A beginner’s guide to Roth conversions
Key takeaways A Roth conversion is the process of moving funds from a traditional IRA, SEP IRA, SIMPLE IRA, or eligible employer plan into a Roth IRA. This is a taxable event in the year […]
Roth vs. traditional accounts: Tax advantages, explained
Key takeaways Traditional and Roth accounts differ primarily in when taxes are paid. Traditional accounts are funded with pre-tax dollars, grow on a tax-deferred basis, and are taxed at withdrawal. Roth accounts are funded with […]
New inherited IRA rules for beneficiaries
Key takeaways The SECURE Act of 2019 fundamentally changed inherited IRA rules for most non-spouse beneficiaries. Congress eliminated the stretch IRA strategy primarily to accelerate tax collection on inherited retirement assets, which the Joint Committee […]
7 questions to ask before hiring a potential financial advisor
Key takeaways Registration and disciplinary history are publicly searchable before any meeting takes place. The SEC’s Investment Adviser Public Disclosure database and FINRA BrokerCheck both allow anyone to look up an advisor’s background at no […]
9 states that don’t have state income taxes for retirees
Key takeaways Nine states do not tax wages, retirement income, Social Security, or pension payments at the state level. Alaska, Florida, Nevada, New Hampshire, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and Wyoming all qualify, per the […]
5 common retirement scams (& how to spot them)
Key takeaways Fraud losses among older adults have nearly quadrupled since 2020. Adults aged 60 and over reported $2.4 billion in total fraud losses in 2024, up from $600 million in 2020, according to the […]
What is inflation? Measuring its impacts on retirement purchasing power
Key takeaways Inflation quietly erodes retirement income. Even a modest annual price increase compounds over a 20-to-30-year retirement, reducing what a fixed income can actually buy far more than most people expect. The government uses […]
Movie extra fails that were too funny to cut from the final release
Movie extra fails that were too funny to cut from the final release Editing rooms exist specifically to catch mistakes before an audience ever sees them. Every so often, a background flub is funny enough, […]
Ancient inventions that were ahead of their time
Ancient inventions that were ahead of their time Inventors rarely grasp how deeply their work will eventually reshape the world around them. Most solve one problem directly in front of them, with no way of […]
Readers asked: Why is hair loss becoming more common in women, and what actually helps?
Why is hair loss becoming more common in women, and what actually helps? Early in Netflix’s Self Made, Madam C.J. Walker looks in a mirror at her thinning scalp and doesn’t just see hair loss. […]