Is it permissible to satisfy a minimum required distribution with an in-kind distribution (e.g., shares of stock)? I was at a seminar last year where the speaker asserted that an in-kind distribution in satisfaction of a MRD was a prohibited transaction. Outside of this one individual, I have not seen any other discussion on this point. Your thoughts would be appreciated.

An in-kind distribution from an IRA, for any reason, is perfectly OK. You cannot do an in-kind CONTRIBUTION (except for a rollover).

It scares me to think what else may have been wrong in the seminar.