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The following link/content may include information and statistical data obtained from and/or prepared by third party sources that First Financial Guarantee, deems reliable but in no way does First Financial Guarantee guarantee its accuracy or completeness. First Financial Guarantee had no involvement in the creation of the content and did not make any revisions to such content. All such third-party information and statistical data contained herein is subject to change without notice and may not reflect the view or opinions of First Financial Guarantee. Nothing herein constitutes investment, legal or tax advice or any recommendation that any security, portfolio of securities, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Personal investment advice can only be rendered after the engagement of First Financial Guarantee, execution of required documentation, and receipt of required disclosures. All investments involve risk and past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Fixed Index Annuity
Why Annuities May Be a Safer Bet in 2025
Many people decide to claim their Social Security benefit when they retire. You may be one of them. It could be that you need the money, or maybe you want to invest it...
Interest in Annuities Is Soaring: Understanding the 2025 Trend
Learn how the market, economy, and demographics are shaping the annuity industry. The annuity industry is having a moment. After years of mixed opinions and confusion...
Annuity Awareness Month 2025: Your Guide to Income Security
Each June, Annuity Awareness Month shines a spotlight on one of retirement’s most misunderstood—but potentially powerful—financial tools: the annuity. In 2025, as...
6 Ways to Secure Your Finances After Retirement
Although your CalPERS service retirement is a lifetime benefit, and you have other income sources available to you, money can still be tight. Making ends meet is a big...
Retirement planning with annuities in 2025: Key considerations and trends
Annuities have seen a resurgence in popularity as a retirement planning tool, especially in 2025, driven by market volatility, higher interest rates, and an aging...
7 steps to prepare for your upcoming retirement
Planning to retire within the next 10 years? Taking these actions now could help bolster your portfolio as you approach your planned retirement date. After decades of...
Getting Ready for Retirement Checklist
If the word “retire” is becoming your new mantra, we suggest you make a retirement checklist before you receive your last paycheck. It’s never too early (or too late)...
The Most Important Ages of Retirement
Retirement is a series of milestones that arrive as you age. Here are the ones you should know about. The retirement clock doesn't start the day you stop working. It's...
Weekly Market Commentary
US equity markets ended the week with a powerful move to the upside after Fed Chairman J. Powell indicated that the balance of risk had shifted to the labor market,...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global financial markets had another positive week as the Dow Jones Industrial Average finally joined the S&P 500 and the NASDAQ with a new all-time high. Benign...
Weekly Market Commentary
Global financial markets rallied last week as investors stepped in again to buy the prior week’s dip in prices. Japan, Germany, Spain, and Italy were international...
Weekly Market Commentary
Markets forged another set of all-time highs before taking a step back last week as a deluge of information had to be digested by investors. August 1st was the tariff...
Weekly Market Commentary
The S&P 500 and NASDAQ reached another set of all-time highs, driven by constructive rhetoric on global trade and positive second-quarter earnings results from...
Weekly Market Commentary
U.S. equity markets were little changed for the week; that said, the S&P 500 and NASDAQ were able to forge another set of all-time highs. A busy Q2 earnings...
Weekly Market Commentary
A barrage of tariff letters sent to over 20 countries by President Trump yielded very little movement in the financial markets. Trump announced that there would not be...
Weekly Market Commentary
The holiday-shortened week produced another week of gains for US equity indices. The S&P 500 was up 10.6 % in the 2nd quarter, while the NASDAQ composite rose...
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...
Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group (Ed Slott Group) is a membership organization owned by Ed Slott and Company, LLC. Logos and/or trademarks are property of their respective owners and no endorsement of (Anthony Leonetti) or (First Financial Guarantee) is stated or implied. Ed Slott Group and Ed Slott and Company, LLC are not affiliated with First Financial Guarantee.
For the detailed requirements of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group, please visit: https://www.irahelp.com/
Required Minimum Distributions and Inherited IRAs Prior to 2020: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Question: My spouse and I have a combined six-figure required minimum distribution (RMD) from my two IRAs and her...
The Once-Per-Year Rollover Rule: Multiple Deposits vs. Multiple Distributions
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education The once-per-year IRA rollover rule sounds easy. However, there are many ways to go wrong. One common...
The Simultaneous QCD/RMD Transaction
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and required minimum distributions (RMDs) are two separate and distinct...
