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Annuity Awareness Month 2025: Your Guide to Income Security
Each June, Annuity Awareness Month shines a spotlight on one of retirement’s most misunderstood—but potentially powerful—financial tools: the annuity. In 2025, as market uncertainty, inflation concerns, and rising interest rates continue to weigh on retirement...
6 Ways to Secure Your Finances After Retirement
Although your CalPERS service retirement is a lifetime benefit, and you have other income sources available to you, money can still be tight. Making ends meet is a big concern for many retirees. Here are six tips for saving money during retirement, as part of our...
Retirement planning with annuities in 2025: Key considerations and trends
Annuities have seen a resurgence in popularity as a retirement planning tool, especially in 2025, driven by market volatility, higher interest rates, and an aging population seeking stable income streams. Here's what you need to know about retirement planning with...
7 steps to prepare for your upcoming retirement
Planning to retire within the next 10 years? Taking these actions now could help bolster your portfolio as you approach your planned retirement date. After decades of working and saving, you can finally see retirement on the horizon. But now isn't the time to coast....
Getting Ready for Retirement Checklist
If the word “retire” is becoming your new mantra, we suggest you make a retirement checklist before you receive your last paycheck. It’s never too early (or too late) to start planning your retirement. So why not start now, using the handy checklist below. 10 Steps...
The Most Important Ages of Retirement
Retirement is a series of milestones that arrive as you age. Here are the ones you should know about. The retirement clock doesn't start the day you stop working. It's better to think of this period of your life as a range of important dates and milestones spread...
Social Security Benefits Changes in 2025: What You Need to Know for Smarter Retirement and Tax Planning
Social Security is one of the most essential yet misunderstood pieces of the American retirement puzzle. With all the recent headlines, ranging from benefit increases and new payment rules to potential tax reforms under the Trump administration, many retirees and...
Planning to retire in 2025? Do these 7 things now
A wonderful retirement is the goal of many people, and you want it to come off without any major snags. But retirement plans always face challenges, whether it’s the volatility of the markets, the affordability of healthcare or the risks posed by inflation. Plus,...
3 Retirement Mistakes That Can Still Be Fixed in 2025
Retirement planning is rarely perfect. Life throws curveballs—health issues, market downturns, career changes—and even the most diligent savers can stumble along the way. If you’ve made financial missteps or feel unprepared as you approach retirement, you’re not...
The views reflected by the author in this article are subject to change at any time without notice. Financial Investment Services deems reliable any statistical data or information obtained from or prepared by third-party sources included in this article, but in no way guarantees its accuracy or completeness.
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 and NASDAQ reached another set of all-time highs, driven by constructive rhetoric on global trade and positive second-quarter earnings results from influential companies such as Alphabet. The S&P is up 8.6% year to date, while the NASDAQ is up...
Weekly Market Commentary
U.S. equity markets were little changed for the week; that said, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ were able to forge another set of all-time highs. A busy Q2 earnings calendar saw 12% of the S&P 500 report earnings. Earnings from several large banks came in better than...
Weekly Market Commentary
A barrage of tariff letters sent to over 20 countries by President Trump yielded very little movement in the financial markets. Trump announced that there would not be additional extensions to negotiations and that tariff levels sent in these letters would go into...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week produced another week of gains for US equity indices. The S&P 500 was up 10.6 % in the 2nd quarter, while the NASDAQ composite rose 17.8%. Trump’s reconciliation bill was passed by the Senate and subsequently approved by the House,...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ joined the NASDAQ 100 in forging new all-time highs in an extremely busy week for Wall Street. A de-escalation of the Iran-Israel-US conflict happened on the twelfth day after Israel's initial strikes. The US bombed three key nuclear...
