Podcasts about backdoor roth

One deployment. $87,000 into Roth accounts. Never taxed going in, never taxed coming out — and if you're 25, that grows to roughly $1.5 million by 60 without a dollar of federal income tax. In this solo episode, Spencer Reese breaks down the military mega backdoor Roth: the combat-zone strategy that lets you blow past the normal TSP limit using tax-exempt CZTE pay and the Roth in-plan conversions that became available in January 2026. He walks through the exact myPay percentages, the monthly conversion rhythm, and the mistakes that can lock you out of contributions or cost you the BRS match. Questions Answered What is the combat zone tax exclusion (CZTE), and who qualifies? What's the difference between traditional and Roth contributions? Which two limits make this strategy work — and why doesn't CZTE pay count against the elective deferral limit? How much extra TSP space does a combat zone deployment actually open up? What percentages should you set in myPay? What are the Roth in-plan conversion rules and restrictions? Why convert monthly instead of once at the end of the year? What happens to the taxable portion, and how do you pay those taxes? What if you're only deployed six months? Where do people screw this up? What should you change when you get home? Main Topics Covered The triple tax advantage of CZTE pay: tax-free in, tax-free growth, tax-free out 2026 limits: $24,500 elective deferral vs. the $72,000 annual additions limit Why tax-exempt combat zone pay only counts against the higher limit Worked example on $100,000 base pay: ~24–25% to Roth TSP, ~43% to traditional TSP Roth in-plan conversions — up to 26 per calendar year, $500 minimum, $500 must stay behind The pro rata rule and why monthly sweeps beat one December conversion Stacking Roth IRAs on top: $7,500 single / $15,000 married filing jointly Common mistakes: maxing the Roth TSP early and losing the BRS match, the 92% myPay cap that makes DFAS reject the whole transaction, and letting gains pile up before converting The six-month deployment version — still roughly $74,000 into Roth accounts Turning off the extra contributions once you're back home Deploying next year? Pre-loading traditional contributions to convert at a low rate Resources Mentioned Full article + calculator: https://militarymoneymanual.com/max-tsp-contributions-combat-zone/ — or search "military mega backdoor Roth" CZTE area list: irs.gov TSP contribution rules: tsp.gov (contributions section) TSP in-plan Roth conversion guide How to max your TSP and get the full BRS match Savings Deposit Program (SDP) — guaranteed 10% on $10,000 while deployed Book: The Military Money Manual Advertiser Disclosure: This video may contain links through which we are compensated when you click on or are approved for offers. The information in this video was not provided by any of the companies mentioned, and has not been reviewed, approved, or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. All opinions, analyses, and recommendations are the author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline, or hotel chain. Military Money Manual may receive compensation from JPMC.  Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 24,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free, Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual. Offers may be expired: Offers, rates, fees, and benefits are subject to change and may have ended since this video was published — please verify the current terms on the issuer's official website before applying. Terms apply, and all cards are subject to credit approval. Any comments below are from individual users and are not provided, reviewed, approved, or endorsed by any issuer.

When planning for your children's future education, a lack of an upfront state income tax deduction can make saving feel like a raw deal. Nate Reineke breaks down a question from a Florida surgeon tempted to skip 529 plan contributions entirely because the state lacks a state income tax break. We discuss why focusing solely on short-term deductions can miss the benefit of long-term tax-free compounding growth. We also answer your colleagues' questions. A double-doctor family in Kansas says, “We did our Backdoor Roth conversions this year, but I am not sure TurboTax coded it right when we filed. How can I tell?” An anesthesiologist in Oregon asks, “I am applying for disability insurance but there is a lot of paperwork, and I am unsure about how to do this the right way. What should I do?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you're evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

A side hustle can add purpose in retirement, but some risks deserve a closer look. Art McPherson discusses part-time work, consulting, long-term care planning, backdoor Roth conversions, tax strategy, annuities, and the risks of funding a small business or friend’s venture with retirement money. Art explains why planning ahead can reduce financial stress, how Roth strategies require careful tax coordination, and why guaranteed-style income tools may fit some retirement plans. For more information visit www.artofmoney.com! Follow us on social media: YouTube | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could a simple tax strategy create unexpected consequences if it's done incorrectly? On this episode from this past weekend’s radio show, Mike Douglas discusses Roth conversions, backdoor Roth strategies, and the often-overlooked IRS rules that can catch retirees by surprise. He explains how tax planning fits into a broader retirement strategy, why today’s tax environment matters, and how long-term care planning can impact families and retirement savings. The conversation highlights the importance of coordinating tax, income, and legacy planning to help avoid costly mistakes and prepare for the future. Schedule your complimentary appointment today: MichigansRetirementCoach.com Follow us on social media: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedInSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tom's on vacation, but the listener questions are not. In this packed Q&A episode, Don tackles one of the most common retirement dilemmas: if your Social Security and annuity income already cover your expenses, do you still need a traditional emergency fund?From there, the questions keep coming. Don weighs in on what to do with “lazy money” earning only 3%, whether a MYGA is really a better deal than a CD ladder, how to structure a taxable brokerage account for long-term growth, and where to keep nearly $300,000 set aside for a home purchase in the next two to three years.He also takes on a thoughtful question about managing a taxable portfolio for elderly in-laws who need additional income for memory care, and wraps up with a step-by-step explanation of how inherited IRA money can potentially be used to fund backdoor Roth contributions.Along the way, you'll hear why “guaranteed” doesn't always mean what insurance companies want you to think it means, why simplicity often beats ETF overengineering, and why liquidity still matters—even in retirement.0:05 – Intro and why Tom is getting buried in listener questions while on vacation1:14 – Don thanks listeners and mentions Apple featuring Litreading1:58 – How to send recorded questions at TalkingRealMoney.com2:16 – Question 1: Do retired investors still need a six-month emergency fund if Social Security and annuities cover expenses?3:14 – Why Don still favors stable, liquid emergency money even in retirement4:30 – Question 2: What should retirees do with “lazy money” that's earning only about 3%?5:28 – Don's preference for CD ladders over MYGAs and why “guaranteed” doesn't mean risk-free7:33 – Question 3: How should a high-income investor build a long-term taxable portfolio at Vanguard?10:03 – Don's case for simplifying with AVGE or DFAW instead of mixing multiple ETFs11:24 – Question 4: Is a five-year MYGA better than a five-year CD ladder?12:01 – Why Don still leans toward CDs despite the higher MYGA yield and tax deferral pitch14:16 – Question 5: Best place to keep $291,000 earmarked for a home purchase in two to three years14:46 – Money market vs. high-yield savings vs. CDs vs. BND for short-term house money17:04 – Question 6: How to structure a $300,000 taxable portfolio for elderly in-laws who need extra monthly income for memory care18:37 – Why Don would keep lots of liquidity, use only a little equity, and skip muni bonds in a 22% bracket20:50 – Question 7: Can inherited IRA proceeds be used to fund a backdoor Roth for both spouses?22:40 – Don's step-by-step answer, including opening new IRAs and watching out for the pro-rata rule25:07 – Don plugs The Line Uncrossed and offers a free one-hour advisor meeting25:42 – Reminder to send questions and be patient while Tom is on vacationQuestions? Comments? Click!

