News Archive

Rev. Jun. 12, 2026. "The information on Form 5498 is submitted to the IRS by the trustee or issuer of your individual retirement arrangement (IRA) to report contributions, including any catch-up contributions, rollovers, repayments, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and the fair market value (FMV) of the account."  MORE >>

"While many investors assume they can move IRA assets as often as they wish, the rules depend on the method used. For example, an IRA-to-IRA rollover may be done only once during a 12-month period, while transfers are not subject to that limitation. If you are planning to move your IRA, understanding the difference between a transfer and a rollover is key to avoiding costly mistakes."  MORE >>

"Backdoor Roth IRA conversions offer three main tax advantages, including income tax free growth, income tax free withdrawals in retirement, and no required minimum distributions (RMDs). ... IRS reporting requirements apply, including filing Form 8606 for nondeductible IRA contributions."  MORE >>

"Only 45% of retirees say a workplace retirement plan is an income source, compared with 83% of workers who expect one to be. The median Vanguard 401(k)-style balance for Americans 65 and older is about $95,000, or roughly $3,800 a year using the 4% rule. Many 401(k)s get rolled into IRAs by retirement, so retirees may still be using old workplace savings but under a different label."  MORE >>

Rev. Jun. 8, 2026. "The information on Form 5498 is submitted to the IRS by the trustee or issuer of your individual retirement arrangement (IRA) to report contributions, including any catch-up contributions, rollovers, repayments, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and the fair market value (FMV) of the account."  MORE >>

"In mid‑2025, 44% of US households owned IRAs. Traditional IRAs were the most common type of IRA owned (33% of US households), followed by Roth IRAs (28%) and employer-sponsored IRAs (4%).... All told, nearly three‑quarters of US households had retirement plans through work or IRAs; being later in the lifecycle of saving, 86% of near‑retiree households did.... In mid‑2025, 61% of traditional IRA -- owning households indicated that their traditional IRAs contained rollovers from employer-sponsored retirement plans.... Recent years show a slight upward trend in contribution activity, although fewer than one in five US households make contributions to IRAs."  MORE >>

"[We] still do not know if changing the beneficiary of the 529 account resets the 15-year clock. Will the existing time period applicable to the initial account opening carry over to the new beneficiary? No one on the planet has that information. Accordingly, advisors and custodians alike have been advising clients to leave the 529 beneficiary as-is until confirmation is received as to how the 15 years will be applied."  MORE >>

"Low tax brackets and a bonus senior deduction make 2026 a good year to consider a conversion. Early retirement years, when people have lower incomes, are often a good time for Roth conversions."  MORE >>

"This one-year extension is important as we still do not have updated IRA model forms (last revised in 2017), updated 'LRM' (List of Required Modifications) language (generally last updated in 2010), or an open opinion letter program. Although the rollout of Trump Accounts, which are based on traditional IRAs, raised expectations that there would be a push to finalize model language, it appears that the extension is necessary after all. SIMPLE IRA plans (and SIMPLE IRAs) have a number of changes to address, including the new Roth SIMPLE IRAs[.]"  MORE >>

"Under current law, retirement savers can exclude up to $111,000 (for 2026) per year in QCDs from gross income. ... The catch, however, is that QCDs must come directly from an IRA. Charitable distributions from employer-sponsored plans — such as 401(k), 403(b), and 457(b) plans — are not eligible for QCD treatment.... [T]he Charity Parity Act would expand on SECURE 2.0 by allowing direct QCDs from employer-sponsored retirement plans, ensuring equitable treatment of retirement savers."  MORE >>

"[Executive Order 14403] is a directive; it sets a destination, but most of the substantive rules haven't been written yet. Open questions include: [1] The full criteria financial institutions must meet to be listed on TrumpIRA.gov ... [2] The mechanics of how the Saver's Match will flow to participant accounts and which institutions will be set up to accept it. [3] The worker protection, fiduciary, and prohibited transaction rules called for in Section 5 of the order. [4] The tax treatment of charitable contributions to IRAs on behalf of eligible workers. [5] Whether Treasury or DOL will have authority to encourage or default enrollment absent congressional action. [6] Whether and how the framework gets codified by Congress."  MORE >>

"Opening a custodial IRA for a grandchild is a savvy move that combines estate planning with a massive head start on wealth building. For grandparents, it's often more efficient than a traditional savings account or even a 529 plan, depending on the goal. For grandchildren, it can be invaluable, especially if they graduate from college during a bad economy."  MORE >>

