Should I do Roth conversions?
Retirement
Roth conversions can be powerful when current marginal rates are lower than expected future rates, when there's room in a lower bracket, or when reducing future required minimum distributions matters.
What a conversion does
Moving pre-tax dollars into a Roth account creates current taxable income but eliminates future tax on growth and withdrawals. The tradeoff is paying tax now to avoid tax later.
When it tends to make sense
A gap year between jobs, an early retirement window before Social Security, expectations of higher future tax rates, or large pre-tax balances that will create big future RMDs.
When it usually doesn't
Currently in a peak earning year with no foreseeable lower-rate window, no cash outside the IRA to pay the conversion tax, or short time horizon to recoup the prepaid tax.
What people often get wrong
- Converting in a peak earning year without modeling first
- Paying conversion tax from inside the IRA
- Ignoring state tax differences if relocation is planned
What to think about next
- Model your projected future bracket and compare to current.
- Identify any low-income windows in the next 5-10 years.
- Plan conversions to the top of a target bracket, not in arbitrary chunks.
When to consider working with a CFP®
Working with a CFP® can help when these decisions feel intertwined, taxes, investments, cash flow, and life goals tend to move together, and a planning relationship can offer structure, prioritization, and accountability over time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are backdoor Roths the same as conversions?
Mechanically similar, but used to bypass IRA contribution income limits. They're a smaller-scale tactic, not a strategic conversion plan.
Talk to a CFP® who works with high earners.
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