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Individual Retirement Accounts - IRAs

Strategies for maximizing your Individual Retirement Account (IRA’s) Investments, Tax Savings and Timing of Required Minimum Distributions

Found 388 Articles.
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All 401(k)s to Become Roths?

September 6, 2017

Tax reform continues to be discussed behind-the-scenes in Washington. Media reports regularly indicate that one of the changes under discussion is to end upfront tax benefits for 401(k)s and other retirement plans. In effect, all retirement plans would become Roth plans. This article updates the situation and explains how that could affect retirement planning. THe […]

how-to-protect-your-ira-from-creditors

How to Protect Your IRA from Creditors

September 1, 2017

How safe is your IRA? Your assets could be at risk… from several directions. There is always the potential for a downturn that reduces cash flow from your job, business, or investments. Creditors could then seek payment from your personal assets. Lawsuits are another risk. Some occupations, such as being a doctor, carry high risks […]

IRA Pitfalls, Mistakes and Opportunities

September 1, 2017

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) become more complicated as balances increase and distributions are taken. It is important to understand some key rules so you won’t trigger additional taxes and penalties or miss some grand opportunities you didn’t know were available. Examples of people making IRA mistakes come my way almost every day in court cases, […]

Ensuring Your IRA is Safe from Creditors

July 27, 2017

Is your IRA safe from creditors? Your assets are at risk from several directions. Of course, there always is the potential for a downturn that reduces cash flow from your job, business, or investments. Creditors could seek payment from your personal assets. Lawsuits are another risk. Some occupations, such as being a doctor, carry high […]

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Waiving the Penalty for RMD Mistakes

June 22, 2017

The IRS likes to catch people who made mistakes with the required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their retirement plans. It’s no wonder. The penalty is a steep 50% of any amount that was supposed to be distributed but wasn’t. Owners of traditional IRAs and other qualified retirement accounts must begin minimum annual distributions after age […]

Increase After Tax Wealth by Matching the Right Assets to the Right Accounts

May 23, 2017

How much time do you spend on asset location? Notice, that’s asset location not asset allocation. If you’re like most investors and even financial advisers, you don’t give asset location much time or attention or use some oversimplified rules of thumb. Over time, that oversight reduces after-tax returns, and that means your nest egg won’t […]

Trusts as IRA Beneficiaries: Reaping the Benefits, Avoiding the Pitfalls

April 26, 2017

There are many good reasons to name a trust as an IRA beneficiary. But there also are some hazards to avoid. Trusts can make an Inherited IRA last longer. Through the trust terms and appointment of the trustee, you control how much money is distributed to the trust beneficiaries. For example, the trust can retain […]

Maximizing the Power of the Stretch IRA

March 17, 2017

You probably know the basics of establishing the Stretch IRA: name younger beneficiaries, be sure your beneficiary designations are up to date and discuss the Stretch IRA with your beneficiaries. If so, it’s time for you to consider the next steps to maximize the after-tax value of your IRAs for the next generation. You want […]

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