Listener Q&A where Andy talks about: Are tax return amendments needed if info from a 1099-R was left out but doesn't impact the return's gross or taxable income ( 4:08 )What are the pros and cons of using average cost basis tracking for mutual funds ( 8:36 )Tax implications of nonqualified annuities and surrendering vs annuitizing it ( 13:55 )Is there a more optimized way to pay taxes on in-plan Roth conversions as opposed to having additional taxes withheld from your paycheck ( 23:21 )Thoughts on using "reverse budgeting" to figure out how much you spend, instead of manually adding up all of the line items of actual expenses you have ( 28:28 )How to properly report on your tax return a disability exception to the 10% IRA early withdrawal penalty if the custodian won't reflect the exception on the 1099-R ( 34:31 )How much is too much to pay a financial advisor who charges a percent of assets under management, and thoughts on only rolling some of a 401(k) to an advisor and managing the rest on your own ( 40:23 )Options/insurance to help cover expenses for dental, vision, and hearing since traditional Medicare doesn't cover those things ( 47:46 )When to consider getting a financial advisor (or at least getting a one-time financial plan done) ( 52:06 )How to properly report on your tax return a SEPP (Substantially Equal Periodic Payment) exception to the 10% IRA early withdrawal penalty if the custodian won't reflect the exception on the 1099-R ( 58:00 )Thoughts on retiring from Oklahoma to a high cost of living place like New York City (to be near kids and grandkids) ( 1:02:02 )To send Andy questions to be addressed on future Q&A episodes, email andy@andypanko.comLinks in this episode:Tenon Financial monthly newsletter/blog - Retirement Planning InsightsYouTube channel - Retirement Planning Education (formerly Retirement Planning Demystified)Retirement Planning Education website - www.RetirementPlanningEducation.com

When you change jobs, a rollover rep may offer to help move your old retirement account, stressing how much control you'll have over your investment options in an IRA. But is that what this decision is really about?Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones take a question from an OBGYN in South Carolina moving about $400,000 from former employers. A rollover rep is steering them toward an IRA instead of their new 403(b). Nate and Chelsea unpack what that call is really offering: an account with potentially higher investment management fees, plus a tax wrinkle many physicians miss. Pre-tax dollars in a traditional IRA can complicate a future Backdoor Roth. Rolling old funds into the new 403(b) is often worth a look, though the right move depends on your situation. We also answer your colleagues' questions. An Emergency Medicine Doc in Washington wonders, “We have about $5,000 in credit card debt, no emergency fund, and we want to start investing. Should we crush the debt, build savings, or start investing first?” An Orthopedic Surgeon in Ohio asks, “I have a practice partnership buy-in coming in about two years, and it looks like I'll either have to pay cash or take a roughly cut-in-half salary for two years to fund it. Should I take the salary reduction, or find another way?” An Orthopedic Surgeon in New York says, “I'm thinking about a "coast FIRE" approach or a mini-retirement so I can be more present while our kids are still at home. Is it financially feasible for us to pause or scale back mid-career?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into a plan for college and retirement? If you're evaluating your options and want to learn more, visit physicianfamily.com and click 'Get Started' or you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

