Year End Planning: RMD Rules for IRAs & Inherited IRAs

Retirement Answer Man

Roger Whitney, CFP®, CIMA®, RMA, CPWA®

Education, Investmentmanagement, Saving, Self-improvement, Careerplanning, Retirement, Business, Lifeplanning, Investing, Retirementplanning, Financialplanning, Retirementpodcast

4.6 • 1.2K Ratings

🗓️ 17 December 2025

⏱️ 40 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In this episode, Roger Whitney walks listeners through the complexities of inherited IRAs, highlighting the impact of the SECURE Act of 2019 and clarifying the distinctions between eligible and non-eligible designated beneficiaries. He explains how these classifications affect withdrawals and tax planning, making the rules easy to understand. Roger also answers listener questions on topics like retirement team selection and funding health insurance with HSA accounts. Beyond the numbers, he shares practical strategies for creating more meaningful holiday conversations, drawing on real-life examples to show how curiosity and intentionality can help you connect more deeply with the people you care about.

OUTLINE OF THIS EPISODE OF THE RETIREMENT ANSWER MAN

(00:00) This show is dedicated to helping you rock retirement.
(00:30) In today’s episode, Roger Whitney covers the rules around inherited IRAs, explores ways to foster deeper and more meaningful conversations during the holidays and beyond, and answers listener questions.

RETIREMENT TOOLKIT

(01:00) Today in the Retirement Toolkit we're going to talk about the rules around inherited IRAs.
(02:40) Differences between eligible and non-eligible designated beneficiaries for inherited IRAs are explained.
(14:32) Roger talks about ROTH IRAs and how they work.

RETIREMENT LIFE LAB

(16:04) Roger explains how approaching conversations with curiosity and intentionality, especially with older family members or those with different interests, can create more meaningful and enriching interactions.

LISTENER QUESTIONS

(25:37) Ira asks what to ask a financial advisor’s team to understand their retirement planning services and team longevity.
(37:02) Mary Jane asks if she can use Health Savings Account funds tax-free to pay for private health insurance premiums before Medicare eligibility.

SMART SPRINT

(38:42) In the next week, approach holiday or New Year’s gatherings with curiosity by asking questions and engaging with people you don’t see often to create more meaningful interactions.

REFERENCES

Transcript

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0:00.0	Welcome to the show dedicated to helping you not just survive retirement, but to have the confidence
0:06.6	to lean in and really rock it and create that great life. My name is Roger Whitney. I am a practicing
0:13.0	retirement planner with over 30 years experience walking life with clients. I'm also founder of
0:19.0	Agile Retirement Management, a retirement planning firm, and I'm excited to hang out with you today and continue this series on year-end action items.
0:26.3	Today in the retirement toolkit, we're going to talk about the rules around inherited IRAs.
0:32.1	And then in our retirement life lab, since we're about a week before Christmas and the holidays. We're going to talk about
0:38.5	how do you have deeper or more enjoyable conversations during the holidays, but even throughout
0:46.0	the years? A good lesson there. I was really impressed with my brother-in-law who shared this
0:49.8	with me. In addition to that, we're going to answer some of your questions. So let's get this party
0:55.1	started. Today in the retirement toolkit, we're going to talk about the rules around inherited
1:03.9	IRAs. So these are IRAs that you inherit because you are named beneficiary from someone that has
1:10.4	passed away.
1:11.8	Now, these rules fundamentally changed in 2019 with the Secure Act, and they become more complicated.
1:20.0	So if you've inherited an IRA or a Roth IRA, we'll touch on those two, or you think you're
1:25.8	going to, it's important that you understand these rules so you can not run a foul of the IRS and incur a penalty.
1:35.5	And that happens all the time.
1:38.6	So this is somewhat complicated.
1:40.8	We're going to do this verbally and you might be running or doing the dishes or
1:44.2	driving. Whatever it is you do when we hang out. I'd love to know what that is, actually. We're going to
1:49.8	share a resource in our weekly email, The Noodle. Now, the noodle is our newsletter that comes out
1:57.4	every Saturday morning that goes deeper with coaching insights and get links
2:02.3	to the show, but you also get curated resources. And in this case, we're going to share a flow
	...

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