The Retirement and IRA Show

Jim and Chris are joined by Jake Turner to discuss listener emails in this special tax related episode covering Roth conversions after RMD age, balancing Roth versus Traditional IRA contributions, HSA versus Roth contributions, IRA reporting questions, filing deceased tax returns, and a listener PSA on tax planning software. (11:30) A listener asks whether converting to a Roth makes sense at age 75 while currently in the 12% bracket and taking RMDs, and whether recent tax law changes create a strategy opportunity. (20:20) George wonders whether his 30-something children should continue using Roth contributions exclusively or begin balancing with Traditional IRA contributions as their wages increase, and asks what percentage split between Traditional and Roth accounts looks reasonable in retirement. (48:45) The guys discuss whether covering medical expenses from an HSA and contributing to a Roth IRA, or leaving the HSA intact and paying medical bills out of pocket will result in greater retirement spending flexibility. (57:00) Jim, Chris, and Jake address whether a spouse who retired during the year is considered covered by a workplace plan, how to answer prior nondeductible IRA contribution questions, and whether Form 8606 is required after making and converting a small IRA contribution in the same year. (1:10:30) George asks how to handle the direct deposit of a refund on a deceased final 1040, including whether to use the estate bank account with an EIN or the decedent’s existing account, and whether a paper check remains an option. (1:15:30) A listener PSA introduces Catalyst Tax Insights, a free tool to run “what if” scenarios and estimate taxes owed without using full tax software. The post Tax Special – Conversions, Contributions, HSAs, Tax Returns, Tax Software PSA: Q&A #2608 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

If you would rather not listen to the guys’ banter about Jacob’s upcoming move to Iowa, Jim’s garden planning, and a listener correction about the word “imbibe” you can skip ahead to (33:30). Chris’s SummaryJim and I are joined by Jacob Vonloh as we discuss using Buffered ETFs prompted by a Morningstar article titled “Buffer ETFs Are Not for Everyone.” We explain how defined outcome ETFs use options to provide an explicit amount of loss protection over a given period while limiting potential gains, and we outline why these products are generally suboptimal for long-term investors. We then connect this to investment positioning, focusing on risk capacity, distribution planning, and why dollars assigned to delay-period Minimum Dignity Floor and Go-Go spending may require a degree of principal protection. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I are joined by Jacob Vonloh as we take a listener-submitted Morningstar article—“Buffer ETFs are not for Everyone”—and use it to kick off what is going to be a series on principal protection. Morningstar does a very good job in this article laying out what it likes about buffered products, and it also makes some excellent points on where these types of products would fit and where they don’t fit. They’re not for everybody, but they could be of interest in certain cases, in a certain application, and we’re going to share how we use them. What I want to do in this series is broaden the conversation. Buffered ETFs are just one type of principal protected product. There are multiple tools in that category, and we’re going to walk through where they fit into distribution planning. As you transition from accumulation into what I call the Venn diagram phase, and ultimately into distribution, you have to stop thinking of your portfolio as one big portfolio and start thinking in terms of smaller portfolios—investment positions—based on assigned spending. Dollars earmarked for a legacy position can be invested aggressively. Dollars earmarked for immediate spending—like the Go-Go reserve or the reserve for your MDF—need a degree of principal protection. This ties directly into the Secure Retirement Income Process and the See Through Portfolio and how we navigate asset positioning in retirement.   Show Notes: Morningstar Buffered ETFs article The post Using Buffered ETFs: EDU #2607 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Medicare Part B decisions for retirees abroad, Social Security survivor benefit surprises, inherited Roth IRA distribution rules, and balancing Treasuries versus annuities when “safety” is more emotional than mathematical. (6:45) A listener asks about situations where it might make sense to skip Medicare Part B, including retirees living abroad with strong foreign coverage and people who move to the U.S. later in life and must pay for Parts A and B. (33:30) George asks why some widows and widowers don’t end up receiving the full benefit their spouse was receiving, even when the surviving spouse’s payment increases after the death. (52:30) The guys respond to a question about whether an inherited Roth IRA requires annual distributions when the original owner was old enough to have RMDs, or whether the beneficiary can wait until year 10. (1:11:00) Jim and Chris revisit the annuities versus Treasuries discussion through the lens of fear and peace of mind, including why someone might emotionally trust Treasuries more than insurer guarantees even if the math favors SPIAs. The post Medicare, Social Security, Inherited Roth, Annuities: Q&A #2607 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I are joined by Steve Sansone as we revisit Cash Balance Plans and respond to listener follow-up emails. (8:30) A CPA asks whether cash balance plans could be a fit for farmers with high income near retirement driven by deferred grain and equipment sales.