In this episode, John and Nick explain the Mega Backdoor Roth strategy and how high-income savers may be able to contribute significantly more to Roth accounts through their workplace retirement plans. They break down the rules, requirements, and potential tax benefits, while highlighting who may benefit most from this advanced retirement planning strategy.   Helpful Information: PFG Website: https://www.pfgprivatewealth.com/ Contact: 813-286-7776 Email: info@pfgprivatewealth.com   Disclaimer: PFG Private Wealth Management, LLC is an SEC Registered Investment Advisor. Information presented is for educational purposes only and does not intend to make an offer or solicitation for the sale or purchase of any specific securities, investments, or investment strategies. The topics and information discussed during this podcast are not intended to provide tax or legal advice. Investments involve risk, and unless otherwise stated, are not guaranteed. Be sure to first consult with a qualified financial advisor and/or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed on this podcast. Past performance is not indicative of future performance. Insurance products and services are offered and sold through individually licensed and appointed insurance agents.   Marc: This week on Retirement Planning Redefined, part two of our conversation about the backdoor Roth IRA. This is the mega backdoor Roth. Let's get into that conversation with John and Nick.   Hey, everybody. Welcome into the podcast. This is Retirement Planning Redefined with John and Nick from PFG Private Wealth. Find the guys online at pfgprivatewealth.com. That's pfgprivatewealth.com. And it sounds like something, guys, out of a, I don't know, out of a superhero story or something. It's the mega backdoor Roth. And that's the topic of the conversation this week. So we're just going to dive right in because there's a lot to cover anyway. So we'll just jump in and get going.   I guess, Nick, if you want, why don't you talk to us, give us a really, really short recap of what we talked about last week for those who may have not listened to that podcast. And then what's to understand what to do if you want more than the IRA limits and just kind of set us up here a little bit for understanding the mega backdoor Roth.   Nick: Sure. So just a quick recap on a Roth IRA and the benefits of it. So contributions typically are with after tax dollars. So income that has already been taxed. The account grows tax deferred, so you don't receive a 1099 each year. And then the withdrawals are tax-free after 59 and a half. The Roth IRAs do not require required minimum distributions, which are nice. And they're a great place to have more of your growth oriented assets because of the tax-free upside and the fact that you can leave a tax-free account to your beneficiaries.   Marc: Gotcha. And I guess some confusion here, guys, and help me out to understand this a little bit, is that we've been thinking about the Roth. We typically just, I've been saying just the Roth, that's the IRA. But because they have now created the Roth 401Ks, that adds a little confusion to the conversation as well. It's always funny because the word contribution and contribution, excuse me, and conversion confuse people. So it just confused me right now. But also 401, the Roth 401k and then the Roth IRA is now confusing people as well too. So are we talking a little bit more about on this episode, that mega backdoor Roth being from the workplace plan? Is that what we're looking at here?   John: Yeah. So we'll have to leave the IRA world and jump into the 401k plans where they have much larger contribution limits, which is where we get our superhero work.   Marc: The mega term. Okay. Yeah.   John: Exactly. We could do a lot more of what we discussed last week. So if you like the benefits Nick went over, this is a great way to really maximize those benefits.   Marc: Okay. Well, let's start with the limits. What are the limits? I guess again, we're in the 401k plan now.   John: Yeah. So for 2026, under the age of 50, standard contribution limit is 24,500. There is a catch-up, and for today's purpose, we'll just talk about the standard contribution. When you are talking catch-ups, just whatever we're discussing, add the catch-up to it. But for today's purpose, to keep it simple because we are going to do a deep dive into some of these numbers, let's just assume standard contribution limit, which for this year, 24,500. And what a lot of people aren't aware of because it typically doesn't apply is your total limit to the 401k contributions. Now this is employee and employer is actually 72,000 for 2026, and that gets adjusted up every year similar to the standard contribution limits.   Marc: Oh, okay. Wow, that is a big number.   John: Yeah, it's mega.   Marc: Yeah, it's mega. Yeah. So why would the IRS build a $72,000 ceiling if they cap the personal down so low? So I guess what's the other 47,500?   John: Yeah. So one of the things that we focus on is 401ks, which comes with employee benefits, perks, things like that. And some people hear the term matches quite a bit.   Marc: Sure.   John: Another one is profit sharings. So that $72,000 limit is basically the IRS saying, hey, the employee can do this amount, and if the employer's going to give X amount of benefits, it really can't go over this $72,000 threshold. So that's pretty much what it is. The IRS basically said, hey, let's put some limits to this so we can't over commit to people or do ... They want to be able to provide a benefit, but not go crazy with it. So that's where we get the number.   Nick: And to kind of summarize that, a away to think about it is that there are standard limits for the employee contributions. And sometimes as an example, we've seen clients say, we've told them, especially new clients, like, "Oh, well, I'm maxing it out when you include the employer match." And it's like, no, those contributions are for your dollars. And then this overall maximum amount that John's referring to is a combination of employee and employee dollars. So it's like two separate tranches within the same year of the same plan.   John: To confuse everyone a little bit more, part of that 72,000 is, if your plan allows it, and we'll dive into this, is what they call the after tax contribution to a 401k. And I know we hit it last week, but that is something that goes into this feature, which is actually older than a Roth 401k, but it's not used very often or not many people are very aware of it, but we'll jump into it today.   Marc: Okay. So the mega backdoor strategy is the employee kind of hacking, if you will, this potentially unused space. So can one of you guys maybe do a numbers example where it maybe will make a little bit more sense for folks?   Nick: Sure. I'll kind of break it down and give an example. So let's say that there's a 40-year-old and because they're under age 50, their standard contribution into their retirement plan is going to be 24,500, so around two grand a month. In this case, their employer matches and the total amount of the match throughout the year is 10,500. So when you combine those two amounts, the total balance for the year, not including any gains or growth is going to be the total amount contributed is $35,000 for the year. So when we go back to that aggregate ceiling that John mentioned, the 72,000. So with our basic math, and if you're not good at basic math, now we have AI that helps us.   Marc: You got 37 grand basically, right?   Nick: Yep. So 72 minus 35 is $37,000. That is the gap or kind of the unused space below the IRS guideline. So that's the number that we can target should the plan allow it to build in or if you have ... All this is dependent upon cash flow, of course, but if you have the cash flow to be able to save additional money into the plan.   Marc: Gotcha. Okay. So that makes a little bit more sense, right? So you've got that space. It's almost kind of like filling up your tax brackets before you move to the next tax bracket, if you want to think about it that way, not to add more confusion to it.   John: Yeah. It's like filling up your gas in your tank here. I got this gap here. Let me, with the rest of this, like we said, Nick said, I said, if the plan allows it, I can do some after tax contribution up to that ceiling.   Marc: So all right, with the Roth 401k existing now, and those contribution numbers are higher, because part of the reason for this hybrid guys, when they made the Roth 401k is you get the income limits of a traditional 401k, but you get the Roth benefits of the Roth IRA. That's why they kind of merged these two together because people often say, "Hey, I make too much money to use a Roth IRA." But the Roth 401k is higher. Isn't this just what this is, just a contribution to a 401k? It kind of feels like it.   John: It's not because the Roth 401k is a formal tax designation that falls under that standard contribution limit, that 24,500.   Marc: Okay. All right. Back to the standard 24. Okay. Yeah.   John: Yeah. Yeah. So kind of think about it that way. It's that, hey, your pre-tax 401k contribution and the Roth 401k contribution are subject to that standard contribution limit, which in 2026 it's 24,500. And with the Roth 401k, it's after tax money and growth is tax deferred and tax-free distribution. Where the after tax, and we talked about that in detail, it's after tax contribution, but the growth is tax deferred, but the growth if pulled out will be taxed, the earnings on that. So again, kind of caveat to understand the difference between those two contribution types.   Marc: Gotcha.   Nick: Yeah. And in general, a lot of the podcasts that we do are focused on broader base impacts a lot of people. This is definitely a niche sort of strategy. There's not a huge percent of the population that has, number one, the ability to do this in the plan, but also the cashflow to do it.   Marc: Gotcha.   Nick: But for those that do, it can be a massive, massive edge on what they're trying to accomplish.   Marc: Yeah. Well, especially with that aggregate number, right? So the rules, they're not as genus or generous, I should say, I guess as they are.   John: Yeah, exactly. They won't let us take advantage of too much stuff. So basically it's like, hey, again, if the plan allows it, you can do more contribution, but it will be taxed when it comes out of the earnings portion of that.   Marc: Okay. So to clarify, if I got this right based on Nick's example a second ago, that extra $37,000 gap, again, just to kind of recap, we had that we put in 24,500, the company did 10,500 for total of 35,000, 72 is the aggregate there. So left us with that $37,000 gap. So if I drop 37,000 of after tax into that gap, I'll get hit for taxes on all the compound interest of that growth when I pull it out, correct?   John: Correct. Yes.   Marc: Gotcha. Okay.   John: Yeah. Which is the difference with the Roth where everything's tax-free.   Marc: Yeah. So every dollar gets taxed.   John: Every earning dollar gets taxed.   Marc: Earning dollar. Okay. All right.   John: Yeah.   Marc: So this after tax contribution isn't the destination, it's just the first step, sounds like.   John: Pretty much, yeah.   Marc: Okay. All right. What else?   John: So step two would be the actual conversion or the conversion or basically putting these funds into the Roth account, whether it's a Roth 401k or Roth IRA and we'll go over the two different ways you can do it. So that would be the next step is converting it or transferring it before there's any gains similar to what we discussed last week. Once there's gains in this after tax contribution and growth, now it's subject to taxes. So you want to do an immediate conversion or transfer to either to a Roth style bucket. I want to give an example of not converting immediately, what happens in that situation. So let's say you do an after tax contribution of $10,000 dollars and you forget to convert it. And that $10,000 now grows to $15,000. So you have $10,000 is your cost basis, what you put into it and $5,000 is gained. So if you do the conversion after you have that gain of $5,000, your taxable income goes up by the taxable gain amount, which is the 5 grand. So you're taxable income goes up by 5 grand, so you want to make sure you do the conversion immediately to avoid that additional tax hit from happening.     Marc: Gotcha.   John: And then once it's in that Roth bucket, basically everything is tax-free and tax-deferred, tax-free, and subject to the Roth rules.   