Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security, origins of the RMD age, the tax planning window, and RMDs from Inherited Roth IRAs. (11:00) Georgette asks how to qualify for child-in-care survivor benefits if her ex-husband, who has been missing for seven years, is legally declared deceased. (23:00) A listener wonders when to […]

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Chris’s Summary:Jim and I are joined again by Jacob as we discuss listener emails about “unicorn” status—our term for retirees whose Minimum Dignity Floor™ and Fun Number™ are both covered by secure income. We clarify what qualifies as secure income and explore whether a very low withdrawal rate from a conservative portfolio might serve as […]

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This week’s is a bit of a non-traditional Q&A episode where Jim and Chris address two listener questions on Social Security but then move into Public Service Announcement mode. For the first PSA they discuss a listener email about a potential state-level Roth conversion tax saving strategy. Then, to wrap up the episode, Jim shares […]

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Chris’s Description Jim and I talk about how market downturns—like the one we’re seeing now—can cause people to second-guess their plans, even when they’re well prepared. We walk through how our Secure Retirement Income Process™ is designed to provide structure and clarity during volatile times, and explain how proper positioning can help you maintain perspective. […]

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Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to spousal Social Security benefits, RMD tax withholding, IRA withdrawals, and 401(k) contribution limits. Jim also shares a PSA about a recent attempt at identity theft. (20:15) Jim shares a PSA about a fraudulent payday loan application attempted in his name and what he learned about credit freezes […]

The post Identity Theft, Spousal Benefits, RMD Taxes, IRA Withdrawals, and 401(k) Contribution Limits: Q&A #2513 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I continue our review of interesting and sometimes confusing retirement planning facts, mostly drawn from Jim’s recent Ed Slott conference. We focus on the two Roth five-year rules and how they apply to Roth IRAs versus Roth 401(k)s. I explain the key distinctions between tax-free earnings and penalty-free access. Jim goes further […]

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Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security strategies, spousal benefits, Roth conversions, and annuities. (8:15) George asks whether a widow who was widowed before age 60 has two Social Security claiming strategies available based on the FRA benefit of each spouse.(20:30) The guys address a question about how spousal benefits are calculated […]

The post Social Security Benefits, Roth Conversions, and Annuities: Q&A #2512 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s Summary:This week’s EDU show is a throwback to an old favorite—things that make you go “hmm.” Jim brought back a list of oddities from the latest Ed Slott training, covering everything from RMD rules the IRS only recently addressed to real-world court cases involving bankruptcy, lottery tickets, and IRA self-dealing gone wrong. Turns out, […]

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