Social Security Benefits, IRMAA, and QCD Timing: Q&A #2517
April 26, 2025

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security spousal benefits, IRMAA relief, suspending Social Security for tax planning, and QCD timing with RMDs. (3:00) A listener enquires whether her 85-year-old mother, who recently remarried, must remain on her ex-spouse’s record for one year before switching to spousal benefits on her new husband’s record.(12:15) The guys address...
Listen NowSocial Security, RMD age, Tax Planning, and Inherited Roth IRAs: Q&A #2515
April 12, 2025

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions relating to Social Security, origins of the RMD age, the tax planning window, and RMDs from Inherited Roth IRAs. (11:00) Georgette asks how to qualify for child-in-care survivor benefits if her ex-husband, who has been missing for seven years, is legally declared deceased. (23:00) A listener wonders when to file for her Social Security benefit to ensure...
Listen NowRoth 5-Year Rules and the Tax Planning Window: EDU #2513
March 26, 2025

Chris’s SummaryJim and I continue our review of interesting and sometimes confusing retirement planning facts, mostly drawn from Jim’s recent Ed Slott conference. We focus on the two Roth five-year rules and how they apply to Roth IRAs versus Roth 401(k)s. I explain the key distinctions between tax-free earnings and penalty-free access. Jim goes further into how “seasoning” from a...
Listen NowSetting the Record Straight on Clickbait vs Reality: EDU #2510
March 5, 2025

Chris’s Summary: Jim is at yet another industry conference, so Jake is stepping in to join me this week. We pick up where Jim and I left off last time, discussing misleading financial articles. This time, we take a critical look at an article from Moneywise that claims to lay out the “standard” order for withdrawing retirement funds—but seems more focused on promoting paid links than providing...
Listen NowOur Retirement Planning Process: EDU #2440
October 2, 2024

Jim and Chris sit down for another EDU show dedicated to our retirement planning process. In this episode the guys dialog with listeners, answering questions and expounding on key ideas. https://media.blubrry.com/the_retirement_and_ira_show/s3.amazonaws.com/TheRetirementandIRAShow/RAIRA-Show-EDU-Y24E40.mp3 Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:39:58 — 45.8MB) Subscribe:...
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