Marc: Yeah, the age rules and time rules, all that good stuff.   John: Yeah.   Marc: So John, can everyone do this?   John: Yeah, so I'm going to give you the annoying answer of it depends, and it depends on if your 401 k has particular features to it. And one of those features are, does the 401 k allow for after tax non Roth 401 k contributions? Okay, so you have to check that, so that'd be a question to the plan administrator, HR, whoever handles it. So, if that is allowed, the next question is, can you do the conversion? And there's two ways you can do the conversion with with these 401 k plans. Option one is you do an in-service rollover and you roll the funds out to your Roth IRA, and it converts once it rolls out to your Roth IRA. Okay. Option two is you do an in-plan 401 k Roth conversion, so all the money stays within the plan.   Marc: Gotcha.   John: Okay, let's kind of review the in-service rollover strategy. So, while you're working, you're still employed, so that's where the in-service comes into play. What you would do is call up the provider and say, "Hey, I'd like to roll out these after-tax contribution funds to my Roth IRA. Again, outside of the plan you're rolling it out. So, when you do that, it creates the conversion when that happens. So, once it goes from the after-tax contribution in the 401 k goes to your Roth IRA. Now the funds grow as if it's a Roth IRA.   Marc: Now it's Roth money, right? Okay,   John: Correct. So that completes that transaction. So something to be aware of, and we talked about this last time when we talked about the back door Roth with the Roth IRA is the pro rata rule. When you do it this way, the pro rata rule applies. If you have pre-tax IRA, there's not to confuse everyone even more, but there's a formula involved. If you have pre-tax IRA money and you do the conversion this way, there is some type of formula. So, again, meet with the CPA, your financial advisor, if you're going to do this type of strategy while you have a pre-tax individual retirement account, IRA balance, okay,   Marc: Geat, yeah, great disclosure there to make, make note of. So, good point there, John. What if your plan doesn't allow that?   John: Yeah, so let's say you, your plan doesn't allow the in-service rollover, in-service withdrawal, whatever you want to call it, or you're not eligible to do it because you know certain plans you have to be above the age 59 and a half to do that. So, okay, recapping, your plan isn't - you're not eligible to take advantage of the in-service withdrawal slash rollover in your plan. The next thing you want to look at is, okay, does my plan allow for in-plan Roth conversions? So, that would be where everything stays within the 401 k hub, and what you're doing is you're converting the after-tax dollars right into the Roth 401 k funds. Okay, so it's pretty simple here. The money goes in after tax, and then you do the conversion within the plan, and now it shows up into your Roth 401 k balance. So, it doesn't create a taxable event, then doesn't create a taxable event, because well, let's backtrack. If you do the conversion immediately before there's any gains on the after-tax funds, it does not create a taxable event in that situation.   Marc: Gotcha. Okay.   John: All right. Okay. And something to note here, and I referenced the pro rata rule on if it goes to a Roth IRA within the 401 k, that pro rata rule does not apply. Okay, so that's a nice benefit of keeping it within the plan, is you don't have to worry about that formula if you have pre-tax balances.   Marc: Gotcha. Okay, there's a lot to digest, for sure.   John: It is. And actually, some plans I was just working with someone, and their plan actually had basically automatic conversions, so it was a feature where daily any money that hit the after-tax account would automatically convert to the Roth 401 k, so it basically could put on autopilot and not worry about it.   Marc: Yeah, so it sounds like obviously these plan-specific features can provide possible green lights to do this, but you got to check that stuff.   John: Yeah, exactly. And then, and just to clarify that pro rata rule, because it is confusing is if you do an implant conversion again, this is all within the 401 k plan. So you convert from after tax in the 401 k to Roth in the 401 k, and let's say you have a balance of $400,000 pre tax. The pro rata rule does not apply, you can convert it, not worry about, hey, how much do I have pre tax versus if you roll it out of the 401 k into a Roth IRA, the IRS will look into if you have any money in a pre-tax traditional IRA, and if you do, that's when the formula kicks in. Okay, so just, you know, that's an important caveat that I've seen people miss if they do conversions, and it's just important to, you know, talk to somebody, and before you execute these strategies.     Marc: Okay. Yeah. So obviously there's a lot of nuance here, so there's a lot of things you got to be aware of. So making sure specific plan features have the green light, I guess, is one of the major steps to consider on this, Nick, right?   John: One thing that we missed here, which is separate from the IRAs. So not to confuse everyone even more, when you do a conversion within a plan, there is no pro rata rule like the IRA. So it doesn't matter if you have 400,000 in your pre-tax 401 and you do a conversion, there's none of that formula there so you can do it and have no issue.   Marc: Gotcha. And so circling back, Nick, you mentioned earlier, you got to check with the company, I guess, to make sure, again, we're talking about workplace plans here to make sure that they even have this green light to get this done.   Nick: Yeah. Realistically, if somebody was trying to figure out the steps on navigating this, step one is contact your employer, HR department, and ask if the plan allows for non-Roth after tax contributions. That's step one. And then you kind of cascade down to the other parts or reach out to us and we can help walk you through it because all the details might make you want to cry.   Marc: Right. Okay. All right. So let's say a ton of stuff here to think about, obviously a lot of stuff to process. So I guess, okay, here's a big question then. So you walk through the rules, some of the mechanics of whether you can do it. I guess the question, John, is should you? Just because you can do something as the saying goes doesn't mean you necessarily should.   John: Yeah. So that really probably should be the starting point. So you don't have to go ask all these questions, see if you're eligible to come to find out, hey, I probably even shouldn't do this strategy. So if it goes back to planning, of course, can you afford to put a total of up to 72,000 potentially away into a 401 plan? If you can afford it and not have to worry about expenses and things like that, then now you should start considering it because this is a pretty risky strategy because you are locking up a lot of money subjecting it to all those IRS rules and penalties and things like that.   And then the other thing is, do you need the balance of having some more Roth funds, which I would say most people do where it's, do I need a good mix of pre-tax and after-tax stuff? Looking at tax brackets now versus in retirement and a lot of the other things that Nick has mentioned, he could probably jump in here and give a few more details of it.   Nick: So I'll give a couple other ideal candidates as an example. So let's say that somebody is a person or a household, high-income earners, they're maxing out their 401k contributions. They don't have a lot of Roth money because their income is high enough where kids are grown, they're taking a hit from a tax perspective if they're not doing pre-tax contributions. And maybe they're saving a big chunk of money every month or every year into a non-retirement account, but they've also built up a decent balance in that account. And so they're looking for a way that they're not going to give up the deduction that they're getting up for their regular 401k contributions, but they want to develop some Roth funds and they make too much money. And so it's like, okay, check, check, check, here's a perfect place to do it. Another way, another circumstance that could make a whole lot of sense, inheritance.   So dependent upon the structure, if somebody inherits money from an IRA, from a non-spouse, they have 10 years to withdrawal and deplete that account. So as that money's coming out, maybe they're looking for a place to put money that can have some tax benefits for them longer term and they have more cashflow in those years of taking out those withdrawals, so that's a place that they can put it. Or somebody's double dipping on Social Security, they're still working and they're taking Social Security and they're looking for a way to deploy some of that money and put it into an account, that's another good opportunity.   Marc: Gotcha.   Nick: So those are all situations that could make a lot of sense and add a layer of strategy that somebody hadn't considered.   Marc: So it sounds like obviously basic Roth conversions, there's some complexity there. You want to check with financial professional. The back door gets even more complicated. Then the mega backdoor gets even more complicated. So at the end of the day, to find out if this is the right strategy and fit for you, it's all about having a plan and running some numbers and getting some math put together to see what makes the most sense. Is that fair, John?   John: It is, because even if you're a fit to be able to defer that amount of money, some of these rules really limit who can actually take advantage of it. Where we see it work quite a bit is solo 401k, someone owns their own company, it's just them and their spouse and they have a solo 401. Well, they can go to the provider and customize their 401 to allow this.   High earners at large companies where, again, don't want to get into the weeds of this, but there's 401 testing rules where it really affects smaller companies. When it's a large company, you don't see the rules affect some of those high earners because in small companies, there's testing and stuff like that. And again, it's more confusing stuff, but smaller companies, it is harder to take advantage of that if you are considered what the 401k Department of Labor considers a high earner. So great strategy if you can afford to do it and you have the flexibility with the 401k to allow you to do it's an excellent way to take advantage of the Roth benefits and maximize it.   Marc: Gotcha. So at the end of the day, it comes down again to having a strategy that fits for your situation. So understanding if it's right for you, do you qualify? How do you do it? Making sure it's done properly is the important pieces of all of this. And that's why we talk often about the fact that growing and accumulating money is a little easier for DIYers to do that. A lot of us can kind of, with the technology and the resources today, can build our wealth. But it's the preservation and distribution stage, which is also known as retirement, that you certainly need some help with because the rules get very complicated. And sometimes when you pull one lever, it affects nine other things that you didn't even realize. So that's why you want to get that retirement plan redefined with John and Nick. Reach out to them at pfgprivatewealth.com. That's pfgprivatewealth.com.   And with that, we're going to do it for this week. So make sure you subscribe to us on Apple or Spotify so that you can check out new episodes when they come out. And of course, if you have questions around this, and you probably do, make sure you reach out to them and have a conversation. Guys, thanks for successfully blowing our brains out with this one because it's a lot of stuff to take, but it's important because a lot of these strategies out there don't get talked about as often. So good stuff. Thanks for breaking it down, John.   John: Yeah, no problem. And I enjoy some of these deep dives, so look forward to doing some more of them.   Marc: Yeah, for sure. Nick, thank you, my friend, for jumping in as well and helping out. It's definitely a lot to unpack for people. So I always appreciate you guys.   Nick: Thanks, Marcus.   Marc: And be sure to consult with your tax advisor. This can affect your federal tax rates and also state taxes if you have state income tax. We'll see you next time here on Retirement Planning Redefined with John and Nick.