(18:30) A listener with two controlled-group businesses asks how a cash balance plan works with divergent profit cycles, whether it can support succession planning, and whether it makes sense if ownership works until death.(36:45) A financial advisor asks for real-world details on costs, duplication/administration, duration, interest crediting rate risk, investment management, participant inclusion decisions, partner exits, lifetime maximums, and terminate/restart mechanics. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I are joined by Steve Sansone as we dig back into cash balance plans, but this time we’re doing it by letting listener questions drive the conversation. We take three listener emails that each come at this from a different angle: one from a CPA working with farmers facing lumpy income near retirement, one from a family dealing with two controlled-group businesses that don’t behave the same way financially, and one from an advisor who’s basically saying, “Convince me this isn’t just theoretical.” Chris and I talk with Steve about what makes these plans work and what makes them a headache—cash flow consistency, the “permanence” expectation, why manufacturers with lots of employees can be a tough fit, and how quickly the math changes when you have to fund meaningful benefits for staff. We also get into the stuff people don’t always hear in the sales pitch: what “interest crediting” really means, where the risk lives if returns don’t cooperate, and why newer market-rate designs change the conversation compared to older fixed-rate versions. And we cover the messy real-life questions: what happens when partners leave, what it looks like to terminate and restart a plan, and why you can’t treat this like an investment strategy with a neat five-to-ten-year horizon. It’s a tax and retirement-acceleration tool with rules, tradeoffs, and guardrails—and Steve does a solid job laying out when it’s worth the complexity and when it’s just not. The post Cash Balance Plans Part 2: EDU #2606 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on IRMAA appeals using Form SSA-44, avoiding the 10% early withdrawal penalty, and whether a 403(b) distribution can be rolled into an IRA. Jim also manages to turn a discussion on Superbowl food to a conversation on retirement planning for the Go-Go phase of life (with a few other stops in between). So, if you typically skip the banter you may want to tune in around (10:10) for that discussion. (16:30) George shares his experience repeatedly filing Form SSA-44 to correct IRMAA determinations and explains how Social Security processed and applied his updated income information. (35:00) A listener asks whether a qualified annuity can be used instead of a 72(t) series of substantially equal periodic payments to avoid the 10% early withdrawal penalty. (1:04:45) The guys discuss whether 403(b) distributions can be completed as 60-day rollovers into Traditional and Roth IRAs, and whether a custodian could refuse to accept the rollover. The post IRMAA, Early Withdrawal Penalty, 403b Distributions: Q&A #2606 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I discuss spending anxiety in retirement using a Washington Post article written by a personal finance columnist describing her fear of spending after her husband retires. We look at why the shift from saving to spending can feel destabilizing even when pensions and Social Security are in place, and why fear can persist despite adequate planning. We also address the difference between spending income and spending savings, and how that distinction often affects behavior once retirement begins. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I use a Washington Post article as a jumping-off point to talk about the moment retirement stops being theoretical and the fear around spending often shows up. The part that stuck with me in this situation is that nothing went wrong. One spouse retires. The other is still working. Pensions are there. Social Security is there. The house is paid off. And the fear shows up anyway. That’s what made me save the article in the first place. She writes about personal finance for a living, and she’s still cutting small expenses, feeling better for five minutes, and then right back to worrying. