There’s Still Time to Set Up a SEP and Reduce Your 2025 Taxes
If you own a business or are self-employed and haven’t already set up a tax-advantaged retirement plan, consider establishing one before you file your 2025 tax return. If you choose [...]
QCDs Can Be a Tax-Savvy Move for Seniors
For some time now, individuals age 70½ and older have been able to transfer funds directly from a traditional IRA to an IRS-approved charity. However, with the enactment of [...]
6 Last-minute Tax Tips for Businesses
Year-round tax planning generally produces the best results, but there are some steps you can still take in December to lower your 2025 taxes. Here are six to consider: [...]
Understanding Spousal IRAs: A Smart Retirement Strategy for Couples
Retirement planning is essential for all families, but it can be especially critical for couples where one spouse earns little to no income. In such cases, a spousal IRA [...]
Do You Have Questions About Taking IRA Withdrawals? We’ve Got Answers
Once you reach age 73, tax law requires you to begin taking withdrawals — called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) — from your traditional IRA, SIMPLE IRA and SEP IRA. [...]
Some Retirement Plan Benefits Will Increase for 2025
With the 2025 tax year almost here, there's news from the IRS about retirement savings. According to a recent announcement from the tax agency (Notice 2024-80), there will be [...]
Senior Tax-Saving Alert: Make Charitable Donations From Your IRA
If you’ve reached age 70½, you can make cash donations directly from your IRA to IRS-approved charities. These qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) may help you gain tax advantages. QCD [...]
11 Exceptions to the 10% Penalty Tax on Early IRA Withdrawals
If you’re facing a serious cash shortfall, one possible solution is to take an early withdrawal from your traditional IRA. That means one before you’ve reached age 59½. For this [...]
Retirement Account Catch-up Contributions Can Add Up
If you’re age 50 or older, you can probably make extra “catch-up” contributions to your tax-favored retirement account(s). Is it worth the trouble? Yes! Here are the rules of [...]
Are you married and not earning compensation? You may be able to put money in an IRA
When one spouse in a married couple is not earning compensation, the couple may not be able to save as much as they need for a comfortable retirement. In [...]
Retirement plan early withdrawals: Make sure you meet the requirements to avoid a penalty
Most retirement plan distributions are subject to income tax and may be subject to an additional penalty if you take an early withdrawal. What’s considered early? In general, it’s [...]
Avoiding the 10% Penalty On Early IRA Withdrawals
For one reason or another, you may need to take some money out of an IRA before reaching retirement.* You can withdraw money from an IRA at any time and [...]
IRA Charitable Donations: An Alternative to Taxable Required Distributions
Are you a charitably minded individual who is also taking distributions from a traditional IRA? You may want to consider the tax advantages of making a cash donation to an [...]
Tax Consequences of Borrowing From a Retirement Plan
If your company has a qualified retirement plan or you have set one up in self-employment -- such as a 401(k), profit-sharing, or Keogh plan -- the participants might be allowed to borrow from their [...]
Should You Consider an Employer Roth 401(k) Account?
Nowadays, many employer retirement plans give employees the option of contributing to designated Roth accounts (DRAs). According to a 2020 survey, 75% of employer plans now offer DRAs, which are also [...]