Want to build tax-free wealth even if your income is too high for a Roth IRA? In this episode, Mindy Jensen and Scott Trench are joined by CPA's Amanda Han and Matt MacFarland. They break down the Backdoor Roth IRA and Mega Backdoor Roth strategies step-by-step. You'll learn how the Backdoor Roth works, how to avoid costly tax mistakes, how the pro-rata rule can impact your conversion strategy, and when the Mega Backdoor Roth may allow you to contribute tens of thousands of additional dollars to Roth accounts each year. Whether you're pursuing FIRE, optimizing your retirement accounts, or looking for advanced tax planning strategies, this episode covers everything you need to know. Connect with Amanda Han and Matt MacFarland Website: https://www.keystonecpa.com/pages/about-us Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amanda_han_cpa/?hl=en To go beyond the podcast: Kick start your financial independence journey with our FREE financial resources - https://biggerpocketsmoney.com/ Subscribe on YouTube for even more content- www.youtube.com/biggerpocketsmoney  Connect with us on social media to join the other BiggerPockets Money listeners - https://www.facebook.com/groups/BPMoney We believe financial independence is attainable for anyone no matter when or where you're starting. Let's get your financial house in order! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Right now, all my excess money goes into a brokerage account. Is this the right move or should I be prioritizing the mega backdoor Roth?  Have a money question? Email us ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money LIVE⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Jill on Money Newsletter⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@jillonmoney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ "Jill on Money" theme music is by Joel Goodman, ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.joelgoodman.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Don and Tom take on the uncomfortable reality that even supposedly “rules-based” index investing is starting to look suspiciously active, as major indexes like the S&P 500 consider bending long-standing rules to admit massive IPOs like SpaceX earlier than before. They explain why changing index rules matters more than most investors realize, debate whether index committees are chasing performance to stay competitive with the QQQ, and argue that broad global diversification may be safer than relying on any single benchmark. Listener questions cover retirement-saving strategies for LLC owners, how highly compensated employees can work around 401(k) discrimination limits, the pros and cons of backdoor Roth strategies, and why taxable brokerage accounts are often more tax-efficient than people assume. The episode wraps with skepticism about proposed “Trump IRA” retirement plans that don't actually exist yet, plus the usual blend of sarcasm, practical advice, and mild exasperation with modern finance.0:05 Rules-based investing versus changing the rules mid-game0:50 Why podcasting is safer than television for Don and Tom1:40 How index funds are supposed to work2:27 Why the S&P 500 wants SpaceX and giant IPOs3:01 IPO hype, pricing games, and the original S&P waiting rule4:05 Fear that indexes are drifting into active management5:01 Why investors wrongly assume the S&P 500 is “automatic”6:24 Explaining stock float and why liquidity matters8:07 QQQ and S&P changing IPO admission rules9:10 Why changing index rules should concern investors10:08 The explosion of specialized stock indexes11:33 Why owning the whole global market may be safer12:27 How Dimensional and Avantis differ from traditional indexes14:04 How listeners can submit questions to the show15:06 Retirement options for an LLC owner taking only dividends16:57 IRS concerns about treating a business like a hobby18:52 Highly compensated employee struggles with 401(k) testing20:42 Using a rollover IRA to reopen backdoor Roth opportunities21:58 Why taxable brokerage accounts are underrated22:33 Tax-efficient ETF investing and retirement flexibility23:14 Questions about the proposed “Trump IRA” plan24:35 Why investors should ignore retirement proposals that don't yet exist25:58 Congress, air conditioning, and why Washington never leaves town26:48 Podcast rankings and chasing Stack & BenjaminsQuestions? Comments? Click!