Weekly Market Commentary
Despite there being plenty for investors to consider, the holiday-shortened week ended pretty much where it started. Israel and Iran continued to exchange missile attacks, while global leaders tried to find a resolution to the conflict. President Trump opened the door...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets advanced in an erratic week of trading. The S&P 500 ended the week above the 6000 level and is up nearly 24% from the April 7th lows. Investors continue monitoring global trade policy, hoping more trade deals will be signed soon. Trump acknowledged...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week was busy. Trade uncertainties continued to be on investors' minds, with several trade stories hitting the tape throughout the week. News on Tuesday that President Trump had extended the timeline for negotiations with...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It was a busy week on Wall Street. The Dow Jones Industrial Index and the S&P 500 went positive for the year, catalyzed by the announcement that China and the US would significantly lower tariffs for 90 days as trade negotiations continue. ...
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The 5-Year Clock and Qualified Charitable Distributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: A husband owned a Roth IRA which had been in existence for at least 5 years. He died in January of 2025. His wife was his primary beneficiary. The wife opened a Roth IRA in late January 2025 to receive the distribution...
When Can I Take an In-Service Withdrawal from My 401(k)?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst With continuing economic uncertainty, it’s not surprising that the number of employees who need to dip into their 401(k) and other company plan funds is on the rise. Congress originally set strict limits on the ability of employees...
5 Times When You Should Not Name Your Spouse as Beneficiary
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education While naming a spouse directly as the IRA beneficiary has many advantages and is a popular choice, it is not always the correct planning strategy. In some cases, another beneficiary may be better such as...
Penalty-Free Withdrawals of Roth Conversions and the First RMD Year: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Greetings, In 2025, I converted a traditional IRA to an existing Roth IRA, which I have held for 20 years. I will turn age 60 in 2026. Can I withdraw the converted money from my Roth IRA penalty free? Or do I have to wait five...
IRAs and 401(k) Plans: Different Rules, Different Worlds
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst At their core, IRAs and 401(k) plans operate in a similar fashion. Contributed dollars avoid taxation until they are withdrawn at some point in the future. Also, Roth is available in both IRA and 401(k) form. Roth dollars grow...
8 Questions Answered About the New Mandatory Roth Catch-Up Rule
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Many employers with company plans, and their recordkeepers, are scrambling to be ready for the soon-to-be-effective SECURE 2.0 rule requiring high-paid employees to make plan catch-ups contributions to Roth accounts. Here are 8...
Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and Inherited Roth IRAs: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: We have a 16-year-old minor inheriting an IRA from her 40-year-old father. Is it true that the child will have to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) each year until age 21? Then, at age 21...
New Code Y is Optional for 2025 QCDs
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education A few months ago, the IRS introduced a new Code Y for the reporting of qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) by IRA custodians on the 2025 Form 1099-R. The IRS has now issued guidance on its website...
Eligible Designated Beneficiary Trivia
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst TRIVIA QUESTION: John is age 40, he has a traditional IRA, and he is updating his beneficiary form. John wants to be sure that anyone he names on the form is an eligible designated beneficiary (EDB) who can leverage “the stretch,”...
The views reflected by the author in this article are subject to change at any time without notice. Financial Investment Services deems reliable any statistical data or information obtained from or prepared by third-party sources included in this article, but in no way guarantees its accuracy or completeness.
Navigating Medicare Changes in 2025 for People Living with ALS: A Comprehensive Guide
Living with ALS presents a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing your health care needs and medications. In 2025, important changes are coming to Medicare that could significantly impact how you access prescription drugs and manage your...
read more
Colorectal cancer screenings can save your life
Get a colorectal cancer screening at no extra cost to you. Learn more about life-saving screening options. Have you been putting off your colorectal cancer screening? It may not be the top of your to-do list, but regular screening tests can save lives. Colorectal...
read more
Get the care you need quickly when you’re sick
Discover six ways to access care fast, even if your doctor is busy. Hint: You may not need to go in person. Doctors’ offices are busier than ever these days. Sometimes it can be tough to book a timely appointment with your primary care provider. You might be sick or...
read more
Can You Apply for Medicare Without Social Security?