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again—I don’t expect to be immune to that when it’s my turn. What keeps coming up for me is how differently people react to where the money comes from. Most people are comfortable spending a pension check or a Social Security deposit. It’s like a bottomless cup of coffee—you don’t think about the last sip because another one’s coming. But savings? That’s different. Even when the math works, even when the plan says you’re fine, drawing from something you’ve built for decades feels heavier. That’s where the spending anxiety shows up. Spending slows down. Decisions get second-guessed. Things get pushed out a year at a time. Not because people can’t afford them, but because the shift from saving to spending is uncomfortable. Show Notes: Article: My husband just retired. I’m scared of running out of money. The post Retirement Spending Anxiety: EDU #2605 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security timing for HSA contributions, investing in a SPIA vs buffered ETFs, and using SEPP 72(t) income to manage ACA credits.(7:00) A listener describes delaying a Social Security filing to avoid Medicare Part A backdating that would have reduced prior-year HSA contributions, while still receiving full retroactive benefits.(28:00) Georgette asks what to do with money originally set aside for a condo purchase, weighing ETFs against buying a single premium immediate annuity (SPIA), given an existing fixed indexed annuity (FIA), and pension income that cover living expenses.(55:45) The guys address whether a SPIA purchased inside a rollover IRA can be used to satisfy SEPP 72(t) rules while keeping income low enough to preserve max ACA credits. The post Social Security, SPIAs, SEPP 72(t): Q&A #2605 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

If you’d like to skip over the guys chatting about cold weather and football you can to (8:15). Chris’s SummaryJim and I are joined by Jacob as we continue our discussion on asset positioning and explain how we approach managing investment assets within a distribution portfolio. We outline why dollars are assigned based on purpose and timing and how asset positioning functions as a form of asset-liability matching. The episode addresses cash versus cash-like roles, outcome periods, and how specific tools are evaluated within a broader distribution-focused framework. Jim’s “Pithy” Summary Chris and I are joined by Jacob as we dig further into how we think about handling portfolios once people are in retirement, specifically through the lens of asset positioning. This episode is built around clarifying how dollars get assigned jobs based on when they’ll be needed and why that sequencing drives the structure of a distribution portfolio. We spend time breaking down the difference between cash and cash-like holdings and why that distinction matters when money is earmarked for different time horizons. A big part of the discussion centers on outcome periods, how certain tools behave between start and finish, and why mark-to-market pricing during that window can be misleading if you don’t understand what the holding is meant to do. Jacob walks through concrete examples that show how interim movement can look unsettling even when the structure is functioning exactly as designed. We also get into why disclosure language sounds the way it does across virtually every type of holding, including ones most people are comfortable calling cash. The point isn’t semantics — it’s understanding the gap between legal language and functional role inside a portfolio. Everything ties back to structure, timing, and purpose. This is about how distribution portfolios actually operate in retirement, and why evaluating them with the wrong expectations creates confusion that doesn’t need to be there. The post Asset Positioning for Retirees: EDU #2604 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security survivor benefits and the earnings test, share a listener PSA on Social Security timing and IRMAA, then cover ERISA protections for retirement rollovers and a PSA from Greg on lifetime unlimited long-term care policies.(9:45) Georgette asks whether she must still take her husband’s required minimum distributions if he passes during his RMD year and how Social Security survivor benefits work, including whether she should claim a widow’s benefit or wait to take her own.(50:45) A listener asks how the Social Security earnings test applies when someone retires before full retirement age and applies midyear, and how to avoid missing a month of income due to the timing of benefit payments.(55:00) The guys share a PSA about applying for Social Security and receiving benefits within days, which caused an unexpected IRMAA impact.(1:00:35) Jim and Chris discuss whether rolling Roth and pre-tax 401(k) assets into IRAs results in losing ERISA protections, or if separate rollover IRAs are needed to preserve those protections.(1:15:15) Greg, from our office, shares a PSA clarifying that some lifetime unlimited long-term care policies still exist. The post Social Security, ERISA, LTC: Q&A #2604 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