What if you could retire from the military at 50, bridge a decade of income, and pay less in taxes than you ever expected? It sounds too good to be true — but it's written right into the tax code. Spencer and Rob walk through exactly how a Roth conversion ladder works, who it's built for, and whether a simple brokerage account might actually beat it. Spencer Reese interviews Rob Moore, Army veteran, CFP candidate, and founder of Everman Wealth and Prosperity. Topics Discussed What a Roth Conversion Ladder is — moving funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA each year before military retirement to create penalty-free supplemental income during the bridge period between military retirement and age 59½ Who it's for — service members retiring before 59½ who need to bridge their income gap, and those in the FIRE community with lower taxable income Contribution vs. Conversion — contributions can be withdrawn penalty/tax-free anytime; conversions require a five-year waiting period per conversion year The Five-Year Rule — each conversion starts its own five-year clock on January 1st of the conversion year; after five years, the converted amount can be withdrawn penalty and tax-free TSP limitations — Roth conversion ladders live entirely in the IRA universe; TSP rules are different and don't qualify (though the new TSP Roth conversion feature, live in 2026, is noted as a separate benefit) Practical example — a service member at age 49, five years from retirement, converts $20,000/year; at retirement (age 54), the first conversion is available penalty/tax-free, with each subsequent year unlocking the next rung Alternatives to the Roth ladder: Rule 72(t) / SEPP — rigid but allows early retirement account access Rule of 55 — penalty-free TSP access if retiring in the year you turn 55 Taxable brokerage account — flexible, no rules, and often more tax-efficient than people assume Brokerage vs. tax-deferred comparison — Rob's case study on a retiring O-5 showed the brokerage account came out ~$13,000 ahead in aggregate taxes over 16 years vs. a Roth conversion ladder strategy Tax bracket inflation adjustment — a reminder that brackets adjust for inflation, so projecting future RMD tax burden in today's dollar terms overstates the hit Backdoor Roth contributions — briefly mentioned as an option for those without existing traditional IRA funds; subject to the same five-year conversion rule and annual limits ($7,500/person, $15,000/couple in 2026) Resources Mentioned Fiscal Foxhole Podcast https://www.instagram.com/fiscalfoxhole— co-hosted by Rob Moore and Oman Quavo; available on all major podcast platforms Everman Wealth and Prosperity https://www.prosperwitheverman.com/— Rob's financial planning firm (Northern Virginia, fee-only) How Tax-Advantaged is Tax-Deferred? https://www.prosperwitheverman.com/podcastarticles/how-tax-advantaged-is-tax-deferred— Rob's article comparing brokerage vs. tax-deferred retirement savings Moneychimp.com  http://www.moneychimp.com — simple compound interest/tax calculator mentioned by Spencer Military Money Manual Podcast Ep. 216 — prior interview with Oman Quavo Military Money Manual Podcast Ep. 162 — backdoor Roth IRA deep dive with Brian Alf O'Neill of Winged Wealth Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 22,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free, Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Military Money Manual may receive compensation from JPMC. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

