2026 AWMA Exam Practice Test – Full Preparation Guide

Required Minimum Distributions are the minimum yearly withdrawals you must take from many tax‑deferred retirement accounts once you reach a certain age. The SECURE Act changed the starting age from 70½ to 72 for most such accounts, so for most people you begin taking RMDs by the year you turn 72 (first distribution due by April 1 of that year). This rule applies to traditional IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and similar plans. Roth IRAs aren’t subject to RMDs during the original owner’s lifetime, though inherited Roths have their own RMD rules. There are historical edge cases based on birth dates, but today the practical standard is that RMDs start at 72 for many retirement accounts.