Articles — Ascensus

Primary and Contingent Beneficiaries and the Myth of “They’ll Just Share It”

One of the most misunderstood parts of beneficiary designations is the difference between primary and contingent beneficiaries.

IRAAscensusDecember 18, 2025IRA, IRS, Roth IRA, Beneficiary

SEPs Remain a Valued Retirement Plan Option

The simplified employee pension, or SEP, is a retirement plan that—like the Energizer bunny of TV commercial fame—just “keeps going and going and going.” That’s because the retirement saving niche SEPs have occupied since their creation by the Revenue Act of 1978 remains a substantial one.

IRA, Employer PlanAscensusDecember 18, 2025SEP Plan, IRA, Retirement Plan, Qualified Retirement Plan, Profit Sharing Plan

RMD Statements — What’s Required?

January is a hectic tax reporting month for many financial organizations. In addition to providing quarterly or year-end statements, financial organizations must provide required minimum distribution (RMD) statements to certain Traditional and SIMPLE IRA owners by January 31. If you haven’t already, now is the perfect time for you and your team to start preparing for the busy month ahead.

IRAAscensusDecember 18, 2025Required Minimum Distributions, IRA, Roth IRA, Beneficiary, Reporting

Understanding IRA Contributions

Financial organizations field a lot of IRA questions from clients, and many of the same ones seem to come up repeatedly. Here are some common IRA contribution questions you’re likely hearing at your branch office, over the phone, or in your inbox.

expert, IRAAscensusDecember 18, 2025IRA, Required Minimum Distributions, Roth IRA, Eligibility, 401(k) Plan, Contributions

How to Move Designated Roth Account Assets

For over two decades now, plan participants have been allowed to make designated Roth account contributions to 401(k) plans and 403(b) plans. Governmental 457(b) plans and the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) have allowed this option since 2011. Since that time, many participants have been able to build up their designated Roth account balances. As plan participants approach retirement age, they may be unsure about their next steps and turn to you for guidance.

IRS Releases 2026 Cost-of-Living Adjusted Retirement Savings Limitations

The IRS has issued Notice 2025-67 on November 13, 2025, which contains the 2026 cost-of-living increases for qualified retirement plan dollar limitations on benefits and contributions under the Internal Revenue Code (IRC).

IRA, Employer PlanAscensusNovember 20, 2025IRA, IRS, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Retirement Plan, Qualified Retirement Plan

Simultaneous Death Laws Can Impact Retirement Savings Inheritance

There are circumstances when the actual order of death cannot be positively determined. Why does this matter? The order of death may determine whether an IRA or retirement plan account becomes the property of a contingent beneficiary, versus a primary beneficiary’s estate. Sometimes the financial stakes can be quite high.

IRAAscensusNovember 20, 2025Beneficiary, Distribution, Qualified Retirement Plan, IRA, Traditional IRA, IRS

Unraveling the Mystery of Roth IRA Distributions

The rules surrounding Roth IRAs can be complex, and somewhat confusing to the average taxpayer. Let’s clear up some of the common misconceptions surrounding Roth IRAs.

IRAAscensusNovember 20, 2025Roth IRA, Distribution, IRA, IRS

RMD Odds and Ends

As 2025 draws to a close, here are some RMD scenarios you may encounter at your financial organization.

IRA, expertAscensusNovember 20, 2025Distribution, Required Minimum Distributions, Traditional IRA, Fair Market Value

Understanding Qualified Plan Amendments

As retirement plan regulations continue to evolve, it is essential that employers and plan administrators maintain careful attention to key deadlines and new legislative mandates. Particular attention should be paid to the maintenance of plan documents, as these serve as the foundation for plan administration and compliance.

From Healthcare to Retirement: The Expanding Role of HSAs

Health savings accounts (HSAs) have steadily grown in popularity over the past two decades, but data shows they’ve entered a new era. HSAs are no longer just about paying for today’s doctor visit. For financial organizations, HSAs represent both a client service opportunity and a business growth strategy that’s increasingly too significant to overlook.

HSAAscensusOctober 16, 2025HSA, HSAs, Business Insights, Compliance and Operations

IRA Transfer vs. Rollover: The Retirement Move That Trips Up Savers

When it comes to saving for retirement, most people understand the basics. They set up an IRA, begin making contributions, and let the balance grow. The stumbling block tends to happen later, when it’s time to move those funds. That’s when your clients hear terms like “transfer” and “rollover,” and may end up doing the exact opposite of what they should.

IRAAscensusOctober 16, 2025IRA, Roth IRA, Reporting, Rollover, Transfer, Traditional IRA, IRS

Inadvertent Benefit Overpayments: Understanding the Rules

The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) 2.0 Act and Notice 2024-77 provide the latest official guidance on handling inadvertent benefit overpayments (IBOs). This guidance is crucial for plan sponsors to ensure compliance and avoid disqualification of their plans.

Roth Conversion Strategies

The backdoor Roth contribution works especially well if your client doesn’t have any other pretax assets in any Traditional (including those holding SEP assets) or SIMPLE IRAs.

expert, IRAAscensusOctober 16, 2025Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Conversion, Contributions, Contribution, Compliance and Operations

IRS Issues Final SECURE 2.0 Roth Catch-Up Rules for High Earners

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) recently released final regulations that provide insight on how to administer the catch-up contribution requirements under the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022 (SECURE 2.0).

Fall is the Perfect Time for Teens to Put Summer Job Money to Work in a Roth IRA

For many teens, those summer paychecks can be more than just spending money. They can actually be the key to starting one of the smartest financial habits around: contributing to a Roth IRA.

IRAAscensusSeptember 18, 2025Roth IRA, IRS, IRA, Business Insights

When and How do Retirement Savings and Spousal Consent Intersect?

A marriage begins with the intention that the relationship will endure—the reality of divorce and separation statistics notwithstanding—and that a couple’s retirement years will be spent together. Consequently, it’s easy to understand why laws give special consideration to spouses when it comes to their entitlement to financial resources intended to provide retirement security.

IRA, Employer PlanAscensusSeptember 18, 2025Beneficiary, IRA, Retirement Plan, 401(k) Plan, 403(b) Plan

Choosing the Right Retirement Plan for Your Small Business: SEP, SIMPLE, or Individual (k)?

If your client owns a small business, they’re already juggling a lot. Between managing clients, balancing budgets, and keeping operations moving, retirement planning often falls to the bottom of the list. Yet choosing the right retirement plan can be a game changer, not just for the business owner, but for their employees as well.