The inclusion of Roth Conversions into a comprehensive financial plan requires the advisor to balance tax liabilities, income needs, and estate planning objectives for their clients. Recently, an advisor at Grimes & Company came across a client situation and we’ve decided to highlight how they conducted their analysis, and why they recommended a Roth Conversion.
Melissa and Jack, aged 64 and 66 respectively, will be retiring within the year and are seeking advice on optimizing their financial plan. They have a current net worth of $3.8 million, with $2.8 million liquid split between Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, Traditional IRAs and taxable brokerage accounts. After careful consideration and planning, they feel comfortable waiting to file for Social Security until age 70 to maximize their benefit.
Planning under the assumption that both Melissa and Jack will be retiring this year, we first examined their income needs prior to Social Security. Upon retirement, Jack will be filing for his pension benefit, which should account for roughly 40% of their income needs until they file for Social Security. The remaining 60% will be made up of their cash savings as well as dividends and interest from their taxable brokerage account. If needed, they will be dipping into principal from this account. From a tax perspective, they are projected to hit the 12% bracket (Married File Jointly) prior to taking Social Security and their Required Minimum Distributions. Afterwards, they will potentially push into the 24% bracket (Figure 1).
Figure 1: Income Sources and Tax Brackets Without Roth Conversion
Now that we have determined their projected income will meet their expense level during the period post-retirement and pre-Social Security, we reviewed their primary long-term goal of leaving a tax-efficient legacy for their children. To achieve this, we analyzed filling out the 12% tax bracket by adding roughly a $90,000 conversion per year upon retirement until Jack files for Social Security, and an additional $50,000 per year until Melissa files for her benefit. This strategy increases their short-term tax liability since any dollar withdrawn from their tax-deferred accounts will be taxed at their earned income brackets. However, as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2, it will significantly lower their long-term tax liability. Additionally, Roth conversions benefit future heirs by allowing them to inherit Roth accounts and receive funds distributed tax-free over a ten-year period, which is particularly advantageous if the heir is in a high tax bracket, ensuring the legacy left is tax efficient.
Figure 2: Income Sources and Tax Brackets with Roth Conversion
The largest unknown in this scenario is centered around market returns. Since Melissa and Jack have a sizable taxable account, from an investment perspective, we will have to monitor their realized gains and taxable dividends and interest annually to account for this variable. Additionally, we will work with their accountant to determine the exact amount of the conversion, filling up the 12% bracket without pushing into the 22% bracket (see Figure 3). This approach allows them to manage their tax burden while taking advantage of relatively low tax rates.
Figure 3: Federal Income and IRMAA Tax Brackets
In this example, both Melissa and Jack are projected to be well below the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) Medicare premiums for higher-income earners during their Roth Conversion years, as shown in Figure 3. It is important to note that this analysis does not take into consideration state and local taxes, as they may vary greatly among clients, but would need to be taken into consideration when considering this strategy. Additionally, when Melissa and Jack officially retire, they will need to fill out a Life-Changing Event Form (SSA-44) to have Medicare adjust their calculations, as their premiums will be based on their Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) from two years prior.
Every client’s situation is unique, and recommendations must be tailored to their individual preferences and circumstances. We highlighted this situation, as it comes up frequently, however, it isn’t the only time we recommend clients to utilize Roth Conversions. Some clients may prioritize tax efficiency, while others may value flexibility or legacy planning. In this example, Melissa and Jack were able to meet their cash flow demands post-retirement and prior to starting Social Security and Required Minimum Distributions as well as achieve their long-term goal to leave a tax-efficient legacy for their children. While their asset allocation does not change, at least in a traditional stock vs. bond sense, the distribution of their assets across taxable, tax-deferred and tax-free accounts changes drastically, per Figure 4.
Figure 4: Asset Values in 2057, by Location
Roth conversions offer significant long-term benefits, including tax-free growth and withdrawals, reduced future RMDs, and potential estate planning advantages. However, there are trade-offs to consider when recommending a Roth conversion. Assessing these trade-offs helps determine whether the benefits of a Roth conversion outweigh the costs for the client’s specific situation. In this situation, the client goals allowed us to provide a recommendation that aligned with their priorities. We encourage all clients to reach out to their advisor if this situation resonates with them or would like to determine if completing a Roth conversion is the right move for their financial picture.
Important Disclosures:
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