Backdoor Roth IRAs and Inherited IRAs: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst QUESTION: When someone under age 59½ uses the “backdoor” method of making Roth IRA contributions, does the 10% penalty apply...
Grandparents Should Be Very Careful Before Opening Trump Accounts
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Contributions to Trump Accounts, the new tax-deferred savings vehicle for children, can’t be made until July 4, 2026. However, the...
5 Steps to Spring-Clean Your IRA
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Spring is here! Now is the time when many people spring-clean their homes. It is an opportunity to get organized,...
The Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) Strategy and Roth IRA Contribution Eligibility: Today’s Slott Report Mailbag
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Question: Hello, I’ve run into someone who is retired, age 77, and therefore taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) from his...
6 Required Questions to Determine an IRA Beneficiary Payout Structure
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst 1. When did the decedent die? The SECURE Act impacts beneficiaries of decedents who died in 2020 or later. Anyone who passed...
How Will States Tax Trump Account Contributions?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst Trump Account contributions can be made as early as this July 4. But before making a contribution on behalf of a child, you should...
The following link/content may include information and statistical data obtained from and/or prepared by thirdparty sources that First Financial Guarantee, deems reliable but in no way does First Financial Guarantee guarantee its accuracy or completeness. First Financial Guarantee had no involvement in the creation of the content and did not make any revisions to such content. All such third-party information and statistical data contained herein is subject to change without notice and may not reflect the view or opinions of First Financial Guarantee. Nothing herein constitutes investment, legal or tax advice or any recommendation that any security, portfolio of securities, or investment strategy is suitable for any specific person. Personal investment advice can only be rendered after the engagement of First Financial Guarantee, execution of required documentation, and receipt of required disclosures. All investments involve risk and past performance is no guarantee of future results.
For the detailed requirements of Ed Slott’s Elite IRA Advisor Group, please visit: https://www.irahelp.com/
Seven Medicare Changes Coming in 2026
Learn about the benefits that become permanent features of Medicare in 2026 and other changes as they are released. Knowing how Medicare is evolving and which benefits you can rely on will help you focus on whether Original Medicare or a particular Medicare Advantage...
Navigating Medicare Changes in 2025 for People Living with ALS: A Comprehensive Guide
Living with ALS presents a unique set of challenges, especially when it comes to managing your health care needs and medications. In 2025, important changes are coming to Medicare that could significantly impact how you access prescription drugs and manage your...
Colorectal cancer screenings can save your life
Get a colorectal cancer screening at no extra cost to you. Learn more about life-saving screening options. Have you been putting off your colorectal cancer screening? It may not be the top of your to-do list, but regular screening tests can save lives. Colorectal...
Get the care you need quickly when you’re sick
Discover six ways to access care fast, even if your doctor is busy. Hint: You may not need to go in person. Doctors’ offices are busier than ever these days. Sometimes it can be tough to book a timely appointment with your primary care provider. You might be sick or...
Can You Apply for Medicare Without Social Security?
Key Points You do not need to be receiving Social Security benefits to apply for Medicare. You can receive Social Security benefits as early as 62 and Medicare benefits at 65. If you are already receiving Social Security benefits before your 65th birthday, you’ll be...
Is the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit Mandatory?
Key Points While the Medicare Annual Wellness Visit is not mandatory, it is a 100% covered preventive service. The Annual Wellness Visit differs from the typical annual physicals you were used to with group coverage. If you’ve had Medicare Part B for more than 12...
Why You Need Part D
Key Points Medicare Part D is a voluntary program, but if you do not enroll in a plan, you won’t have coverage for expensive medications. You will also have a late enrollment penalty if you don’t have other creditable coverage. Medicare Part D is a huge time...
Medigaps
Original Medicare Part B covers 80% of the cost of most services. But what about the other 20%? Or the other out-of-pocket costs like deductibles or inpatient copays? Let’s discuss Medigaps, which can help cover these costs. What are Medigaps? Medigaps are health...
Medicare’s 2025 Surprise: Higher Costs, New Caps, and Vanishing Perks
Big changes are coming to Medicare and Social Security in 2025, and if you’re on Medicare—or soon will be—you need to know how these updates could impact your costs and coverage. Financial Sense’s Jim Puplava recently spoke with Medicare expert Brian McArthur to get...
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