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Should I Inherit My Deceased Spouse’s Traditional IRA?

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Retirement / Decumulation, Estate Planning, Assets and Investment Planning
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**This guide has been updated to incorporate new changes made by The SECURE Act 2.0 that are effective for the 2023 year. Any SECURE Act 2.0 changes that are effective for 2024 will be incorporated into this guide at the start of the 2024 year.

There are a few options a client can consider when they inherit an IRA from their spouse. The best option for your client will depend upon a variety of factors, and the relevant rules and decision points can be confusing.

To help make the analysis easier, we have created the “Should I Inherit My Deceased Spouse’s Traditional IRA?” flowchart. It addresses common issues that arise when a client inherits a traditional IRA from a spouse:

  • Inheriting the IRA vs. rolling the IRA into the client’s own traditional IRA
  • 10-Year Rule vs. Life Expectancy Rule
  • RMD calculations
  • Considerations based on age and income needs

 

Updated 1/19/2022

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