Life and Death Planning for Retirement Benefits

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498 Life and Death Planning for Retirement Benefits
Many financial institutions offer free Roth conversion analysis programs for their
customers and/or the general public, including Fidelity Investments (“Roth Conversion
Evaluator,” , and Charles Schwab
(“Roth IRA Conversion Calculator”; .
Another commercially available Roth-conversion analyzer is The Roth IRA Conversion
Expert™ from CCH, developed in connection with Robert S. Keebler and Stephen J. Bigge of
Baker Tilly Virchow Krause, LLP,
Newsletters
Ed Slott’s IRA Advisor. Ed Slott, CPA, is one of America’s most knowledgeable retirement
benefits experts, plus he writes beautifully and is a great speaker. Each issue has in-depth
discussion of practical retirement tax info by top practitioners. $125 for twelve 8-page issues per
year (includes all back issues). Sent by mail (800-663-1340), or download (and find lots of other
useful info) at
Choate’s Notes, by Natalie B. Choate. Published irregularly, free for now, sent by regular USPS
mail to customers of Ataxplan Publications and to professionals who request it by handing in
business card at a Natalie Choate seminar (or sign up a . Each issue contains
a short article on some aspect of planning for retirement benefits, plus other info of interest to
estate planning professionals.
Steve Leimberg’s Employee Benefits and Retirement Planning Newsletter. E-mail-only. Expert
analysis of breaking news “as it happens, such as rulings, cases, and legislation. Written by Bob
Keebler, Barry Picker, me, and others, edited by the incomparable Steve Leimberg, Esq. Includes
24-hr access to extensive database. $28 per month (includes all four of Steve’s newsletters).
Indispensable. Visit one-time free or subscribe at Access is provided
free through membership in some Estate Planning Councils and possibly other professional
associations, so check with yours. In addition to being a nationally recognized expert on estate
planning, retirement benefits, and life insurance, and a major supplier of helpful tools for our
industry, Steve also has ready-to-go seminars for estate planners at
Quick Reference Guides
I highly recommend Denise Appleby’s “IRA Quick Reference Guides.” These are
laminated charts neatly summarizing such subjects as what plan can be legally rolled over into
what other plan (see “IRA Portability Quick Reference Guide”), the current limits on contributions
to every type of plan (see “Rollover Chart and 2010 Limit Table”), and the distribution
options/requirements for inherited plans and IRAs (see “IRA Beneficiary Options”). You will find
yourself using these “cheat sheets” more than you expect. Purchase at
Denise also offers consulting services and a free newsletter.