Suze Orman, a renowned expert in personal finance and retirement planning, tackles listener questions about inherited pre-tax retirement accounts in this informative session. She clarifies the concept of eligible beneficiaries, particularly for children, and discusses the nuances of required minimum distributions. Suze emphasizes the importance of understanding disability qualifications for beneficiaries. Additionally, she navigates the complexities of rolling over a deceased spouse's IRA and highlights key changes brought by the SECURE Act, ensuring listeners are well-prepared for financial decisions.
Read more
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
auto_awesome
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
Beneficiaries of inherited pre-tax retirement accounts must understand specific rules to maximize growth and avoid penalties.
Inheriting an IRA from an employer may require more documentation and strategic planning compared to an inherited IRA from a financial institution.
Deep dives
Understanding Eligible Designated Beneficiaries
An eligible designated beneficiary is defined by specific criteria, particularly in the context of inheriting IRAs. For instance, a child is considered a minor up to their 21st birthday for these purposes, meaning they can stretch distributions from an inherited IRA beyond the typical limits. If the decedent died before their required beginning date, the child can opt for the stretch method until they turn 31, which allows for extended disbursement over their lifetime to maximize growth. It's crucial that beneficiaries understand these rules, as misinformation can lead to significant financial consequences.
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) Explained
When inheriting an IRA, beneficiaries must understand the rules surrounding Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), which are crucial for compliance. For instance, if a person inherits an IRA from someone who had already begun taking RMDs, they must start their own distributions the following year; failure to comply may result in financial penalties. The beneficiary is typically required to fully drain the inherited IRA within 10 years, not just until the end of a 10-year period from inheritance. This necessitates strategic planning to manage withdrawals effectively and minimize tax implications.
Rollover Options and Complications
Inheriting an IRA from an employer can introduce complications not present with inherited IRAs from financial institutions. Beneficiaries are advised to roll over inherited accounts from an employer to avoid restrictions that may limit their options, such as being forced to choose only the 10-year withdrawal method. Moreover, requirements for documentation can differ significantly, with employer plans typically demanding more paperwork than brokerage firms. This highlights the importance of understanding one’s options and acting accordingly to ensure maximum flexibility and benefit from the inherited assets.
This episode is part two of the special Suze master class, from Episode 604, about what to do when you inherit a pre-tax retirement account. KT gathered up your questions and you’ll hear Suze answer them. Plus, the definition of critically ill and disabled as it relates to qualifications of being a beneficiary.
Protect your financial future with the Must Have Docs: https://bit.ly/3Vq1V3G Get your savings going with Alliant Credit Union:https://bit.ly/3rg0Yio Get Suze’s special offers for podcast listeners at suzeorman.com/offer Join Suze’s Women & Money Community for FREE and ASK SUZE your questions which may just end up on the podcast. Download the app by following one of these links: