There’s this little thing (okay, it’s a really BIG thing) that happens when you turn 70½ … it’s called an RMD – Required Minimum Distribution. In other words, you HAVE to start drawing income from most of your retirement accounts whether you want to or not. Knowing your RMD date is very important. There is a 50% penalty waiting for those who miss the correct calculations. When 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 each day, there are bound to be a few mistakes. Listen to this episode for tips to avoid those mistakes while Dennis Prout provides strategies for RMD withdrawals.

College tuition might be fresh on your mind now that the kids and grandkids have been back to school for a while. You may be considering helping a child, grandchild or loved one with the cost of higher education.

Record-high tuition costs have many families exploring the various options available to them, including 529 plans and Coverdell accounts, but many fail to realize that a Roth IRA could also be a viable option to help fund a college education. Roth IRAs provide a flexible alternative to 529 plans, but that doesn’t necessarily mean they are for everyone. FAFSA eligibility, taxes, as well as account limitations and requirements are all factors that should be considered in order to select the investment options that best fit you and your loved one’s needs.

Dennis Prout goes over some items from Ed Slott's Year End Checklist for IRAs.