Educational Blogs
Schedule a Meeting With Frank Passmore or Call 770-355-9686
“Third-Party Posts”
The following link/content may include information and statistical data obtained from and/or prepared by thirdparty sources that Certified Planners Group, LLC, deems reliable but in no way does Certified Planners Group, LLC guarantee its accuracy or completeness. Certified Planners Group, LLC had no involvement in the creation of the content and did not make any revisions to such content. All such third-party information and statistical data contained herein is subject to change without notice and may not reflect the view or opinions of Certified Planners Group, LLC. Nothing herein constitutes investment, legal or tax advice or any recommendation that any security, portfolio of securities, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Personal investment advice can only be rendered after the engagement of Certified Planners Group, LLC, execution of required documentation, and receipt of required disclosures. All investments involve risk and past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Retirement Challenges in 2025: Market Volatility, Inflation and Social Security
Inflation, uncertain markets and a limited Social Security COLA are among the financial hurdles for retirees in 2025. Key Takeaways High interest rates may complicate investment decisions for retirees. Social Security recipients are getting a 2.5% raise, which may lag...
3 Social Security Changes Retirees Need to Know About in 2025
Key Points A modest cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will make benefit checks bigger. Note that higher earners will pay a bit more in Social Security taxes. Retirees still earning income may have some of their benefits temporarily withheld. The $22,924 Social Security...
If you’re nearing retirement, these 2025 changes could affect your finances. Here’s what to know
Key Points If you’re nearing retirement, key changes for 2025 could affect your finances, according to advisors. Starting in 2025, there’s a higher 401(k) plan catch-up contribution for workers ages 60 to 63. Plus, there are new rules for inherited individual...
A Checklist for Retiring in 2025
Our checklist for retiring next year includes everything you need to do before the retirement party. Only you can know if you're ready for a checklist for retiring in 2025. If you’re 60 or getting there, retirement is no longer a hazy concept in the distance. It’s a...
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...
Weekly Market Commentary
Darren Leavitt, CFA US financial markets were extremely busy last week as a rush to download a Chinese AI platform called Deep Seek from Apple’s App Store seemingly changed the narrative around artificial intelligence in a heartbeat and on multiple fronts. Capital...
Weekly Market Commentary
Darren Leavitt, CFA Wow, what a week! US markets were closed on Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and Donald Trump was inaugurated as the 47th President of the United States. It was a historic day indeed. The global markets were poised for a barrage of executive...
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...
Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group (Ed Slott Group) is a membership organization owned by Ed Slott and Company, LLC. Logos and/or trademarks are property of their respective owners and no endorsement of (Certified Planners Group, LLC) is stated or implied. Ed Slott Group and Ed Slott and Company, LLC are not affiliated with Certified Planners Group, LLC.
For the detailed requirements of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group, please visit: https://www.irahelp.com/
Roth Conversions and 401(k) Distributions: This Week’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Since I retired in 2020, each year I have been converting amounts from my employer plan to my Roth IRA. I will be age 73 in 2026. Can I take my required minimum distribution (RMD) amount and convert that...
Check Both Boxes for Tax-Free Roth IRA Earnings
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Roth IRAs follow strict distribution ordering rules. Contributions come out first, then converted dollars, and then earnings. It does not matter how many Roth IRAs a person has, or if the accounts are held at multiple custodians....
How Plan After-Tax Contributions Are Taxed When Converted
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst The April 23, 2025, Slott Report article, “After-Tax 401(k) Contributions Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought,” discusses how 401(k) after-tax contributions can be moved into Roth accounts through in-plan Roth conversions, the “mega...
Roth IRAs and Required Minimum Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: My wife and I created a Roth IRA when our two children were young to pay for their college education. Our daughter is finishing her second year of school, and our son will be entering college this fall. We have withdrawn...
Basis In Your Traditional IRA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education While most distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable, sometimes distributions can include after-tax dollars. These after-tax dollars are known as “basis.” Handling and tracking basis in your...
72(t): Switching Methods in a Market Downturn
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When a person under the age of 59½ needs access to his IRA dollars, there is a 10% early withdrawal penalty applied to any distribution, unless an exception applies. One of the many 10% penalty exceptions is a 72(t) “series of...
RMD Calculation and Direct Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: At age 71, I’m not yet subject to required minimum distributions (RMDs) from my IRA or workplace retirement accounts. However, I am required to take annual RMDs from a pre-2020 inherited IRA and a pre-2020 inherited Roth IRA....
After-Tax 401(k) Contributions Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education With the popularity of Roth 401(k) contributions, after-tax (non-Roth) employee contributions have gotten short shrift. But, if your plan offers them, after-tax contributions are worth considering. They can...
3 Retirement Account Moves You Can Still Do for 2024
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The April 15 tax-filing deadline has come and gone. However, for some 2024 retirement account planning strategies, it’s not too late! There is still time beyond the April 15 deadline. Here are three...
Have any Question? Ask us anything, we’d love to answer!
(770) 355-9686
Find a Certified Planners Group, LLC Location
Buford, Georgia
1819 Buford Hwy NE Suite #B
Buford, GA 30518
Office: 770-355-9686
PassmoreCEP@Bellsouth.net
