Commentary
How Oil Prices Shape the Economy Beyond the Gas Pump
Oil prices have been in the spotlight as global markets grapple with geopolitical tensions and shifting economic conditions. While most people first notice changes at the gas station, fluctuations in
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May Financial Market Update: What Investors Should Know
Financial markets moved quickly in April, leaving many investors feeling both relieved and uncertain. After a volatile first quarter, U.S. stocks rallied sharply—even as underlying economic challenges
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Estate Planning Essentials: Key Players, Coordination, and Protecting Your Legacy
Estate planning is far more than signing legal documents — it’s about protecting your life’s work, providing for your loved ones, and ensuring your wishes are carried out exactly as you intend. Why
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Estate Planning - Understanding Estate Planning Terminology
A quick reference to the most common estate planning terms and what they mean in practice. What This CoversClear explanations of legal and planning terms you’ll see in estate documents, organized fo
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Estate Planning - Understanding Powers of Attorney
Learn how Financial and Healthcare Powers of Attorney work — and why naming trusted decision-makers can protect you when it matters most. Updated over a month ago In estate planning, a Power of Attor
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Retirement Planning - Get Ready For Seven Serious Life Transitions Ahead
Life changes. Sometimes gradually. Sometimes all at once. As we move through retirement and the later chapters of life, there are several major transitions that nearly everyone will eventually fac
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Tax & Retirement Planning - 5 Things You Need to Know about the Roth IRA Five-Year Rules
By Sarah Brenner, JD Director of Retirement Education Ed Slott and Company Here at the Slott Report, we get a lot of questions on all sorts of different IRA topics. However, one area where we consis
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Estate Planning: Is Your Inheritance Plan Truly Safe? 5 Steps to Protect Your Legacy from Family Conflict
We all like to think that our families will remain united when we’re gone. But the reality is that substantial assets can sometimes bring out the worst in people. Even with the best intentions, inheri
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Tax Planning with QCDs - The Smartest Way to Give to Charity: Why a Qualified Charitable Distribution is Your Tax Strategy Secret Weapon
If you are over age 70½ and looking for a way to support your favorite causes while keeping your tax bill low, you need to know about the Qualified Charitable Distribution (QCD). While many people sim
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Tax Planning: Four ways to get money into Roth IRA for those with high incomes
The Roth IRA has become a darling of retirement savings accounts. Although funded with after-tax dollars, Roths offer tax-free withdrawals of contributions and earnings in retirement (so long as the a
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Estate Planning - What is a Revocable Living Trust?
A Revocable Living Trust is a powerful estate planning tool designed to keep you in total control of your assets during your lifetime while providing a seamless transition for your heirs later. Un
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Estate Planning - What are the responsibilities of an Executor?
When a loved one passes away or establishes a trust, the roles of Trustee and Executor are often viewed as simple honors. In reality, these are complex legal appointments that carry significant person
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Estate Planning - What are the responsibilities of a Trustee?
A college professor once told me that being nominated as a trustee was a dubious honor. I laughed. He didn't. He was serious. After over 35 years in the business, I couldn't agree more. A trus
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May Financial Market Update: Key Trends Investors Should Know
The financial markets moved quickly through April, creating a mix of strong performance and lingering uncertainty. Investors may be feeling the push and pull of optimism and caution, and this update i
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Investment Planning: Should I buy gold? The guy on TV says yes.
We’ve all seen the commercials: a serious-looking spokesperson leans into the camera, warning about the potential devaluation of the dollar. They tell you your cash is declining in value or worthless
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Tax Planning - Roth IRA Conversion Q&A for Smarter Retirement Planning
Market swings often spark questions about long-term planning, and a Roth IRA conversion is one strategy many investors revisit during uncertain times. This Q&A is designed to give you clarity, confide
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March Market Turbulence and Key Economic Signals
March brought a turbulent period for financial markets as conflict with Iran drove oil prices sharply higher and added pressure to inflation that was already proving difficult to control. The Federal
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Tax Planning: The Simultaneous QCD/RMD Transaction
By Andy Ives, CFP®, AIF® IRA Analyst at Ed Slott & Company Qualified charitable distributions (QCDs) and required minimum distributions (RMDs) are two separate and distinct transactions. Here are
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Tax Planning: Grandparents should be very careful when opening Trump accounts for others
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst at Ed Slott & Company Contributions to Trump Accounts, the new tax-deferred savings vehicle for children, can’t be made until July 4, 2026. However, the opportunity to
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Tax Planning: New developments for Trump accounts
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst at Ed Slott & Company With contributions to Trump Accounts expected to begin in just a few months, there are some new developments to report. As a reminder, Trump Accou
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Tax Planning: How Will States Tax Trump Account Contributions?
By Ian Berger, JD IRA Analyst at Ed Slott & CompanyTrump Account contributions can be made as early as this July 4. But before making a contribution on behalf of a child, you should understand that th
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Tax Planning: Understanding The One Big Beautiful Bill Act: What It Means For You
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces extensive tax changes that may influence your personal finances, long-term planning, and overall financial strategy. Whether you live in Tyler TX or e
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Tax Planning: What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Means for Seniors
Legislative changes can feel overwhelming for older adults, especially when they affect personal finance, healthcare access, or long-term planning. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) introduces ma
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Q1 2026 Markets: Momentum, Shifts, and Rising Uncertainty
The first quarter of 2026 delivered strong early momentum followed by a clear shift in market tone. Growth held up, inflation stayed near target, and yet turbulence emerged as oil supply disruptions a
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The Bombing of Iran
Fear and Your Finances First, I want to acknowledge how difficult it can be to set aside the strong emotions that often occur during major world events like this. However, as hard as it can be, inve
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March 2026 Financial Market Update
February's market activity offered a blend of solid economic growth, rising inflation pressures, and renewed geopolitical uncertainty. Despite stocks holding near record levels, investors saw more day
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February 2026 Financial Market Update
The U.S. economy continued to expand in early 2026, supported by steady consumer activity and a services sector that remains firmly in growth mode. Lower mortgage rates also helped revive interest in
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