The Truth About Protecting Your IRAs and 401(k)s

Description

Steve Weisman is Senior Lecturer at Bentley College in the department of Law, Tax, and Financial Planning. He has also taught courses on financial planning at the University of Massachusetts, Curry College, and Boston University. He is a host on the nationally syndicated radio show A Touch of Grey, heard on more than 50 stations, including NYC...s legendary WABC and KRLA Los Angeles. A member of the National Association of Elder Law Attorneys, Steve is legal editor and a columnist for Talkers Magazine and writes for publications ranging from The Boston Globe to US Air. His books include Boomer or Bust, The Truth About Avoiding Scams, and The Truth About Buying Annuities. Weisman has earned a Certificate of Merit for legal journalism from the American Bar Association. Contents Introduction TRUTH 1 IRA TRUTH 2 Let’s get it started (IRA style) TRUTH 3 59 1/2 and 70 1/2 TRUTH 4 Earned income TRUTH 5 IRA deductions TRUTH 6 Distributions from IRAs TRUTH 7 Minimum required distributions TRUTH 8 Withdrawal pains TRUTH 9 Spousal IRA TRUTH 10 Trusts as IRA beneficiaries TRUTH 11 Beneficiary designations TRUTH 12 Customizing beneficiary designation forms TRUTH 13 Self-directed IRAs TRUTH 14 Stretch IRA TRUTH 15 Disclaimers TRUTH 16 Inheriting an IRA TRUTH 17 Maximizing IRA benefits for a surviving spouse TRUTH 18 Roth IRA for children TRUTH 19 IRA conversions TRUTH 20 SIMPLE IRA TRUTH 21 SEP IRA TRUTH 22 IRA effects on taxation of Social Security benefits TRUTH 23 Excess contributions to a Roth IRA TRUTH 24 401(k) TRUTH 25 401(k) fees TRUTH 26 IRA and 401(k) investments 101 TRUTH 27 What to do if you don’t like your 401(k) choices TRUTH 28 Vesting rules for 401(k)s TRUTH 29 Borrowing from your 401(k) TRUTH 30 Company stock in 401(k)s TRUTH 31 IRAs, 401(k)s, and creditors TRUTH 32 Automatic 401(k) enrollment TRUTH 33 Roth 401(k)s TRUTH 34 Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, 401(k), or Roth 401(k) TRUTH 35 401(k) choices when you leave your job TRUTH 36 401(k) transfers TRUTH 37 Individual 401(k) TRUTH 38 SIMPLE 401(k) TRUTH 39 Increasing tax brackets TRUTH 40 Suing plan administrators TRUTH 41 Retirement savings contribution credit TRUTH 42 Divorce and your IRA or 401(k) TRUTH 43 Health savings accounts TRUTH 44 Unmarried and same-sex couples TRUTH 45 Steve’s rules, part 1 TRUTH 46 Steve’s rules, part 2 TRUTH 47 Definitions TRUTH 48 IRS Publication 590: Worksheets and Tables About the Author