Tag: IRA

After several years the IRS has raised Roth IRA contribution levels, along with the annually indexed income qualification levels that allow eligible contributions. This is good news for those looking for tax effective ways to manage their retirement savings. [See this article for the latest Roth IRA limits] Unlike 401(k) and Traditional…

I've written a fair bit on tax-advantaged individual retirement plans, but still keep getting lots of questions on this topic. This is likely due to two main factors. One, thanks to the complexities of our tax code, it is not always easy to find current and applicable IRA information. Secondly,…

[2013 Update] With a deal to avert the fiscal cliff reached and legislated under the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) of 2012, a couple of significant employer sponsored retirement plan features have reappeared with some modifications. This includes the Roth 401(k) conversion and Charitable IRA contributions. You can read more…

Can you open a Roth IRA for your spouse? This question comes up a lot among married couples with just one income. After all, one of the requirements for opening and funding a Roth IRA is earned income, right? And as a general rule, if you don't have taxable earned…

The graphic to the right, showing the top stories on MarketWatch recently, reflects how mixed views on the market outlook really are. Some experts predict a continuing boom, some a crash and some both. No wonder retail investors like you and I are confused on what to do. Stock market…

If you are looking for a common and highly effective way to cut your tax bill for this year and/or the next, then consider opening a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA before the IRA contribution deadline. The following brokers have great offers for those looking to open or transfer an…

[Updated with 2013 IRS inflation adjusted tax brackets and fiscal cliff changes] Congress and the Obama administration's fiscal cliff deal (ATRA act) means that 2013 federal tax rates will remain fixed for nearly 99% of the population. Only those earning above $450,000/$400,000 (married/single) AGI will have a higher federal marginal tax rate in…

Two major SECURE 2.0 changes took effect in 2026 that most people haven't fully absorbed yet. If you're between 60 and 63, your 401k catch-up limit jumped to $11,250 — significantly more than the $8,000 available to other workers over 50. And if you earned more than $150,000 last year,…

Changing jobs used to mean your old 401(k) sat wherever you left it until you got around to dealing with it — or, if the balance was small enough, your former employer quietly cashed it out and mailed you a check minus withholding. That default is changing. Under SECURE 2.0,…

GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife paid a 14% effective income tax rate in 2010 on nearly $22 million of income. Given the marginal federal income tax rate for anyone making over $35,350 (single) or $70,700 (married) is higher than 15%, it is pretty clear that the Romney's…

Have you considered using your Roth IRA as an emergency fund or as a source for getting some cash to cover an unexpected expense? In this era of tight budgets and volatile stock markets, a lot of people are finding it difficult (if not impossible), to save for retirement and…

10 or so years later, I thought I would revisit how Americans (and myself) are doing with their retirements savings in 401K and IRA plans. This is particularly important as Americans age and contribution limits keep rising. Based on Fidelity's 2022 report, the average 401(k) balance is $121,700. This is…

The SIMPLE IRA (Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees) is one of the most practical retirement plan options for small businesses. For 2026, the contribution limit rises to $17,000, and the catch-up provisions got a meaningful boost under SECURE 2.0. These 2026 figures are confirmed in IRS Notice IR-2025-111. 2026…