This week's show covers the sequencing of retirement withdrawals, municipal bonds, backdoor Roth contributions, gifting, and lots more!

This week's show covers the sequencing of retirement withdrawals, municipal bonds, backdoor Roth contributions, gifting, and lots more!

Quint and Logan breakdown backdoor Roth IRA contributions. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Backdoor Roth IRA explained (2026): how high-income earners can legally contribute to a Roth IRA, step-by-step, and avoid the pro-rata rule tax trap.   If your income is too high to contribute directly to a Roth IRA, the Backdoor Roth strategy is one of the most important ways to still build tax-free retirement income—but it has to be done correctly.   In this episode, we break down: 2026 Roth IRA income limits and contribution limits How the Backdoor Roth IRA works step-by-step How to make a non-deductible IRA contribution and convert it to Roth The pro-rata rule and how it can trigger unexpected taxes How to handle existing Traditional, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA balances When a spousal Backdoor Roth makes sense Have questions? Need help making sure your investments and retirement plan are on track? Click to schedule a free 20-minute call with one of True Wealth's CFP® Professionals. http://bit.ly/calltruewealth

High-income professionals often find themselves locked out of direct Roth IRA contributions. The "Backdoor Roth" is the gold-standard workaround, but it is a strategy where small administrative errors can lead to big tax bills. In this episode, we break down the mechanics of the Pro-Rata Rule, why your Form 8606 is the most important document in your tax return, and the specific steps physicians must take to keep their backdoor strategy "clean." Key TakeawaysPre-Tax vs. Post-Tax: Understanding why the source of your IRA funds determines your tax liability.The Pro-Rata Rule: Why the IRS treats all your IRAs as one "pot of soup" and how existing SEP or SIMPLE IRA balances can trigger unexpected taxes.The December 31 Rule: Why your total IRA balance at the end of the year is the only number the IRS cares about for conversions.Solo 401(k) vs. SEP IRA: Why 1099 contractors should favor the Solo 401(k) to keep the backdoor strategy viable.Form 8606 Essentials: The common filing errors that lead to double taxation and why each spouse needs their own form.Please subscribe and leave a review on your favorite Podcasting platform. Get 12 Financial Mistakes that Keep Physicians from Building Wealth at https://www.growyourwealthymindset.com/12financialmistakesIf you want to start your path to financial freedom, start with the Financial Freedom Workbook. Download your free copy today at https://www.GrowYourWealthyMindset.com/fiworkbookDr. Elisa Chiang is  a physician and money coach who helps other doctors reach their financial goals by mastering their money mindset through personalized 1:1 coaching .You can learn more about Elisa at her website or follow her on social media.Website: https://ww.GrowYourWealthyMindset.comInstagram https://www.instagram.com/GrowYourWealthyMindsetFacebook https://www.facebook.com/ElisaChianghttps://www.facebook.com/GrowYourWealthyMindsetYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/WealthyMindsetMDLinked In: www.linkedin.com/in/ElisaChiang Disclaimer: The content provided in the Grow Your Wealthy Mindset Podcast...

You may know what a Roth is—but what exactly is a mega backdoor Roth, and who can actually use it? In this episode, Frankie Guida breaks down how higher earners can potentially move more money into tax‑advantaged accounts through employer retirement plans. The discussion walks through how after‑tax contributions, plan rules, and Roth conversions intersect, and why tax efficiency becomes increasingly important as retirement approaches. Using real‑world scenarios, the episode highlights how understanding these rules can reshape long‑term retirement planning decisions. Schedule a complimentary appointment: A Better Way Financial CLICK HERE to register for one of our upcoming Tax-Smart Retirement Planning Dinner Workshops. Read our book! Amazon Best Seller, “The Book on Retirement: A Better Way to Stretch Your Retirement Dollars While Living the Lifestyle of Your Dreams.” Follow us on social media: Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon Stancil and Murs Tariq discuss the powerful Mega Backdoor Roth strategy with Director of Financial Planning and Tax Strategy, Taylor Wolverton. They break down how high-income earners can potentially create tax free wealth using advanced Roth 401k strategy techniques, including 401k after tax contributions and in-plan conversions. This episode dives into how these lesser-known financial planning strategies can help individuals who are serious about retirement tax planning and building a strong retirement financial plan.Listen in to learn about the differences between a Mega Backdoor Roth, a Backdoor Roth IRA, and traditional retirement savings strategies. Radon, Murs, and Taylor explain the role of 401k contribution limits, Roth IRA income limits, and how these strategies may help high-income earners implement a smart tax strategy designed to maximize tax free retirement income. If you're focused on planning retirement, creating a retirement checklist, and learning how to retire comfortably, this episode offers valuable insights to help you secure your retirement.In this episode, find out:How the Mega Backdoor Roth works and why it can be a powerful high income tax strategyThe difference between after-tax 401k contributions, traditional 401k contributions, and Roth optionsHow Roth conversion strategies can potentially turn taxable growth into tax free retirement incomeThe key differences between a Backdoor Roth IRA and the Mega Backdoor Roth 401k strategyImportant considerations when including this strategy in your retirement financial plan and overall retirement planning strategyTweetable Quotes:“The reason people call it a Mega Backdoor Roth is because you're not contributing directly to the Roth 401k—you're contributing after-tax dollars and converting them to build a larger tax-free portfolio.” – Radon Stancil“If your income is above the Roth IRA income limits, you may still have options to get money into a Roth through strategies like the Backdoor Roth IRA or Mega Backdoor Roth.” – Murs TariqResources:If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.

If you plan to hit your 401K contribution limit for the year, but see that you can still add money through “after-tax contributions,” you may be wondering if that is a Mega Backdoor Roth and, more importantly, if you should do it. Nate Reineke and Kyle Hoelzle break down what exactly a Mega Backdoor Roth is and some cases where physicians should use it. We also discuss how you can still contribute post-tax dollars, plus some alternatives that may save you taxes in the long run. We also answer your colleagues' questions. A Dermatologist in New Jersey asks, “Is VOO enough exposure to the US market right now?” A Double doctor family in Oregon says, “Should we invest in a condo for our daughter who is going to undergrad and medical school at the same college next year?” A Radiologist in Texas wonders, “I just received a $300k inheritance. When is the right time to invest it, and what should I invest in?” Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It's time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we're a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

If your student loan payment is tied to your income, your tax return isn't just paperwork — it's part of your repayment strategy. Listen to a live tax webinar we did with Sim Terwilliger, CFP®, CSLP®, Director of Tax at SLP Wealth, as we share the biggest mistakes we're seeing this season, especially around married filing separately, community property states, and backdoor Roth IRAs — plus when filing an extension can legitimately save you real money on income-driven repayment. If you're navigating forgiveness, IDR, or just trying not to overpay Uncle Sam, this one's for you. Key moments: (02:09) Married filing separate vs. joint: when it lowers payments (08:29) The top mistake: Backdoor Roth errors that trigger penalties (20:37) Niche tax savings under RAP plan, managing AirBnbs, and passive income (35:31) The new SALT cap changes and who benefits   Like the show? There are several ways you can help! Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Amazon Music Leave an honest review on Apple Podcasts  Subscribe to the newsletter Join SLP Insiders for student loan loopholes, SLP app and member community Feeling helpless when it comes to your student loans? Try our free student loan calculator Check out our refinancing bonuses we negotiated Book your custom student loan plan Get profession-specific financial planning Do you have a question about student loans? Leave us a voicemail here or email us at help@studentloanplanner.com and we might feature it in an upcoming show!  

