Things To Do In SW Florida

Unfortunately, the SECURE Act of 2019 made it more difficult for the beneficiaries of IRAs and other retirement accounts to postpone distributions from these inherited accounts; no longer can most non-spouse heirs “stretch” these accounts out over their lifetimes and thereby preserve favorable tax deferral options.

Instead, as a result of the new law, if you inherit an IRA from someone who is not your spouse, you generally must withdraw the assets in the account within 10 years. The 10-year rule applies to both traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs, and for most beneficiaries the law change has limited the possibilities of tax-deferred growth.

On the other hand, regulations associated with the SECURE Act have made life insurance options more attractive for estate planning. Ed Slott, a recognized retirement and IRA expert, argues that life insurance “is not only the single biggest benefit in the tax code, but is also the most cost-effective way to protect a large IRA” for beneficiaries.

According to Slott, the SECURE Act makes life insurance a much better estate planning vehicle than an IRA. Those with high-value IRAs who wish to preserve wealth for their heirs should consider drawing down IRA funds at the lowest possible tax cost and moving funds earmarked for beneficiaries to life insurance. read more

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — OpenAI says it will soon start showing advertisements to ChatGPT users who aren’t paying for a premium version of the chatbot.

The artificial intelligence company said Friday it hasn’t yet rolled out ads but will start testing them in the coming weeks.

It’s the latest effort by the San Francisco-based company to make money from ChatGPT’s more than 800 million users, most of whom get it for free.

Though valued at $500 billion, the startup loses more money than it makes and has been looking for ways to turn a profit.

OpenAI said the digital ads will appear at the bottom of ChatGPT’s answers “when there’s a relevant sponsored product or service based on your current conversation.”

The ads “will be clearly labeled and separated from the organic answer,” the company said.

The state’s quarterly theme-park injury report for the final three months of 2025 includes a previously undisclosed Nov. 25 death following a ride on Revenge of the Mummy, an indoor roller coaster at Universal Studios Florida.

An unidentified 70-year-old woman was unresponsive and later died at the hospital, according to the report compiled by the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services. The state’s major theme parks self-report about visitors injured on rides if they result in at least 24 hours of hospitalization.

The summary “reflects only the information reported at the time of the incident,” the report says. “Due to privacy-related concerns, the department does not receive updates to initial assessments of a patron’s condition.”

A Universal spokesperson said via e-mail that the company does not comment on pending claims. The Orlando Sentinel has requested records for the scene and date from the Orlando Police Department and the Orange County Medical Examiner, but has not been provided those records. read more

By CHRISTOPHER RUGABER, Associated Press Economics Writer

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department’s investigation into Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell has brought heightened attention to a key drama that will play out at the central bank in the coming months: Will Powell leave the Fed when his term as chair ends, or will he take the unusual step of remaining a governor?

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Powell’s term as Fed chair finishes on May 15, but because of the central bank’s complex structure, he has a separate term as one of seven members of its governing board that lasts until January 31, 2028. Historically, nearly all Fed chairs have stepped down from the board when they are no longer chair. But Powell could be the first in nearly 50 years to stay on as a governor. read more

By DAMIAN J. TROISE, AP Business Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — Stocks wavered in morning trading on Wall Street Friday as the first week of corporate earnings season closes out with markets trading near record levels.

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The S&P 500 was mostly unchanged after shifting between small gains and losses. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 37 points, or 0.1%, as of 11:06 a.m. Eastern. The Nasdaq composite was also mostly unchanged.

Technology stocks were the strongest forces behind the market’s moves. Most stocks within the S&P 500 were losing ground, but several big technology stocks made strong gains and countered losses elsewhere. read more