(615) 656-5098 | afurlow@maxfigroup.com

CONTACT US TODAY!

Pro Rata, Not “Double Tax”

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst The pro-rata rule dictates that when an IRA contains both non-deductible (after-tax) and deductible (pre-tax) funds, then each dollar withdrawn (or converted) from the IRA will contain a percentage of tax-free and taxable funds...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

The S&P 500 and the NASDAQ joined the NASDAQ 100 in forging new all-time highs in an extremely busy week for Wall Street.  A de-escalation of the Iran-Israel-US conflict happened on the twelfth day after Israel’s initial strikes.  The US bombed three key...
3 Retirement Mistakes That Can Still Be Fixed in 2025

3 Retirement Mistakes That Can Still Be Fixed in 2025

Retirement planning is rarely perfect. Life throws curveballs—health issues, market downturns, career changes—and even the most diligent savers can stumble along the way. If you’ve made financial missteps or feel unprepared as you approach retirement, you’re not...

Double Your Pleasure – The 457(b) 2x Catch-Up

  By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst If you’re in a 457(b) plan and are nearing retirement, you may want to consider an often-overlooked rule that could allow you to defer twice the usual annual elective deferral limit (for 2025, $23,000 x 2 = $47,000) in the three...

Moving Your Roth Account

  By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The year 2025 has been a turbulent time for the economy. Whether due to job loss or persons seeking better investment opportunities in volatile markets, retirement account funds are on the move more than...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

Despite there being plenty for investors to consider, the holiday-shortened week ended pretty much where it started. Israel and Iran continued to exchange missile attacks, while global leaders tried to find a resolution to the conflict. President Trump opened the door...
8 Ways to Keep From Going Broke in Retirement

8 Ways to Keep From Going Broke in Retirement

Budgeting, saving and investing tips to help make your money last as long as you do No matter how diligently you’ve been saving for retirement, it’s hard not to worry about outliving your money. But you can take several steps to contain your expenses, manage your nest...

Bad Advice Turns Me Into the Hulk

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Before he transformed into the Incredible Hulk, Bruce Banner once said to his antagonist, “Don’t make me angry. You wouldn’t like me when I’m angry.” That’s a little how I feel when I hear stories about lazy financial professionals...

Are My SEP and SIMPLE IRAs Safe from Creditors?

By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst You are not alone if you have concerns that your IRA or workplace plan savings could be lost if you are forced to declare bankruptcy or wind up on the losing end of a civil lawsuit. After all, we all count on those savings for a...
A Loved One Died and Left You an Inheritance. Now What?

A Loved One Died and Left You an Inheritance. Now What?

Take these steps when you receive a windfall Perhaps you are among the growing number of Americans fortunate enough to receive an inheritance. As older generations pass away and leave money to their families, a great wealth transfer is underway. Those bequests could...

When You SHOULD Name a Trust as IRA Beneficiary

By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Here at the Slott Report we hear many stories about trusts being named as IRA beneficiaries and the problems that follow. Often, there seems to be no purpose for naming the trust and it brings unnecessary...

Fixing a Converted RMD…and the Tax Reporting

By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst We know that required minimum distributions (RMDs) cannot be rolled over or converted. Before a person does any Roth IRA conversions, all of their IRA RMDs must be satisfied. (See this prior Slott Report post: “New Rule: All IRA...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

US markets advanced in an erratic week of trading. The S&P 500 ended the week above the 6000 level and is up nearly 24% from the April 7th lows. Investors continue monitoring global trade policy, hoping more trade deals will be signed soon.  Trump acknowledged...
Weekly Market Commentary

Weekly Market Commentary

-Darren Leavitt, CFA The holiday-shortened week was busy. Trade uncertainties continued to be on investors’ minds, with several trade stories hitting the tape throughout the week.  News on Tuesday that President Trump had extended the timeline for negotiations...