has a SIMPLE IRA and is interested in doing a backdoor Roth IRA conversion, does the SIMPLE IRA count under the pro-rata rule? Answer: The pro-rata rule that determines the taxation of a backdoor Roth IRA conversion...
IRS Provides Fix for Trump Account Gift Tax Issue
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In just a few days, on July 4, Trump accounts will be available. As we come down to the wire, the IRS has stepped in to provide a safe harbor to address concerns about potential gift tax issues with contributions....
“The Law of the Plan is the Law of the Land”
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When it comes to the rules governing specific workplace retirement plans like a 401(k), there are the foundational rules dictated by law, and there are “in-house rules” put into place by the plan itself. Plans can choose to be far...
Breaking the Barriers to Access Your Retirement Plan Funds While Working
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report described the strict barriers employees face when attempting to access their 401(k) and other plan funds while still working. One exception to those barriers is for hardship withdrawals. Plans are not...
How Plan Loans Work
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report outlined the barriers preventing 401(k) and other plan participants from accessing their plan funds while working. The June 24, 2026 article discussed in-plan withdrawals as one way around those barriers....
read more
The Ghost-Life Rule Explained
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The SECURE Act of 2019 changed many rules for inherited IRAs. However, it left intact the rules for non-living (non-person) beneficiaries, such as an estate. For these non-designated beneficiaries (NDBs), the same...
read more
The Pro-Rata Rule and the Still-Working Exception: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I just wanted to verify that a 403(b) plan is not subject to the pro-rata rule when doing a Roth IRA conversion. Can you please let me know if this is correct? Thanks! Lynn ANSWER: Lynn, You are correct. When doing a Roth...
read more
Trump Accounts: Weird Stuff Keeps Happening
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst From its onset, I have been a fan of the concept of Trump accounts. Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), this new savings vehicle for children is now up and running as of July 4, 2026. At their core, Trump accounts...
read more
Treasury Announces Initial Trump Account Investment Options
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst On July 1, 2026, the Treasury Department announced the investment options for initial Trump account contributions. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Congress imposed strict investment restrictions on Trump account contributions...
read more
The Pro-Rata Rule and Non-U.S. Citizen Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: If someone has a SIMPLE IRA and is interested in doing a backdoor Roth IRA conversion, does the SIMPLE IRA count under the pro-rata rule? Answer: The pro-rata rule that determines the taxation of a backdoor Roth IRA conversion...
read more
IRS Provides Fix for Trump Account Gift Tax Issue
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In just a few days, on July 4, Trump accounts will be available. As we come down to the wire, the IRS has stepped in to provide a safe harbor to address concerns about potential gift tax issues with contributions....
read more
“The Law of the Plan is the Law of the Land”
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When it comes to the rules governing specific workplace retirement plans like a 401(k), there are the foundational rules dictated by law, and there are “in-house rules” put into place by the plan itself. Plans can choose to be far...
read more
Breaking the Barriers to Access Your Retirement Plan Funds While Working
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report described the strict barriers employees face when attempting to access their 401(k) and other plan funds while still working. One exception to those barriers is for hardship withdrawals. Plans are not...
read more
How Plan Loans Work
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report outlined the barriers preventing 401(k) and other plan participants from accessing their plan funds while working. The June 24, 2026 article discussed in-plan withdrawals as one way around those barriers....
The Ghost-Life Rule Explained
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The SECURE Act of 2019 changed many rules for inherited IRAs. However, it left intact the rules for non-living (non-person) beneficiaries, such as an estate. For these non-designated beneficiaries (NDBs), the same...
The Pro-Rata Rule and the Still-Working Exception: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I just wanted to verify that a 403(b) plan is not subject to the pro-rata rule when doing a Roth IRA conversion. Can you please let me know if this is correct? Thanks! Lynn ANSWER: Lynn, You are correct. When doing a Roth...
Trump Accounts: Weird Stuff Keeps Happening
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst From its onset, I have been a fan of the concept of Trump accounts. Created by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), this new savings vehicle for children is now up and running as of July 4, 2026. At their core, Trump accounts...
Treasury Announces Initial Trump Account Investment Options
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst On July 1, 2026, the Treasury Department announced the investment options for initial Trump account contributions. In the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), Congress imposed strict investment restrictions on Trump account contributions...
The Pro-Rata Rule and Non-U.S. Citizen Beneficiaries: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: If someone has a SIMPLE IRA and is interested in doing a backdoor Roth IRA conversion, does the SIMPLE IRA count under the pro-rata rule? Answer: The pro-rata rule that determines the taxation of a backdoor Roth IRA conversion...
IRS Provides Fix for Trump Account Gift Tax Issue
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In just a few days, on July 4, Trump accounts will be available. As we come down to the wire, the IRS has stepped in to provide a safe harbor to address concerns about potential gift tax issues with contributions....
“The Law of the Plan is the Law of the Land”
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When it comes to the rules governing specific workplace retirement plans like a 401(k), there are the foundational rules dictated by law, and there are “in-house rules” put into place by the plan itself. Plans can choose to be far...
Breaking the Barriers to Access Your Retirement Plan Funds While Working
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The June 15, 2026 Slott Report described the strict barriers employees face when attempting to access their 401(k) and other plan funds while still working. One exception to those barriers is for hardship withdrawals. Plans are not...