January 2024 – Inherited IRAs

Recommended Articles

Advisor Tax Mistake #1-Getting Bad Tax Advice

When I last Googled “IRS RMD Table,” the first result that popped up was a link to an active IRS web page with the outdated RMD information. Millions of people who clicked on the first link provided by Google were given, by the IRS, incorrect information. Countless other examples of incorrect tax information, ranging from capital gains rates to Medicare premiums to gifting limits and especially the math on Roth conversions can be found prominently displayed across the internet, including on some of the most reputable websites.

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State Tax Tips for Financial Advisors

When Congress changes federal tax law, it always dominates the headlines, but the IRS' portion of a taxpayer’s income is only part of the story. Every state has their own unique set of tax rules, and it is not enough for financial advisors to be versed in the rules of their home state. Eight states have no individual income tax. For the other states, there are 42 different sets of rules on what type of income is taxed, how it is taxed, at what rate it is taxed and whether where you work or where you live is more important. Then one could wade into local taxes, with nearly 5,000 jurisdictions in 17 states imposing a local income tax, which can treat nonresidents differently than residents.

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Clients Don’t Care About Roth vs. Traditional IRAs. So What?

Many financial advisors will object to the headline of this article, but advisors represent an incredibly small percentage of all taxpayers. Very few taxpayers care to be able to describe the difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA. What they want to know is which option is right for them and what action they should take.

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