Key Points You do not need to be receiving Social Security benefits to apply for Medicare. You can receive Social Security benefits as early as 62 and Medicare benefits at 65. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits before your 65th birthday, you’ll be...
read more
Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Mandatory?
Key Points While the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is not mandatory, it is a 100% covered preventive service. The Annual Wellness Visit differs from the typical annual physicals you were used to with group coverage. If you’ve had Medicare Part B for more than 12...
read more
Why You Need Part D
Key Points Medicare Part D is a voluntary program, but if you do not enroll in a plan, you won’t have coverage for expensive medications. You will also have a late enrollment penalty if you don’t have other creditable coverage. Medicare Part D is a huge time...
read more
Medigaps
Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of most services. But what about the other 20%? Or the other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or inpatient copays? Let’s discuss Medigaps, which can help cover these costs. What are Medigaps? Medigaps are health...
read more
Medicare’s 2025 Surprise: Higher Costs, New Caps, and Vanishing Perks
Big changes are coming to Medicare and Social Security in 2025, and if you’re on Medicare—or soon will be—you need to know how these updates could impact your costs and coverage. Financial Sense’s Jim Puplava recently spoke with Medicare expert Brian McArthur to get...
read more
Here’s How Much Medicare Will Cost in 2025
Medicare pays for a bulk of older Americans’ health care costs, but not all. And each year Medicare adjusts key costs that are paid by enrollees. I want to walk through Medicare out-of-pocket costs for 2025. I sure hope those of you who are not yet 65 pay close...
read more
Navigating Medicare Changes in 2025 for People Living with ALS: A Comprehensive Guide
Living with ALS presents a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing your health care needs and medications. In 2025, important changes are coming to Medicare that could significantly impact how you access prescription drugs and manage your...
Colorectal cancer screenings can save your life
Get a colorectal cancer screening at no extra cost to you. Learn more about life-saving screening options. Have you been putting off your colorectal cancer screening? It may not be the top of your to-do list, but regular screening tests can save lives. Colorectal...
Get the care you need quickly when you’re sick
Discover six ways to access care fast, even if your doctor is busy. Hint: You may not need to go in person. Doctors’ offices are busier than ever these days. Sometimes it can be tough to book a timely appointment with your primary care provider. You might be sick or...
Can You Apply for Medicare Without Social Security?
Key Points You do not need to be receiving Social Security benefits to apply for Medicare. You can receive Social Security benefits as early as 62 and Medicare benefits at 65. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits before your 65th birthday, you’ll be...
Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Mandatory?
Key Points While the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is not mandatory, it is a 100% covered preventive service. The Annual Wellness Visit differs from the typical annual physicals you were used to with group coverage. If you’ve had Medicare Part B for more than 12...
Why You Need Part D
Key Points Medicare Part D is a voluntary program, but if you do not enroll in a plan, you won’t have coverage for expensive medications. You will also have a late enrollment penalty if you don’t have other creditable coverage. Medicare Part D is a huge time...
Medigaps
Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of most services. But what about the other 20%? Or the other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or inpatient copays? Let’s discuss Medigaps, which can help cover these costs. What are Medigaps? Medigaps are health...
Medicare’s 2025 Surprise: Higher Costs, New Caps, and Vanishing Perks
Big changes are coming to Medicare and Social Security in 2025, and if you’re on Medicare—or soon will be—you need to know how these updates could impact your costs and coverage. Financial Sense’s Jim Puplava recently spoke with Medicare expert Brian McArthur to get...
Here’s How Much Medicare Will Cost in 2025
Medicare pays for a bulk of older Americans’ health care costs, but not all. And each year Medicare adjusts key costs that are paid by enrollees. I want to walk through Medicare out-of-pocket costs for 2025. I sure hope those of you who are not yet 65 pay close...