Weekly Market Commentary
U.S. stocks climbed through Wednesday, then gave it all back. The S&P 500 slipped 0.6% and the Nasdaq fell 2.0%, each for a third straight weekly decline, and the Dow lost 0.9%. Small caps held up, with the Russell 2000 up 1.3%. The turn came after Alphabet and...
Beyond the Premium: Five Questions to Ask Before Choosing a Medicare Plan
A low monthly premium can catch your attention. But it cannot tell you whether a Medicare plan fits your life. The questions that matter often come later: Can you keep your doctor? What will your prescriptions cost? How does coverage work when you travel? What might...
The Retirement Expenses You Won’t Find in Your Monthly Budget
You have estimated your monthly retirement income. You have added up the mortgage, groceries, utilities, and insurance premiums. The numbers appear to work. Then the air conditioner needs replacing. A dental bill arrives. Your vehicle becomes unreliable, or a family...IRA Beneficiaries and the Roth IRA Five-Year Rule: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education QUESTION: I am age 84. My IRA beneficiaries are my two children (ages 52 and 56) and my grandchild (age 8). Who is a non-eligible designated beneficiary (NEDB) and who is an eligible designated beneficiary (EDB)?...- Would You Choose Your Medicare Plan Again? 5 Things to Check Before December 7
Imagine picking up your first prescription in January and hearing a different price than you paid in December. Or calling to schedule a follow-up and learning that your specialist is outside your Medicare Advantage plan’s network for the new year. Even when your plan name stays the same, some of the details you count on… Read more: Would You Choose Your Medicare Plan Again? 5 Things to Check Before December 7 - Weekly Market CommentaryAI-chip selloff erases Wednesday’s rally; stocks log a fourth straight weekly decline The week in brief U.S. stocks ended the week lower after a volatile stretch. The S&P 500 fell 2.68% to 7,376.86, the Nasdaq Composite fell 3.37% to 24,579.42, the Dow fell 0.94% to 51,285.73 and the Russell 2000 fell 2.05% to 2,754.11. The… Read more: Weekly Market Commentary
- What will an ordinary Tuesday cost in retirement?When people picture retirement, they tend to picture the good stuff. A trip they’ve been putting off. More time with the grandkids. A weekday tee time. But an ordinary Tuesday might tell you more about the retirement you’re planning for. Where will you wake up? How will you spend the afternoon? What will it cost… Read more: What will an ordinary Tuesday cost in retirement?
- What Is the Deadline for Taking an IRA Owner’s Year-of-Death RMD Without Penalty?: Today’s Slott Report MailbagBy Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst QUESTION: My dad died in December 2025, at age 95. I am the sole beneficiary of his traditional IRA. I just discovered that he never took his required minimum distribution (RMD) for 2025. Will his estate be subject to a penalty? ANSWER: Good news! The IRS has extended the… Read more: What Is the Deadline for Taking an IRA Owner’s Year-of-Death RMD Without Penalty?: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
- Spouse Beneficiary RMDs: Calculation BasicsBy Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst In the October 26 Slott Report entry (“Beneficiary RMDs: Calculation Basics”), we discussed the required minimum distribution (RMD) calculation rules for non-spouse IRA beneficiaries. Spouses, on the other hand, are a special type of beneficiary with different options available. Here, we discuss the basic RMD rules governing spouse… Read more: Spouse Beneficiary RMDs: Calculation Basics
