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Social Security’s full retirement age is increasing in 2025. Here’s what to know.
Most Americans may consider the standard retirement age to be 65, but the so-called "full retirement age" for Social Security is already older than that — and it's about to hit an even higher age in 2025. Social Security's full retirement age (FRA) refers to when...
5 Key Changes to 401(k)s in 2025 and What They Mean for You
These new rules could make it easier for you to save more money for retirement Participating in a 401(k) plan where you work is a smart way to invest for retirement. Plus, your employer may match some or all of the money you contribute. In 2025 the rules for 401(k)s...
What’s Changing for Retirement in 2025?
How Secure 2.0 and inflation adjustments will affect retirement savers and spenders. For retirement savers, the ringing in of the new year will bring more than the usual inflation adjustments to retirement contributions. The retirement legislation known as Secure 2.0...
Most Americans Feel They’re Worse Off Now Than In 2020—Here’s What The Data Says
Key Takeaways A recent Gallup poll showed most Americans feel they are worse off today than four years ago. Data on household finances show that things have changed dramatically since September 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic was affecting the economy. Americans have...
Retirees’ Credit Card Debt Levels Are Climbing
Key Takeaways An Employee Benefit Research Institute survey found that more than two-thirds of retirees had outstanding credit card debt in 2024, up from 40% in 2022. Even though inflation has cooled, high prices weigh on retirees. Almost a third of retirees said they...
3 Big Retirement Rule Changes Are Coming in 2025—How They Could Affect Your Savings
Key Takeaways Some provisions related to the Secure 2.0, a federal retirement law, will go into effect in 2025. Workers ages 60, 61, 62, or 63 will be able to make catch-up contributions of up to $11,250 in 2025. Workplace retirement plans such as 401(k) and 403(b)...
Retirement Vs. Resignation: Which Is Better?
Retirement Vs. Resignation: Which Is Better? There is a big difference between retirement and resignation. However, both involve leaving your place of work. If you choose to retire, you may be entitled to some social benefits such as pension and healthcare, which can...
6 End-of-Year Retirement Deadlines You Shouldn’t Miss for 2024
Navigate these tax and retirement milestones to optimize savings and avoid penalties. Staying on top of year-end tasks helps you avoid penalties and take full advantage of tax benefits. Key Takeaways Contributions to retirement accounts like 401(k)s must be made by...
Three Changes Coming for Social Security in 2025
The Social Security Administration has announced the 2025 final COLA, wage cap, and amount needed to earn SS credits. Anticipating changes coming to Social Security in 2025 can help you start planning for the new year and identify any adjustments you can make to...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Financial markets advanced this week as a solid start to the fourth-quarter earnings season, and some better-than-feared inflation data gave investors a reason to buy the most recent dip. The financial sector gained 6.1% on the week as bank...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets fell in the first full week of 2025 as investors recalibrated their Federal Reserve monetary policy expectations. Stronger labor data, a robust ISM Services print, and a weaker Consumer Sentiment report showing increased...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The final trading sessions for 2024 extended losses from the prior week, but the S&P 500 and NASDAQ still posted impressive gains for the year, 23.3% and 28.6%, respectively. The so-called Santa Clause Rally did not appear for the second...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Market action was mixed in a holiday-shortened week of trade. The Santa Clause rally, which runs for the last five trading sessions of the year through the first two trading sessions of the New Year, kicked off with gains from mega-cap...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Equity and fixed-income markets sold off for the second consecutive week as the Federal Reserve delivered an expected twenty-five basis-point rate cut but pivoted to a much more hawkish stance for 2025, where the committee now expects only two...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The Nasdaq eclipsed the 20,000 level for the first time this week as investors reengaged in buying the mega-cap technology names. Amazon, Google, Tesla, and Meta hit new highs for the year as investors heard about more advances in AI and quantum...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 forged another set of all-time highs as investors embraced the idea of an economy running at a pace appropriate for the Fed to consider further rate cuts. Leadership in the market toggled back to the mega-cap technology issues, with the communication...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week saw the S&P 500 and Dow rise to new all-time highs. Investors cheered the nomination of Scott Bessent as Treasury Secretary, who is seen as a fiscal hawk and someone who will support Trump’s trade policies. US...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets bounced back as investors reengaged the pro-growth Trump 2.0 trade. President-elect Trump continued to fill out his cabinet and, late Friday announced Scott Bessent as his nominee for Treasury Secretary. Wall Street has endorsed Bessent,...
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Rollovers and Inherited IRAs: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: I have a large non-qualified 457 deferred compensation plan and I am required to take distributions. I am looking to minimize taxes. Can I roll over these funds to an IRA? Answer: Unfortunately,...
529-to-Roth IRA: False Alarm
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When the “check engine” light comes on in a vehicle, most people are rightfully concerned that something is wrong. When a fire alarm blares through a building, it is wise to take stock of your surroundings. And when a member...
One Roth IRA Rule Congress Should Do Away with Now
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Today is Inauguration Day. A new administration has arrived. We also have a new Congress. With the arrival of newly elected officials, many will have hopes of legislative change. When it comes to retirement...
The Pro-Rata Rule and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: My wife has two after-tax traditional IRAs at two separate institutions. We are hoping to consolidate them, then convert to a Roth in the next 18 months. She is already retired. She also has an inherited IRA (from her...
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst One of the more controversial rules in the 2022 SECURE 2.0 Act is the requirement that plan catch-up contributions by certain highly-paid employees be made on a Roth basis. Last Friday, (January 10, 2025) the IRS issued proposed...
Beneficiary Form Resolutions
We are two weeks into 2025. Have you been following through on your New Year’s resolutions? As our readers already know, for an IRA owner not to follow through on his or her annual check up of beneficiary forms could have dire consequences. Repeat after me: In 2025, I...
RMD Rollover and Aggregation Rules: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I am planning for a required minimum distribution (RMD) from both my IRA and 403(b) plan for 2026, my first RMD year. I am in the third year of a 10-year period in which I am rolling over 10% of my 403(b) funds each year to my...
What’s New for 2025
When the ball dropped in Times Square on New Year’s Eve, a number of new retirement account provisions became effective. We’ve previously written about each of these new rules in The Slott Report. This article will serve as a checklist, with links to the prior...
5 Things We Are Talking About at the Slott Report in 2025
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The year 2025 is upon us! There is no doubt that this will be an eventful time for retirement accounts. As the new year kicks off, here is what we are talking about now at the Slott Report. 1. Increased...
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