Questions & Answers
Plain-English answers — no jargon.
Roth conversions, in plain English
It's moving money from a traditional (pre-tax) IRA or 401(k) into a Roth account. You pay income tax on the amount you move now, and in return that money — and all its future growth — can come out completely tax-free in retirement.
Educational only — not personalized tax advice.
That's the instinct almost everyone has — and it's the most expensive one in retirement. Here's the catch: the tax you "saved" by deferring was never really saved. It was borrowed. The IRS is a co-owner of your traditional IRA, and they get to set their rate later — when required withdrawals, the loss of a spouse, or your heirs' peak-earning years may have pushed the money into a higher bracket than you're in today. A Roth conversion is about choosing to settle up on your terms, in years you control, instead of theirs. Whether it's actually worth it depends entirely on your numbers — which is exactly what the calculators and the AI are here to show you.
Educational only — not personalized tax advice.
No — and anyone who tells you to convert before they've seen your numbers is giving you a sales pitch, not advice. For some people the right move is a large conversion; for others it's a small one; and for some, the right answer is to do nothing at all. The whole point of running your numbers is to find out which one you are. We'd genuinely rather tell you not to convert than hand you a strategy that doesn't fit.
Educational only — not personalized tax advice.
Every dollar in a traditional IRA or 401(k) has a built-in future tax bill — the government is a silent partner in your account. You haven't paid tax on that money yet, so a chunk of your balance isn't really yours. A Roth conversion is one way to buy that partner out on your terms.
Educational only — not personalized tax advice.
When one spouse passes away, the survivor usually files taxes as single instead of married. Single brackets are tighter, so the same income can be taxed at a higher rate — right when required withdrawals are often at their largest. Planning ahead can soften that jump.
Educational only — not personalized tax advice.
Most non-spouse heirs who inherit a traditional IRA now have to empty it within 10 years — often during their own peak earning years, stacked on top of their salary. That can push a big inheritance into high tax brackets. Roth dollars your heirs inherit come out tax-free instead.
Educational only — not personalized tax advice.
Tax rates may be permanent now, but your personal window isn't. Each year you wait can mean a larger traditional IRA, higher future required withdrawals, fewer low-income years left to convert, more Medicare-premium (IRMAA) exposure, a bigger taxable inheritance for your children, and less flexibility after one spouse dies.
Educational only — not personalized tax advice.
Using Roth Accelerator
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Every answer is grounded in source-verified 2026 tax figures — it won't guess when it shouldn't. The results are illustrative 2026 snapshots to show you the shape of your situation, not personalized advice. For your exact plan, you can get a free retirement & tax review.
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