QP/IRA Distribution Planning SOFTWARE

[John Olsen]

There are a number of software programs designed to help the practitioner do DISTRIBUTION PLANNING for IRAs and qualified plans, and more are being developed. They're getting MUCH stronger and MUCH more sophisticated. Unfortunately, that also means they're getting more COMPLICATED.

Would there be interest in a discussion area devoted to looking at the programs available? As one who is rather heavily involved in this subject (I'm doing CE seminars on it), I'd be happy to contribute - and learn from folks who've found things I missed (or hadn't thought about).

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John L. Olsen, CLU, ChFC

Olsen Financial Group

St. Louis, MO

314-909-8818

[Bruce Steiner]

It may be worth a try.

I use Excel and the Brentmark Pension and Roth analyzer www.brentmark.com.

But I find that in most cases the choices are determined more by the client's objectives than by a spreadsheet.

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Bruce Steiner, attorney

(212) 986-6000 (NY office)

(201) 862-1080 (NJ office)

also admitted in FL

[This message has been edited by Bruce Steiner (edited 02-19-2000).]

[This message has been edited by Bruce Steiner (edited 02-19-2000).]

[John Olsen]

Bruce,

I certainly agree that the solution is ALWAYS driven by the client's situation. The spreadsheet is simply a tool to discover - and, if that's successful, illustrate - a possible solution.

I'm not in love with software. I'm in love with solutions that work. But I confess that some of the newer programs let me find solutions I couldn't be sure of without them.

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John L. Olsen, CLU, ChFC

Olsen Financial Group

St. Louis, MO

314-909-8818