If you want to miss all the fun banter about Jim’s Singo (song bingo) night and his trip to Kentucky and Amish country you can skip ahead to (16:00). Chris’s SummaryJim and I are joined by Jacob Vonloh as we discuss investing for retirees, using a listener email as the starting point for a broader conversation about how investment advice and asset management work in practice. We explain why investing changes once people move from accumulation into distribution, including differences in risk tolerance, liquidity needs, and volatility. Jacob outlines how investment tools are evaluated based on time horizon and downside exposure rather than labels. We also discuss planning for aging and long-term care costs, including liquidity needs, inflation considerations, and the SEAL (Savings for Emergencies, Aging, and Long-Term Care) reserve framework. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I are joined by Jacob Vonloh as we start a new series of conversations inspired by listener emails, and we use those questions as a jumping-off point to talk about what really changes when you’re investing in retirement. A lot of DIY investors successfully built wealth with an accumulation mindset and then try to carry that same approach into retirement, where it doesn’t work. The problem is that accumulation investing and retirement investing are not the same thing, and pretending they are is where people get themselves into trouble. Once withdrawals begin, volatility feels different, timing matters more, and the emotional impact of market swings gets amplified in ways people don’t expect. We spend time pulling apart how the investment advice industry presents itself, how fee structures are typically layered in, and why we’re very intentional about separating retirement planning from asset management. Jacob walks through how we evaluate investments based on when the money might be needed and how much downside someone can realistically tolerate. Buffered ETFs come up in that context, not as a recommendation, but as a clean example of how downside protection and upside caps reshape risk. The point isn’t the product — it’s that comparing retirement-stage tools to a fully unbuffered equity index without adjusting for risk is fundamentally misleading. From there, we connect investing back to real planning issues retirees face, especially aging and long-term care. We talk about why insurance isn’t always available or sufficient, how covering one spouse can still protect a household, and why the financially hardest stretch is often when both spouses are alive and care costs begin to show up. That leads into how we think about liquidity, inflation, and time horizon working together inside what we call the SEAL reserve. This isn’t about chasing returns — it’s about structuring money so it can actually support people through retirement without forcing panic decisions at the worst possible time. The post Investing for Retirees: EDU #2603 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions on Social Security survivor benefits and divorce rules, a listener PSA on spousal benefits, HSA contribution limits, and whether annuities make sense versus Treasury bonds. (8:45) A listener asks whether someone who is newly widowed can claim survivor Social Security now, keep working part time, and later switch to their own benefit, and also asks whether you still offer a “coffee and second opinion” or an a la carte Social Security review. (23:00) The guys field a question from someone with two ex-spouses asking if it’s possible to combine their own Social Security with part of either (or both) ex-spouses’ benefits. (33:30) George shares a PSA on how filing for Social Security online triggered a spousal-benefit eligibility notice for their spouse, and how the follow-up phone appointment worked without needing an in-person visit or marriage certificate. (45:15) Jim and Chris answer a question about 2026 HSA contribution limits for two spouses on an ACA family plan who each opened their own HSA and want to avoid overfunding. (54:45) One writer asks why they should consider annuities given fees and insurer risk when they can buy 20-year Treasury bonds, and adds a quick note about simplifying word choice from a prior email discussion. The post Social Security, HSA, and Annuities: Q&A #2603 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I continue last week’s EDU discussion on Roth IRA mistakes from an Investopedia article. We cover direct versus 60-day rollovers, the one-per-365-day IRA-to-IRA limit, and the 401(k) 20% withholding rule with the RMD and NUA exceptions. We revisit backdoor Roth mechanics and the pro rata rule, then shift to beneficiary designation forms and why naming an estate creates probate and creditor issues. We close with inherited Roth withdrawal timing under SECURE Act rules and the 10-year window. