The Worker, Retiree, and Employee Recovery Act of 2008 suspended Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for 2009, giving many IRA investors a much-needed extra year of tax-deferred growth.  After a one-year RMD layoff, however, investors must be careful not to miss a required distribution in 2010 and owe a sizable penalty.  Those who inherited an IRA in 2009 are particularly susceptible. [...]

Roth IRA conversion is one of the hottest investing topics of 2010.  Since the IRS lifted the ban on Roth conversions for $100k+ earners at the start of the year, scores of articles have been written about whether to convert.  For many investors, the answer lies in understanding the simple but all-important pro-rata rule that the IRS uses in determining your conversion tax.    [...]

April 15 isn’t just the deadline for filing your taxes; it’s also the last day that you can make a 2009 IRA contribution.  With that in mind, I thought it might be helpful to talk about the circumstances under which you should consider funding a Nondeductible IRA.  [...]

In 1978, Congress added section 401(k) to the Internal Revenue Code in order to give employees a tax break on deferred compensation.  Today, the 401(k) is the most popular retirement savings vehicle in America.  Employer matches, tax-deferred growth, and relatively high contribution limits ($16,500 in 2010, $22,000 if you’re 50 or older) make these plans extremely appealing.  Unfortunately, not all 401(k)’s were created equal.  [...]