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The views reflected by the author in this article are subject to change at any time without notice. Imagine Financial Solutions 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.
Building a Stronger Financial Future with the Right Guidance
When it comes to your financial future, confidence does not come from guessing. It comes from having a clear strategy, trusted guidance, and a plan built around your...
Why Financial and Insurance Planning Should Work Together
When people think about financial planning, they often focus on investments, retirement accounts, and growing wealth. When they think about insurance, they usually...
Understanding Annuities: Turning Retirement Savings Into Reliable Income
Planning for retirement has changed dramatically over the past few decades. In the past, many retirees relied on pensions and Social Security to provide dependable...
The Retirement Wildcard: How Healthcare Costs Can Impact Your Financial Future
When most people think about retirement planning, they focus on the obvious questions: Will my savings last? How much income will I need? When should I take Social...
The Retirement Income Plan Most People Think They Have — But Don’t
Retirement isn’t about how much you’ve saved. It’s about how you turn your savings into income you can rely on — for 20, 30, or even 40 years. Most people believe their...
Personalized Retirement Strategy: A Plan Built Around You
Retirement isn’t one-size-fits-all. Two people can retire the same year with the same savings and still need completely different strategies—because income needs,...
Annuities: Why They Can Be a Smart Addition to Your Portfolio
When you think about building a strong retirement plan, most people focus on a mix of stocks, bonds, and cash. But for many retirees and pre-retirees, there’s another...
2026 Retirement Income Planning: A Practical Guide to Turning Savings Into Paychecks
Retirement planning changes once the paychecks stop. In your working years, the goal is usually growth. In retirement, the goal becomes reliable income, tax efficiency,...
Long-Term Care Planning in 2026: The “Quiet” Risk That Can Reshape a Retirement Plan
When most people think about retirement planning, they focus on the big three: income, taxes, and investments. But there’s a fourth category that can quietly undo even...
Weekly Market Commentary
US markets fell for a third consecutive week as investors continued to assess the implications of the Iran conflict. Headlines related to Iran continued to dominate...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets remained volatile, driven by headlines related to the Iran war. Whipsaw action was prominent across multiple asset classes, while several historically...
Weekly Market Commentary
Investors endured a difficult week as the conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran continued. Iran’s efforts to target US military bases in the region broaden the...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets regressed as several themes that have propelled the market higher over the last couple of years have had to be reassessed. Return on investment from...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week produced gains across US indices and saw an emerging market ETF break out to all-time highs. The start of the Chinese Lunar New Year and...
Weekly Market Commentary
US financial markets regressed in choppy trade. The narrative around the disruptive nature of AI continued to impact markets. Rotation away from growth and mega-cap...
Weekly Market Commentary
Investors endured a volatile week on Wall Street as 4th quarter earnings continued to roll in. Concerns about massive capital expenditures resurfaced after Amazon and...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets ended the week mixed. With just over a third of the S&P 500 having reported fourth-quarter earnings, this earnings season appears much better than...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global equity markets finished the week mixed, with US markets posting their second straight week of losses. Geopolitical concerns and trade tensions were top of mind...
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Eligible Designated Beneficiaries and Roth Conversions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Hi Ed and team, If a parent, age 86, inherited their son’s 401(k) after the son passed at age 58,...
5 Things You Need to Know about the Roth IRA Five-Year Rules
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Here at the Slott Report, we get a lot of questions on all sorts of different IRA topics. However, one area...
Young Spouse, Spousal Rollover, Year-of-Death RMD…and a Penalty?
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When an IRA owner reaches the required beginning date (RBD), required minimum distributions (RMDs) are officially “turned on.” For...
Roth 5-Year Clocks and Spousal IRA Contributions: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I’m age 72 and my wife is age 63. I want to open a spousal Roth IRA. I already have a Roth for myself that I’ve...
Moving the Clocks Ahead and Reviewing the Roth IRA 5-Year Clocks
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst A few Saturdays ago, many of us moved our clocks one hour ahead to usher in Daylight Saving Time. Adjusting our clocks is a...
5 Reasons to Roll Over Your Retirement Funds to an IRA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education In these turbulent economic times, the headlines are full of news about layoffs. With job loss can come...
Qualified Charitable Distributions and Roth IRA 5-Year Rules: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello Mailbag Folks, I may have missed something in one of the Ed Slott newsletters, but I thought that if one contributed to a...
Fatal Error: Mistakes That Cannot Be Fixed – Part 2
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst In our Slott Report entry from March 2 (“Fatal Error: Mistakes That Cannot Be Fixed – Part 1,”) we discussed three...
Act Quickly to Avoid Double Taxation on Excess 401(k) Deferrals
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you made excess deferrals to your 401(k) or 403(b) plan(s) in 2025, you need to correct the error while there’s still time. The...
The views reflected by the author in this article are subject to change at any time without notice. Imagine Financial Solutions 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.
For many people, Medicare is one of the most important financial and healthcare decisions they will make in retirement. Yet it is also one of the most misunderstood.... Turning 65 is a milestone — and for many Americans, it’s the moment when Medicare enters the conversation. While Medicare provides valuable health coverage for... For many Americans, retirement brings freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to enjoy the next chapter of life. But before leaving an employer health plan behind,... Turning 65 is a milestone.But when it comes to Medicare, it can also feel overwhelming. Between Parts A, B, C, D… Medigap… enrollment periods… penalties… provider... Even if you feel confident in your Medicare coverage, it’s smart to review your plan at least once a year. Costs change. Networks change. Prescription formularies... Medicare can feel straightforward at first—Part A helps cover hospital care, Part B helps cover doctor and outpatient services—but then you hear about Medicare... If you’re new to Medicare or helping a loved one, it’s easy to mix up Medicare and Medicaid—they sound similar, but they’re very different programs. The good news: once... Medicare Supplement (Medigap) plans can help control out-of-pocket costs in 2026. Here’s what’s new this year, how plans compare, and how to pick the right fit. If... If you take even one regular medication, Medicare prescription drug coverage can make a meaningful difference in your monthly budget. But Part D can also feel confusing...
Medicare Made Simple: How to Choose the Right Coverage for Your Future
Understanding Medicare: What Every Retiree Should Know Before Enrolling
Medicare and Retirement: What You Need to Know Before You Leave Your Employer Plan
Medicare Made Clear: What Every New Beneficiary Needs to Know in 2026
Medicare Annual Checklist: 7 Smart Things to Review Every Year
Medicare Advantage (Part C): What It Is, Who It’s For, and What to Watch For
Medicare vs. Medicaid: What’s the Difference (and Can You Have Both)?
Medicare Supplements in 2026: What’s Changed, What Hasn’t, and How to Choose Confidently
Medicare Prescription Drug Coverage (Part D): What It Covers, What It Costs, and How to Choose the Right Plan