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I pick up where last week’s EDU episode left off, using the Investopedia Roth mistakes article as a launching point to correct what they compress or misstate. The rollover section is where people get hurt, because they describe the old IRA rule like it was “once per calendar year,” and it wasn’t. It’s a 365-day framework, and the one-per-365-day limit still matters when you do the “show me the money” version of a rollover. I also keep pushing back on indirect rollovers from a 401(k), because the 20% withholding isn’t optional. There are narrow exceptions—but those aren’t general flexibility, they’re specific rules people routinely misunderstand. The other item that’s far more important than its position on the list is beneficiary designation forms. These accounts pass by beneficiary form first, not your will, which can create probate delays, attorney fees, and creditor complications for the people left to sort it out. Chris adds the practical version of the same mistake: circumstances change, paperwork doesn’t. Old beneficiaries stay on file, and the form controls the outcome even when it creates an awkward situation. We also get into inherited Roth timing under the SECURE framework—who qualifies as an eligible designated beneficiary, what the 10-year window actually requires, and why Roths don’t fit the required beginning date logic the way traditional accounts do. That difference matters when you’re thinking about flexibility for heirs and how long the account can sit untouched. If the real goal is the zero in the 2-1-0 Tax Ordering Number, the logic behind leaving a Roth can look very different than what you’d conclude from a short listicle about Roth IRA mistakes. Show Notes: Article – 11 Mistakes to Avoid With Your Roth IRA The post Roth IRA Mistakes, Part 2: EDU #2602 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris are joined by Jake to discuss listener questions on SSA-44 and IRMAA surcharges, inherited IRA spousal rollover rules, long-term care insurance benefit caps, and ACA tax credits. (4:45) George asks whether an unexpected W-2 stock option payout in 2025 could support filing SSA-44 to reduce 2027 IRMAA surcharges, especially if he stops consulting income afterward. (12:00) A listener asks whether SSA-44 can be used retroactively to request a refund of 2025 IRMAA surcharges after a job loss pushed MAGI below the threshold. (18:15) Georgette asks whether she can take withdrawals from her deceased spouse’s inherited IRA without penalty and still later move the remaining balance into her own IRA. (28:00) The guys address why long-term care insurance policies often have a lifetime benefit cap and whether benefits can run out during an extended care event. (46:45) Chris and Jake cover whether long-term capital gains count toward the modified adjusted gross income used for ACA tax credits and can affect eligibility. The post IRMAA, Inherited IRA, LTC, ACA Tax Credits: Q&A #2602 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

If you want to skip over some weather banter you can go to (14:15). Chris’s SummaryJim and I review Roth IRA mistakes and walk through key rules on earned income eligibility, income limits, spousal contributions, excess contributions, and qualified distributions. We use an Investopedia article as a framework, clarify how MAGI impacts Roth eligibility, explain the October 15 correction deadline, and break down the two-prong test for tax-free Roth earnings withdrawals, including how the five-year rule is measured across tax years. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I kick off the first EDU show of 2026 by taking an Investopedia piece called “11 Mistakes to Avoid with Your Roth IRA” and using it as our launchpad. We’re not reading the article to you—we’re breaking down what they got right, what they explained too loosely, and what they left out that changes the meaning. We start with the basics that still trip people up: you need earned income to contribute, and a lot of income that feels “earned” (like dividends, interest, rental income, or IRA distributions) doesn’t count. Then we pivot to the opposite problem: earning too much and accidentally making an ineligible Roth contribution because your MAGI crossed the line, often after a late bonus or surprise taxable payout. We get into a category of mistakes that can create problems with the IRS: excess contributions. We walk through how easy it is to overfund a Roth when you have multiple accounts, and why the correction rules matter more than most people realize. We talk about the October 15 deadline, how the custodian won’t stop you, and why “removing the excess” isn’t always the same as removing what you deposited. We also get into the weird but real quirk where, if you miss the correction deadline, you may only need to remove the excess contribution itself, not the growth tied to it. We also dig into the qualified distribution rules for Roth earnings, because this is where the five-year rule gets misunderstood. The Roth has to be five tax years old, and you need a qualifying condition—59½ is one, but it’s not the only one. That’s where the article oversimplifies, and where people make avoidable mistakes when taking earnings out too early.   