The benefits of Roth conversions have always been hotly debated among financial professionals. Some feel that Roth conversions benefit only younger individuals who are likely to have many years of tax-free growth. Others feel that anyone regardless of their age can be a good candidate for a Roth conversion, depending on their personal circumstances. Unfortunately, it’s the consumer who is frequently overlooked during these heated discussions. And many consumers just want to know, why does it make sense to pay taxes any sooner than you have to?
As many of you know, I have been an advocate of Roth conversions since they were first written in to law. I even wrote a book about the power of Roth IRAs and Roth IRA conversions called, The Roth Revolution. Since that book was written, changes in the tax law, as well as proposed changes ito future law, have forced us to evaluate many more factors when we recommend Roth conversions for our clients. Do we still recommend Roth conversions? Certainly! But the benefits of the conversion in some cases may not be as significant as they were in the past. Additionally. taxpayers who would otherwise be eligible for certain tax credits, including health care subsidies, may find themselves disqualified from receiving them in the year that their income increases because of the conversion.
Chapter 7 introduces an important concept called purchasing power, which I believe provides a better measure of the Roth advantage than by simply measuring the dollars in the account, as well as changes in the laws that you need to consider before making a new Roth conversion. If you have already done a conversion, this chapter also contains valuable information on how the beneficiaries of your existing Roth account may be affected by proposed legislation.
How do you feel about the long-term outlook for the Social Security system? Will it go bankrupt? My next post will address some ideas to give you a guaranteed income for life.
Stop back soon!
Jim
A nationally recognized IRA, Roth IRA conversion, and 401(k) expert, he is a regular speaker to both consumers and professional organizations. Jim is the creator of the Lange Cascading Beneficiary Plan™, a benchmark in retirement planning with the flexibility and control it offers the surviving spouse, and the founder of The Roth IRA Institute, created to train and educate financial advisors.
Jim’s strategies have been endorsed by The Wall Street Journal (33 times), Newsweek, Money Magazine, Smart Money, Reader’s Digest, Bottom Line, and Kiplinger’s. His articles have appeared in Bottom Line, Trusts and Estates Magazine, Financial Planning, The Tax Adviser, Journal of Retirement Planning, and The Pennsylvania Lawyer magazine.
Jim is the best-selling author of Retire Secure! (Wiley, 2006 and 2009), endorsed by Charles Schwab, Larry King, Ed Slott, Jane Bryant Quinn, Roger Ibbotson and The Roth Revolution, Pay Taxes Once and Never Again endorsed by Ed Slott, Natalie Choate and Bob Keebler.
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