Is a Roth Conversion Right for Me?
There is story after story about people who come into a bunch of money.
Where problems can arise is when they don’t know what to do with it, they don’t understand the concept of money, and they don’t know how much they can safely spend. Simply put, there is no plan in place other than receiving the money and start spending.
When you’re working you have a paycheck that comes in every month. Taxes are already withheld, money has gone into your 401(k), and you know how much you can spend. When you get into retirement, maybe you have money in an IRA, Roth IRA, inherited IRA, or an already taxed account. The question is, how much can you safely spend, after taxes have been paid, and ensure you that you don’t run out of money? That’s the big question and what most people want the answer to.
Reducing Your Tax Burden
One of the ways that we have found that you can spend more money in retirement is by reducing that tax burden. It has nothing to do with investments, it’s just reducing the tax burden. In order to do that you have to understand the immense tax code and the section covering IRAs and 401(k)s.
“A lot of times people read something and they are like, ‘I’m going to do this Roth Conversion!’ as if it’s going to be a magic cure-all and all of the sudden their retirement is going to be fabulous, but it’s a lot more complicated than that.”– JoAnn Huber, CFP®, CPA
Roth Conversions as Method of Tax Reduction
A method that we see that may be a good idea to use in some situations, but not every situation, is converting money after retirement from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. People talk about that Roth Conversion strategy, but yet we still see people making mistakes with that method before they come in and put together their financial plan. They just think, “Well, I read somewhere that taking my money out of the traditional and putting it in the Roth was a good idea, so I just did it.” What they may not have considered is what is the right amount to convert? Do you do it all at once? Do you spread it out over a number of years?
Is a Roth Conversion Right for Me?
According to JoAnn Huber, Partner, CFP®, CPA, “There’s so many factors to look at with conversions. You know, a lot of times people read something and they are like, ‘I’m going to do this Roth Conversion!’ as if it’s going to be a magic cure-all and all of the sudden their retirement is going to be fabulous, but it’s a lot more complicated than that. You have to consider how it fits into your overall financial plan.”
RMDs are a Factor in Determining if a Roth Conversion is Right for You
Another significant factor in conversions is the window of opportunity because by the time you turn 70 ½ that window is almost closed from the standpoint that you must begin taking RMDs (require minimum distributions). And, if you haven’t done any conversions prior to that then all that money that is taxable will continue to be taxable.
JoAnn continues, “I think we’re in a situation this year with the changes in the tax law where we have the lower tax rate, that even some people that are over age 70 ½, it may make sense to do Roth Conversions.”
JoAnn and Dean Barber discussed Roth Conversions in our recent The Guided Retirement Show podcast episode, “What Retirees Need to Know About Roth Conversions.” Make sure to listen here, on YouTube, or on your favorite podcast app. Don’t forget to subscribe for more!
Point is, IRA conversions are complicated and can affect your entire plan if you don’t make sure the conversion works for your plan. So, Roth conversions aren’t always right for everyone. If you’re thinking about your IRA and aren’t sure what your next step is, we’re here to help! Our financial advisors and CPAs in Kansas City can break-down your plan and help guide you in the right direction with your IRA, no cost and no-obligation. Schedule a complimentary consultation below or give our office in Lenexa a call, at 913-393-1000.
Schedule Complimentary Consultation
Select the office you would like to meet with. We can meet in-person, by virtual meeting, or by phone. Then it’s just two simple steps to schedule a time for your Complimentary Consultation.
Lenexa Office Lee’s Summit Office North Kansas City Office
Investment advisory services offered through Modern Wealth Management, Inc., an SEC Registered Investment Adviser.
The views expressed represent the opinion of Modern Wealth Management an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Information provided is for illustrative purposes only and does not constitute investment, tax, or legal advice. Modern Wealth Management does not accept any liability for the use of the information discussed. Consult with a qualified financial, legal, or tax professional prior to taking any action.