Show Notes: Article – 11 Mistakes to Avoid With Your Roth IRA The post Roth IRA Mistakes, Part 1: EDU #2601 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security claiming strategies, deemed military wages, and survivor benefits timing, a PSA from Jim and Chris on their New Year’s resolution, and QLAC use for inherited IRAs. (11:00) A listener asks whether a spouse who will be collecting spousal benefits should ever delay claiming past full retirement age and also asks for retirement drawdown calculator recommendations. (24:30) George asks how veterans can verify that deemed military wages were credited correctly to their Social Security earnings record. (36:00) The guys address whether a surviving spouse can keep both Social Security checks after a spouse dies after being given conflicting answers from the Social Security Administration. (45:00) Jim and Chris share a PSA on their New Year’s resolution relating to estate planning. (1:02:45) A listener asks whether an inherited IRA can be used to purchase a QLAC with payments starting at age 84. The post Social Security, Deemed Military Wages, Estate Planning, QLACs: Q&A #2601 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I review new MYGA variations and examine how insurers and product developers are marketing hybrid annuity designs using MYGA language. We walk through four examples from an April 2025 article—“Lockdown,” “Minimum Accumulation Guarantee,” “Extra Extra,” and the “End-of-Term Equity Kicker”—and explain why these products, despite being labeled as MYGAs, rely on index-linked features and do not behave like traditional MYGAs. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I spend this episode talking through an article from earlier this year that highlights where the annuity industry seems to be headed. While not all good or all bad it centers on something I don’t think needed fixing in the first place. A MYGA is simple. It’s predictable. It’s easy for people to understand. It looks a lot like a CD (minus the FDIC protection, of course) issued by an insurance company, with a guaranteed rate for a defined period of time. That simplicity is exactly why we use MYGAs in our retirement plans for principal protection to cover near-term spending, including the delay period Minimum Dignity Floor and early Go-Go spending. What the article describes are four designs that are being positioned under the MYGA label, even though they introduce index-linked elements that change how the product behaves. The names alone tell you this is marketing at work. “Lockdown,” “Minimum Accumulation Guarantee,” “Extra Extra,” and the “End-of-Term Equity Kicker” are all attempts to add features that sound appealing while keeping the comfort of the MYGA name. In reality, these designs are borrowing from the fixed indexed annuity world and layering those ideas onto something that was not originally intended to work that way. But I’m not at all surprised that the insurance industry couldn’t leave well enough alone and took something simple and practical and complicated it with these new MYGA variations. The post New MYGA Variations: EDU #2553 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security filing timing and online claiming language, a listener PSA on IRMAA and the online SSA-44, ACA income planning before Medicare, an IRA to HSA transfer, and annuity income needs. (6:45) The guys address how to word an online Social Security application so the first check is paid for a specific month when claiming at age 70, and whether applying 2–3 months before the 70th birthday is the right approach. (14:00) A listener shares a PSA on filing SSA-44 online after retirement, including how IRMAA recalculations reflected estimated future-year income and how the resulting tier was communicated in the approval letter. (25:00) Jim and Chris discuss whether it makes sense, from a planner’s perspective, to stop working and manage income in a way that keeps health insurance affordable until Medicare eligibility. (38:45) George asks about doing the once-in-a-lifetime tax-free IRA-to-HSA transfer, how the HSA testing period works, and whether it’s worth doing before starting Medicare to reduce future RMDs. (49:00) A listener asks whether annuity income is still useful for covering a minimum dignity floor gap when assets are high and spending needs are modest, and how to think about guaranteed income given planned retirement timing and gifting goals. The post Social Security, IRMAA, ACA Planning, IRA to HSA Transfer, Annuities: Q&A #2552 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I are joined by Steve Sansone as we discuss cash balance plans and explain how they function as hybrid defined benefit plans that present as account-based arrangements. We cover who these plans are designed for, including high-income business owners and professional groups, how age and employee demographics affect feasibility, and why allowable contribution levels can far exceed defined contribution limits. We also outline nondiscrimination rules and how they are applied, employer commitment requirements, and other general setup considerations. