IRA BLOG

Check Both Boxes for Tax-Free Roth IRA Earnings

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Roth IRAs follow strict distribution ordering rules. Contributions come out first, then converted dollars, and then earnings. It does not matter how many Roth IRAs a person has, or if the accounts are held at multiple custodians....

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How Plan After-Tax Contributions Are Taxed When Converted

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst   The April 23, 2025, Slott Report article, “After-Tax 401(k) Contributions Shouldn’t Be an Afterthought,” discusses how 401(k) after-tax contributions can be moved into Roth accounts through in-plan Roth conversions, the “mega...

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Basis In Your Traditional IRA

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: My wife and I created a Roth IRA when our two children were young to pay for their college education. Our daughter is finishing her second year of school, and our son will be entering college this fall. We have withdrawn...

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Basis In Your Traditional IRA

  By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education While most distributions from a traditional IRA are taxable, sometimes distributions can include after-tax dollars. These after-tax dollars are known as “basis.” Handling and tracking basis in your...

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72(t): Switching Methods in a Market Downturn

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst When a person under the age of 59½ needs access to his IRA dollars, there is a 10% early withdrawal penalty applied to any distribution, unless an exception applies. One of the many 10% penalty exceptions is a 72(t) “series of...

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3 Retirement Account Moves You Can Still Do for 2024

  By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education   The April 15 tax-filing deadline has come and gone. However, for some 2024 retirement account planning strategies, it’s not too late! There is still time beyond the April 15 deadline. Here are three...

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