Tax-Deferred Accounts: IRS Distribution Requirements

Tax-deferred accounts such as IRAs and 401(k) plans are excellent vehicles for saving for retirement. But the IRS imposes a number of distribution requirements that, if not met, can result in penalties. For both traditional and Roth IRAs, you may begin taking...

Should You Convert to a Roth IRA?

Whether an investor benefits from converting assets within a traditional IRA to a Roth account may depend on the amount of time he or she plans to leave the assets invested, estate planning strategies, and his or her willingness to pay the federal income tax bill that...

Retirement Planning Tips for Fifty-Somethings

Entering your 50s and behind in your retirement planning goals? Don’t fret. You’ve still got time to get your financial plan back on track. There are many steps that older investors can take to better prepare themselves financially for retirement. Here are...

Planning Your Required Distributions

For those in or near retirement, the age of 70½ is a key transition point: Retirees need to begin planning for required minimum distributions (RMDs) that are taken annually from employer-sponsored retirement plans and traditional IRAs. Understanding the rules can help...

Planning for the Future — What Motivates You?

The truth is there is ample motivation to make the most of retirement planning opportunities. Reality Check It used to be that Americans could count on a pension plus Social Security to get them through their Golden Years. But traditional pensions only account for an...