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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.
Most Americans Feel They’re Worse Off Now Than In 2020—Here’s What The Data Says
Key Takeaways A recent Gallup poll showed most Americans feel they are worse off today than four years ago. Data on household finances show that things have changed...
Retirees’ Credit Card Debt Levels Are Climbing
Key Takeaways An Employee Benefit Research Institute survey found that more than two-thirds of retirees had outstanding credit card debt in 2024, up from 40% in 2022....
Key Takeaways Some provisions related to the Secure 2.0, a federal retirement law, will go into effect in 2025. Workers ages 60, 61, 62, or 63 will be able to make...
Retirement Vs. Resignation: Which Is Better?
Retirement Vs. Resignation: Which Is Better? There is a big difference between retirement and resignation. However, both involve leaving your place of work. If you...
6 End-of-Year Retirement Deadlines You Shouldn’t Miss for 2024
Navigate these tax and retirement milestones to optimize savings and avoid penalties. Staying on top of year-end tasks helps you avoid penalties and take full advantage...
Three Changes Coming for Social Security in 2025
The Social Security Administration has announced the 2025 final COLA, wage cap, and amount needed to earn SS credits. Anticipating changes coming to Social Security in...
7 Things You’ll Be Happy You Downgraded in Retirement
Downsizing for retirement is a good way to simplify your life and cut down on expenses. Making some key changes, like moving into a smaller home, could reduce financial...
Why Your Current Retirement Plan May Not Be Enough in 2025
Retirement: the wonderful time of life when you no longer have to work for your money. Instead, your money is finally working for you. If you’re well on your way to...
Key change coming for 401(k) ‘max savers’ in 2025, expert says — here’s what you need to know
Key Points Many Americans face a retirement savings shortfall, but setting aside more could get easier for some older workers in 2025. Enacted in 2022, the Secure Act...

Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Markets bounced back as investors reengaged the pro-growth Trump 2.0 trade. President-elect Trump continued to fill out his cabinet and, late...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets pulled back last week as investors took profits from the outsized move higher seen following the US election. Sticky inflation...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 notched its 50th all-time high of 2024 as investors piled into equities after a decisive US election. Wall Street embraced the...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA It was a very busy week on Wall Street as investors analyzed a deluge of corporate earnings reports and a full economic data calendar. The S&P...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA Global markets pulled back last week as investors took the opportunity to reduce some risk before a very close US Presidential election. In the US,...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 advanced for the sixth consecutive week, closing at a new record high. This week, a broadening out of the market’s rally was...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 and Dow Jones Industrial Average forged another set of all-time highs despite facing several macro headwinds. Chinese markets...
-Darren Leavitt, CFA The S&P 500 closed higher for a fourth consecutive quarter, the first time it has done so since 2011. Investors continued to face a challenging...
Weekly Market Commentary
-Darren Leavitt, CFA US equity markets posted a third week of gains as global central banks continued to cut monetary policy rates. China, Switzerland, Mexico, Hungry,...
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Conversions of Property and Conversions of Inherited IRA Funds: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: I really appreciate your emails and find them very helpful. Please continue the great work. I read your advice in the...
Real Life Scenario: Minor as EDB Beneficiary
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst A member of Ed Slott’s Elite Advisor Group℠ emailed us recently with a question about a minor child as beneficiary of her...
How In-Plan Roth Conversions Work
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst In the January 5 edition of the Slott Report, we mentioned that the federal Thrift Savings Plan (for government workers and the...
Health Savings Accounts and the “Still-Working” Exception: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: Please explain the rules and qualifications for rolling over a portion of an IRA to a Health...
Don’t Miss This Rule That Allows Smaller RMDs
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education If you are age 73 or older in 2026, you will need to take a required minimum distribution (RMD) from your...
Three Basic IRA Rules that Must Be Understood
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Each year, in different cities, the Ed Slott team hosts several advisor training events for financial professionals serious...
Required Minimum Distributions and Inherited Roth IRAs: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: I am age 75 and have just one IRA. I normally do multiple qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) during the...
You’ll Need to Report Certain IRA and Retirement Plan Distributions Differently on This Year’s Form 1040
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst With all the tax changes made by the 2025 One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA), it’s no surprise that the IRS has made significant changes...
Naming a Trust for a Minor as IRA Beneficiary
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Everyone has heard the horror stories of how unneeded and unwanted trusts disrupted what should have been a...
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.
Medicare payment rules prohibit coverage for a service if a beneficiary is not financially responsible for the care or if another government entity is obligated to... A new report from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) examines trends in health... The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) made significant improvements to Medicare prescription drug access and affordability, including by restructuring the Part D benefit to... Now is the time for people who need health insurance in 2025 to shop for coverage. For those without employer, Medicare, or Medicaid coverage, Healthcare.gov or... When the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) pays Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations, they increase the payments when plans enroll sicker people. This... Medicare coverage is personal — and changes to those plans and benefits may feel unnerving as it affects one’s overall health and well-being. Originally passed in 2022,... Finding a doctor you like and trust can be a long process, so I understand that it can be frustrating when your doctor no longer accepts Medicare. If your doctor has... It’s important to plan for your health care needs, but sometimes life throws unexpected curve balls. And when that happens, you’ll need to know what’s covered.... The Wall Street Journal recently published a story regarding diagnoses and plan payments in Medicare Advantage. The story was fundamentally flawed and overlooked the...
CMS Finalizes Payment Rule, Including Update to the Custody Definition
Health Care Access Improving in Rural Areas, Challenges Persist
Millions See Cost Savings Under the Inflation Reduction Act
Healthcare.gov Now Open for 2025 ACA Plan Shopping
Watchdog Estimates $7.5 Billion Medicare Advantage Overpayment from “Questionable” Health Risk Assessments
Unpacking the changes to Medicare in 2025
What If My Medicare Doctor “Opts Out”?
Home health care through Medicare
Correcting the Record: The Facts on Medicare Advantage Payment and Accountability



