"The information on Form 5498 is submitted to the IRS by the trustee or issuer of your individual retirement arrangement (IRA) to report contributions, including any catch-up contributions, rollovers, repayments, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and the fair market value (FMV) of the account."  MORE >>

"If we want retirement savings to follow the worker, they shouldn't need a GPS, three passwords, and a tax advisor to get there.... Auto portability would work if it were solely within the employer plan ecosystem -- but as it's currently structured, the money must flow through an IRA. For pre-tax money? Not perfect, but manageable. For Roth money? Full stop.... A participant with both types of funds will see some money move. Other money gets stuck. Confusion increases."  MORE >>

"Employers may now allow employees to elect to have fully vested matching and nonelective contributions made to a designated Roth account under a qualified plan, or a Roth SEP IRA or Roth Simple IRA. For tax treatment and income tax purposes, the IRS treats these designated Roth employer contributions as if they were in-plan Roth rollovers ... Because of this reporting treatment, Form 1099-R must be issued for these contributions."  MORE >>

"When a transactional mistake is made with retirement plan or IRA assets, there is oftentimes a mechanism to correct the error.... [S]ome transactional mistakes have no corrective steps.... Such missteps can create massive tax bills and result in unintended penalties. Many of these 'fatal errors' involve rollovers.... [1] Non-spouse beneficiary rollovers.... [2] Spousal rollover.... [3] Exceeding the one-rollover-per-year rule. "  MORE >>

"The deadline was December 31, 2026, but [Notice 2026-9] has extended it to December 31, 2027.... This new extension does not apply to qualified plans, 403(b) plans, or 457(b) plans of state and local governments. The deadline for their amendments remain December 31, 2026, with certain exceptions for collectively bargained and governmental plans."  MORE >>

"The most extraordinary development in the U.S. private sector retirement system is not the shift away from old-fashioned defined benefit plans, which began around 1980 and is virtually complete today, but rather the movement away from 401(k) plans, which replaced the defined benefit plans, to Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs). Total IRA assets now exceed the money in 401(k)s by $7 trillion."  MORE >>

"The extended deadline applies to IRAs under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 408(a), (b) and (h) as well as Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) arrangements and Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE) IRAs. It covers all amendments -- required or discretionary -- related to these laws and any associated regulations."  MORE >>

"IRS says [in Notice 2026-9] that it extended the deadline because it and the Treasury Department are still developing model language that may be IRA trustees, custodians, and issuers may use to amend an IRA for compliance with the SECURE 2.0 Act."  MORE >>

"This notice provides guidance relating to amendments under section 501 of ... the SECURE 2.0 Act ... for an individual retirement arrangement (IRAs) under section 408(a), (b), or (h) of the Internal Revenue Code, an employer's SEP arrangement under section 408(k), and an employer's SIMPLE IRA plan under section 408(p). This notice provides that the Department of the Treasury and the [IRS] have extended the deadline to make certain amendments for IRAs, SEP arrangements, and SIMPLE IRA plans to December 31, 2027."  MORE >>

71 pages; Jan. 21, 2026. "Reminders: [1] Excise tax relief for certain 2024 required minimum distributions (RMDs).... [2] Income on corrective distributions of excess contributions.... [3] Modification of required distribution rules for designated beneficiaries.... [4] Simplified employee pension (SEP) and SIMPLE plans.... [5] Deemed IRAs.... [6] Statement of required minimum distribution (RMD).... [7] IRA interest.... [8] Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)."  MORE >>

"Successor beneficiaries (the beneficiary of a beneficiary) do NOT get to use any of their own personal information or status to dictate the payout structure of an inherited IRA. It does NOT matter who the successor beneficiary is or what the successor's relationship to the first beneficiary is.... The successor simply 'steps into the shoes' of the previous beneficiary and follows the exact same payout program that applied to the original Roth IRA beneficiary, with one exception[.]"  MORE >>

"The number of individuals making QCDs might be affected by recent tax law changes. The FY2025 budget reconciliation act (PL 119-21) expanded and made permanent the standard deduction included in the 2017 tax law (PL 115-97). A higher standard deduction might reduce the tax incentive for individuals to make charitable donations." [IF11377, updated Jan. 15, 2026]  MORE >>

62 pages; Jan. 15, 2026. "What's New for 2025: [1] IRA contribution limit for 2025.... [2] Trump account and new Form 4547.... [3] Modified AGI limit for traditional IRA contributions.... [4] Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions.... What's New for 2026: [1] IRA contribution limit increased for 2026.... [2] Modified AGI limit for traditional IRA contributions increased.... [3] Modified AGI limit for Roth IRA contributions increased. "  MORE >>