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There’s a time-bomb waiting in your IRA. Tax and IRA expert Ed Slott joins us today to share what the death of the Stretch IRA means for your retirement, and how the SECURE Act has made some big changes to the way your money is treated long after you’re gone. Whether you have a partner, children, family, or any other dependents depending on your support, the last thing you need is complicated tax rules funneling money out of your portfolio. If you’re the type of person who runs at the sound of a tax discussion, you may want to stick around for this one.

If you've had a toe in the stock market for more than a few years, you likely have grown increasingly giddy watching your profits pile up. But there's a flip side to the story: Eventually, you might need to share a lot of those gains with your partner.

If you've had a toe in the stock market for more than a few years, you likely have grown increasingly giddy watching your profits pile up. But there's a flip side to the story: Eventually, you might need to share a lot of those gains with your partner.

A possible third round of stimulus payments could come soon, with checks of up to $1,400 per eligible adult. But before the federal government issues those payments, it's worth reviewing how the first two rounds went.

Retirement savers need to pay close attention to their income tax filings this year because of pandemic-related changes to rules for required withdrawals.

Even in normal times, the rules for mandatory minimum withdrawals can be confusing, and are even more so this year because of a mash-up of tax changes and virus relief programs. If you get things right, you can avoid paying unnecessary taxes, financial advisers say.

Christine Benz: Hi, I'm Christine Benz from Morningstar. We're in the thick of tax season. Joining me to discuss what should be on your radar as you ready your 2020 tax return is tax and IRA expert, Ed Slott. He's the author of a new book called The New Retirement Savings Bomb. Ed, thanks for being here.

The arrival of 2021, as welcome as it was, put a hard stop on most moves by Americans to lower their 2020 tax bills. The window for things like making charitable donations or taking capital losses to offset gains slammed shut on December 31.

But there are still a few things people can do now to cut last year’s taxes. Several involve contributions to retirement accounts, with deadlines as late as Oct. 15. Another could reduce penalties for filers behind on last year’s tax payments.

In a recent column, you talked about the possible pitfalls in retirement of giving financial help to adult children and family members. My question: How do you say “no”? I think refusing a request is difficult for most parents.

IRA trusts may have lost some of their luster in the wake of the SECURE Act.

Under the act, long-term tax deferral is still permitted for certain IRA beneficiaries but others must empty the inherited account within 10 years. Beneficiaries of employer-sponsored qualified plans face the same new rules.

NEW YORK, March 2, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ed Slott, CPA, founder of irahelp.com, nationally recognized IRA distribution expert, professional speaker, television personality, and best-selling author announces the release of his new book, "The New Retirement Savings Time Bomb: How to Take Financial Control, Avoid Unnecessary Taxes, And Combat the Latest Threats to Your Retirement Savings," published by Penguin Books.