With the end of the year approaching, tax planning and charitable giving are probably top of mind for many of your clients. For individuals who are age 70½ and older, a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) could provide a unique opportunity to support the causes they love while possibly minimizing taxes in retirement.

Contributing to a Roth IRA is an extremely efficient way to save for retirement. The earlier a client starts making contributions, the more time there is for the savings to grow tax free. Wouldn’t it be great if younger investors could take advantage of a Roth IRA and start saving in their teenage years? The good news: They can. Depending on the circumstances, your clients may have children who are eligible to open a minor-owned Roth IRA. Here’s what you should know.

Roth IRAs can be extremely efficient retirement savings vehicles. They are funded on an after-tax basis, and as a long as certain requirements are met, distributions are free of tax and penalty.

Clients can fund their Roth IRA in one of two ways: via annual Roth contributions or by converting assets from a qualified plan or another type of IRA they already own. But whereas annual Roth contributions are subject to modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) limits, Roth conversions are not. It’s one of the reasons any of your clients could decide to convert assets to a Roth IRA.

For beneficiaries who inherit IRA assets, there are a variety of options available for transferring funds from a deceased individual’s account. Unfortunately, having too many choices can complicate an already difficult situation. But what if you could help ensure a smooth and less stressful transition for your clients? By understanding the intricacies of the transfer process and the rules involved, you can do just that.

With this in mind, here are nine questions (and answers) to help you and your clients better understand IRA transfers and beneficiary distribution accounts (IRA-BDAs).