Jim and Chris discuss listener questions on Social Security survivor benefits and divorce rules, a listener PSA on spousal benefits, HSA contribution limits, and whether annuities make sense versus Treasury bonds.

(8:45) A listener asks whether someone who is newly widowed can claim survivor Social Security now, keep working part time, and later switch to their own benefit, and also asks whether you still offer a “coffee and second opinion” or an a la carte Social Security review.

(23:00) The guys field a question from someone with two ex-spouses asking if it’s possible to combine their own Social Security with part of either (or both) ex-spouses’ benefits.

(33:30) George shares a PSA on how filing for Social Security online triggered a spousal-benefit eligibility notice for their spouse, and how the follow-up phone appointment worked without needing an in-person visit or marriage certificate.

(45:15) Jim and Chris answer a question about 2026 HSA contribution limits for two spouses on an ACA family plan who each opened their own HSA and want to avoid overfunding.

(54:45) One writer asks why they should consider annuities given fees and insurer risk when they can buy 20-year Treasury bonds, and adds a quick note about simplifying word choice from a prior email discussion.

The post Social Security, HSA, and Annuities: Q&A #2603 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s Summary
Jim and I continue last week’s EDU discussion on Roth IRA mistakes from an Investopedia article. We cover direct versus 60-day rollovers, the one-per-365-day IRA-to-IRA limit, and the 401(k) 20% withholding rule with the RMD and NUA exceptions. We revisit backdoor Roth mechanics and the pro rata rule, then shift to beneficiary designation forms and why naming an estate creates probate and creditor issues. We close with inherited Roth withdrawal timing under SECURE Act rules and the 10-year window.

Jim’s “Pithy” Summary
Chris and I pick up where last week’s EDU episode left off, using the Investopedia Roth mistakes article as a launching point to correct what they compress or misstate. The rollover section is where people get hurt, because they describe the old IRA rule like it was “once per calendar year,” and it wasn’t. It’s a 365-day framework, and the one-per-365-day limit still matters when you do the “show me the money” version of a rollover. I also keep pushing back on indirect rollovers from a 401(k), because the 20% withholding isn’t optional. There are narrow exceptions—but those aren’t general flexibility, they’re specific rules people routinely misunderstand.

The other item that’s far more important than its position on the list is beneficiary designation forms. These accounts pass by beneficiary form first, not your will, which can create probate delays, attorney fees, and creditor complications for the people left to sort it out. Chris adds the practical version of the same mistake: circumstances change, paperwork doesn’t. Old beneficiaries stay on file, and the form controls the outcome even when it creates an awkward situation.

We also get into inherited Roth timing under the SECURE framework—who qualifies as an eligible designated beneficiary, what the 10-year window actually requires, and why Roths don’t fit the required beginning date logic the way traditional accounts do. That difference matters when you’re thinking about flexibility for heirs and how long the account can sit untouched. If the real goal is the zero in the 2-1-0 Tax Ordering Number, the logic behind leaving a Roth can look very different than what you’d conclude from a short listicle about Roth IRA mistakes.

Show Notes: Article – 11 Mistakes to Avoid With Your Roth IRA

The post Roth IRA Mistakes, Part 2: EDU #2602 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris are joined by Jake to discuss listener questions on SSA-44 and IRMAA surcharges, inherited IRA spousal rollover rules, long-term care insurance benefit caps, and ACA tax credits.

(4:45) George asks whether an unexpected W-2 stock option payout in 2025 could support filing SSA-44 to reduce 2027 IRMAA surcharges, especially if he stops consulting income afterward.

(12:00) A listener asks whether SSA-44 can be used retroactively to request a refund of 2025 IRMAA surcharges after a job loss pushed MAGI below the threshold.

(18:15) Georgette asks whether she can take withdrawals from her deceased spouse’s inherited IRA without penalty and still later move the remaining balance into her own IRA.

(28:00) The guys address why long-term care insurance policies often have a lifetime benefit cap and whether benefits can run out during an extended care event.

(46:45) Chris and Jake cover whether long-term capital gains count toward the modified adjusted gross income used for ACA tax credits and can affect eligibility.

The post IRMAA, Inherited IRA, LTC, ACA Tax Credits: Q&A #2602 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.