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I are joined by Steve Sansone as we take a deeper dive into cash balance plans and why they show up in very specific situations, not as a one-size-fits-all solution. Steve explains how these plans sit in the defined benefit world but look like a defined contribution account, which is where a lot of confusion starts. We spend time on who they’re actually built for, why high-income professionals tend to be the ones asking about them, and why the contribution numbers can look startling if you haven’t seen the mechanics before. We also talk through the tradeoffs, because these plans are not free money and they are not magic. Steve walks through how demographics drive everything, why age gaps between owners and employees matter, and how employer contributions to staff are part of the deal. We discuss why, in the wrong situation, these plans can pour fuel on the fire of a future tax problem, and why, in the right situation, they can make sense when paired with intentional planning during the retirement tax planning window before required minimum distributions begin. We frame that discussion around the same planning lens we use elsewhere on the show, including how the 2-1-0 Tax Ordering Number concept helps evaluate whether the front-end tax benefit is worth the back-end complexity. The post Cash Balance Plans Explained: EDU #2552 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on Social Security spousal eligibility and claiming coordination, a listener PSA on Social Security proof of marriage requirements, RMD planning while still working, money market earnings in brokerage accounts, and using QLACs for long-term care planning.(16:15) Georgette asks whether the repeal of WEP and GPO affects her eligibility for a spousal benefit if her ex-husband worked for the federal government and she did not pay into Social Security. (26:45) A listener asks how Social Security works when one spouse lacks enough work credits for their own benefit and only qualifies for a spousal benefit, including whether both spouses must claim at full retirement age to access that benefit.(42:00) The guys address a PSA on why Social Security may already have proof of marriage on file for one spouse due to a name change but still requires documentation from the other spouse when benefits are claimed.(49:30) Jim and Chris discuss whether maximizing pre-tax retirement contributions and rolling a SEP IRA into a 403(b) can reduce or eliminate RMDs under the still-working exception.(1:06:45) A listener questions the statement that Money Market earnings are minimal, pointing to current yields in a fund they hold.(1:12:00) The guys respond to feedback on whether a QLAC could be an effective way to address long-term care planning when self-funding alone does not feel sufficient. The post Social Security, RMDs, Money Market Earnings, QLACs: Q&A #2551 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Chris’s SummaryJim and I are joined by Jake Turner as we cover the Math Act and a set of shorter EDU topics Jim has been collecting. We start with an SSA-44 update, including listener and client feedback on submitting the IRMAA redetermination form online through an SSA.gov account. Jake explains how IRS “math error” notices work today, why they’re often vague, and what the new law requires for clearer explanations and response deadlines. Jim then walks through the Automatic IRA Act’s proposals, including an annuity-style “protected lifetime income solution” requirement over certain balances, and we close with a quick way to sanity-check MYGA rates using AnnuityRateWatch’s yield curve. Jim’s “Pithy” SummaryChris and I are joined by Jake Turner as we bounce from Social Security admin housekeeping to Washington trying, yet again, to make the IRS act like it’s talking to actual humans—starting with the Math Act. If you’ve ever opened one of those IRS letters that basically says “you owe us money” without showing you how they got there, you already know why this matters. Jake lays out what those notices are really doing behind the scenes, why clients forward them to preparers in a panic, and what the new requirements are supposed to force the IRS to include so you can actually understand what they’re alleging and what happens if you don’t respond. Then we pivot into the Automatic IRA Act, and I’ll be honest: I’m less interested in the political theater than I am in what it signals. There’s the small-business auto-enrollment concept—opt-out, no match requirement, and all that—and then there’s the part that made me laugh out loud when I saw who was cheering it on. Once you cross a certain 401(k) balance, the proposal would require employers to offer a “protected lifetime income solution,” which is just a polite way of saying “annuities are trying to get a bigger seat at the 401(k) table.” That opens up all the practical questions: what counts, who defines it, and how this intersects with the slow drift of defined contribution plans trying to behave a little more like pensions. The post Math Act and Automatic IRA Act: EDU #2551 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.