The House is expected to vote Thursday on the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019. Among the bill's provisions is one that would simplify the process for small businesses setting up retirement plans and another that would increase the required minimum distribution age.

The IRS has once again revised its stance on pension buyouts and no longer seeks to prohibit lump-sum payouts to retired participants, write attorneys Robert Bloink and William Byrnes. They note that advisors can play a critical role in helping people decide whether a lump-sum payment is best for them.

The Federal Reserve is monitoring growth of corporate debt and likely consequences if business conditions deteriorate, but so far it presents a moderate risk to the US economy, Chairman Jerome Powell said. "At the same time, the level of debt certainly could stress borrowers if the economy weakens," he said.

A decline in the value of cryptocurrency over the past year has created estate-tax planning opportunities for those with significant holdings, writes Eric Jansen of Finivi. He recommends using bypass or grantor retained annuity trusts to significantly reduce future income taxes for heirs.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has authorized Precidian Investments to offer a type of actively managed exchange-traded fund that isn't required to make public its portfolio every day. This clears the way for companies that want to offer similar nontransparent ETFs.

Advisors often overlook portability in estate planning, a strategy that allows a surviving spouse to inherit a deceased spouse's estate-tax exemption, essentially doubling it. To be eligible for portability, clients must file tax form 706 within nine months of the death.

Certain financial mistakes can lead to regret later in life. Here is a look at how to avoid missteps related to Social Security, retirement savings and other issues.

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