Conventional wisdom says yes, but there are exceptions. Shouldn’t you delay IRA distributions for as long as you can? According to conventional retirement planning wisdom, you should structure your retirement withdrawals so that money comes out of your taxable accounts first, then your tax-deferred accounts, and then finally your tax-free accounts. Roughly speaking, that means…
If you do, there are some “minor concerns” to keep in mind. Should you make a minor child the primary beneficiary of your IRA? Are there any caveats to that choice? IRA owners frequently name young children as contingent beneficiaries of their accounts, but designating someone younger than 18 as the primary beneficiary of IRA…
You might be surprised at its potential. An IRA is a retirement savings account, right? Indeed it is. IRA stands for Individual Retirement Arrangement. Even with that definition, however, there is no prohibition on using an IRA to save for other purposes, such as funding a college education. Why would anyone choose an IRA as…
Roth IRAs Can Be More Flexible Than Other Retirement Accounts A Roth IRA comes with some unique benefits not available to other types of retirement accounts. We recommend prioritizing retirement savings and especially a Roth IRA, even when you think you cannot afford it. Due to a little known rule, in many circumstances you can…
When stocks struggle or tread water, going Roth gains merit. Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is no easy decision. After all, it is a taxable event. When the stock market is down or sluggish, however, a Roth conversion has more appeal. Traditional IRA owners “go Roth” for some very good reasons. A…
It may be the best retirement planning tool you have. Do you have a million dollars? At the moment, probably not. But if you invest and save diligently and let your assets compound, who knows? You may be a millionaire someday. In fact, you may need to be a millionaire someday. If you stay retired…
If you want a tax break and want to help a non-profit, this may be a good move. Have you ever wanted to make a major charitable gift? Would you like a significant federal tax break in acknowledgment of that gift? If so, an IRA charitable rollover may be a good financial step to take.…
Are your investment decisions based on evidence or emotion? Information vs. instinct. When it comes to investing, many people believe they have a “knack” for making good investment decisions. But what exactly is that “knack” based on? The fact is, the choices we make with our assets can be strongly influenced by factors, many of…