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IRA

5 Tactics for Required Minimum Distributions

If you’ve got to take required minimum distributions, here are several options for how you should plan them.

Rolling Your IRA into a 401(k) – to Avoid RMD

One way to avoid RMD is to rollover your existing IRA into an employer’s 401(k) plan, if you’re still employed at age 72.

IRA Trick – Eliminate Estimated Tax Payments

There is a way to eliminate the estimated tax payments throughout the year, using your IRA and a bit of imagination. It works, and works well.

2021 Retirement Plan Limits

No changes in contributions limits for employees to their employer-sponsored plans and IRAs.

Post-Death Options for Directing a Retirement Plan to a Spouse

There are a few post-death options that you might be able to use to direct a retirement plan to a surviving spouse.

Mistakes With NUA

If you’re not careful there are several mistakes with NUA that can cause big problems for you. Pay attention when using NUA.

Just Starting With Retirement Savings? Get All the Credit You’re Due!

If you are saving in an employer plan or an IRA you need to check to make sure you’re getting the Saver’s Credit if you qualify.

IRA Transfer to HSA: Does This Make Sense?

Can it be a good move to transfer money from your IRA to an HSA? It’s something you can done once in a lifetime, but should you?

Roth Conversion Planning for a Small Business Owner or Farmer

Small business owners (including farmers) may have a unique opportunity for Roth conversions if they have significant Net Operating Losses on the books.

Choosing a Beneficiary for Your IRA

Choosing a beneficiary for your IRA is a decision with many variables to consider. Long term tax deferral can be very different depending on your choice.

RMDs From IRAs

IRA Required Minimium Distributions (RMDs from IRAs) are an important concept to understand. Getting the calculation wrong can cause penalties.

7 Mistakes With Inherited IRAs

The inherited IRA can be an important part of your estate planning process. With this method, you can pass along tax deferred money to your heirs.

Three Reasons You May Not Want to Convert to a Roth IRA

In today’s historically-low tax rate environment, converting money from traditional IRAs to Roth can make sense, but not always. Keep your eyes open.

Options For a Spousal Inherited IRA

What options do you have if you have a spousal inherited IRA? There are three, much better options than other non-spouse beneficiaries.

Adjusting Your Withholding and Estimated Tax Payments

If you regularly have a large tax payment or large refund, you should review and adjust your withholding to be more efficient.

Trust Me, You’re Gonna Like This – The See-Through Trust as a Beneficiary

One area that often gets short shrift in discussions of IRAs and beneficiary designation is the use of a trust as the beneficiary. Part of the reason behind this may be the perceived complexity of trusts in general; at any rate, it’s not as complicated as it sounds, and it can be beneficial, depending upon your circumstances. We’re specifically discussing the “see-through” trust here, as this type of trust is most appropriate for IRA and Qualified Retirement Plan beneficiary designations. The See-Through Trust as a Beneficiary If you designate a trust as the beneficiary of your IRA or Qualified Retirement Plan (QRP), the trust should be set up with certain properties associated with it: the trust must be valid under the plan owner’s state’s law; the trust must be irrevocable upon the plan owner’s death; the trust beneficiaries must be identifiable; ALL of the trust beneficiaries must be individuals (cannot […]

Sam, You Made The Pants Too Short!

What can you do if your IRA has declined so much that it will no longer support your 72t payments as scheduled? You have a couple options to consider.