Farnoosh reflects on her appearance on the TODAY Show, where she shared practical strategies to maximize your finances during tax season — from last-minute IRA contributions and new tax deductions to choosing the smartest way to file and setting yourself up for next year.She also discusses the latest money headlines, including the Supreme Court's decision on sweeping tariffs and what it could mean for small businesses and markets.Then, it's time for your questions. Farnoosh breaks down:• How much you really need in emergency savings in today's job market • What to do after contributing to your 401(k) — should you open a Roth IRA? • How income limits affect Roth contributions and what a Backdoor Roth really means • Ways to set your children up for financial success beyond just a 529 planPlus, Farnoosh shares details about her Build a Profitable Podcast mentorship program, kicking off soon with only a few spots remaining. Apply here. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Navigating Common Tax Mistakes and New Tax Laws for 2026In this episode of Techie Personal Finance Bootcamp, the host discusses several common tax mistakes and introduces new tax laws for 2026. Starting with essential tax preparation steps, the episode explains the importance of gathering relevant tax documents, considering new changes like RSUs and employer stock, and the pitfalls of rushing to file taxes without all forms. The host emphasizes the need for meticulous reporting, particularly for tech professionals dealing with employer stock and those affected by income limits on IRA contributions. The episode also covers strategies such as backdoor Roth conversions, handling 1099 forms accurately, and the implications of recent changes to the state and local tax cap. Additional tips include maximizing dependent care credits, 529 plan contributions, and rental property depreciation. Finally, the host advises business owners on correctly claiming legitimate business expenses to avoid IRS scrutiny. Listeners are encouraged to seek professional advice and ensure all financial details are accurately reported.00:00 Introduction to Techie Personal Finance Bootcamp Season 801:23 Essential Tax Preparation Tips for 202601:53 Understanding New Tax Changes and Forms02:22 Avoiding Common Tax Filing Mistakes03:06 Time Travel Techniques for Tax Contributions04:47 Automatic Tax Adjustments and Deductions05:37 Maximizing Itemized Deductions07:01 Common Tax Filing Errors and How to Avoid Them09:05 Special Considerations for High Earners and Stock Options12:24 Tax Tips for Parents and Property Owners14:35 Final Thoughts and Looking Aheadhttps://www.levelupfinancialplanning.com/tax-planning-retirement-accounts-backdoor-roths/

Welcome to Dentist Money Two Cents, a look at the latest financial and economic news from the past week.
 On this episode of Dentist Money's Two Cents, Matt and Rabih break down the market landscape, Dow Jones hitting an all-time high, and they explain why institutional investors are shifting away from technology stocks. They also discuss the recent crash in silver, gold, and bitcoin, the importance of diversification in uncertain markets, and how strategic financial planning can help dentists stay focused on long-term goals. Finally, they talk about backdoor Roth conversions and explain why this strategy can be valuable for high-income earners. Book a free consultation with a CFP® advisor who only works with dentists. Get an objective financial assessment and learn how Dentist Advisors can help you live your rich life.

✈️ Retire Pilots the Right Way!

In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom take aim at “magical” high-yield investments, focusing on why junk bond funds often behave more like risky stocks than stable bonds. Drawing on research from Larry Swedroe, they explain how high fees, high turnover, and economic sensitivity undermine the appeal of high-yield funds—especially during recessions. They reinforce the core principle that higher returns always mean higher risk and argue that investors are usually better served taking risk in equities and safety in high-quality bonds. Listener questions cover HSAs in retirement, Roth IRAs for young investors, backdoor Roth conversions, and the Vanguard Star Fund. The episode closes with discussion of RetireMeet 2026 and the importance of long-term, disciplined investing. 0:04 Opening: Wanting high returns with no risk 1:02 Introduction to “magical” high-yield investments 1:10 Larry Swedroe's research on junk bond funds 2:20 Investment-grade vs. high-yield bonds explained 4:29 Bankruptcy risk and bondholder losses 5:49 Returns, volatility, and stock-like behavior 6:36 Risk-adjusted returns and Sharpe ratios 7:47 Why passive beats active in junk bonds 8:35 2008 losses in high-yield funds 9:36 “Yield is for farmers” and risk perspective 10:42 Why higher yield always means higher risk 11:08 Bonds as portfolio ballast 12:17 Why equities are better for risk-taking 12:27 HSA investing for medical expenses 13:56 Roth IRA for grandson with long time horizon 15:18 Backdoor Roth conversion tax question 17:57 Vanguard Star Fund discussion 19:03 Active vs. index fund comparisons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions? Comments?In this episode of Talking Real Money, Don and Tom take aim at “magical” high-yield investments, focusing on why junk bond funds often behave more like risky stocks than stable bonds. Drawing on research from Larry Swedroe, they explain how high fees, high turnover, and economic sensitivity undermine the appeal of high-yield funds—especially during recessions. They reinforce the core principle that higher returns always mean higher risk and argue that investors are usually better served taking risk in equities and safety in high-quality bonds. Listener questions cover HSAs in retirement, Roth IRAs for young investors, backdoor Roth conversions, and the Vanguard Star Fund. The episode closes with discussion of RetireMeet 2026 and the importance of long-term, disciplined investing.0:04 Opening: Wanting high returns with no risk1:02 Introduction to “magical” high-yield investments1:10 Larry Swedroe's research on junk bond funds2:20 Investment-grade vs. high-yield bonds explained4:29 Bankruptcy risk and bondholder losses5:49 Returns, volatility, and stock-like behavior6:36 Risk-adjusted returns and Sharpe ratios7:47 Why passive beats active in junk bonds8:35 2008 losses in high-yield funds9:36 “Yield is for farmers” and risk perspective10:42 Why higher yield always means higher risk11:08 Bonds as portfolio ballast12:17 Why equities are better for risk-taking12:27 HSA investing for medical expenses13:56 Roth IRA for grandson with long time horizon15:18 Backdoor Roth conversion tax question17:57 Vanguard Star Fund discussion19:03 Active vs. index fund comparisonsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions? Comments?In this Friday Q&A episode, Don answers listener questions on handling backdoor Roth conversions with investment gains, whether Avantis or Vanguard makes more sense for bond investing, and why 529 plans have become even more attractive with new Roth rollover rules. He also tackles a puzzling report of inflated ETF pricing on Vanguard's platform, urging further investigation, and reassures a listener concerned about AVGE's diversification compared to VT. Along the way, Don emphasizes the importance of low fees in fixed income, the long-term logic behind factor investing, and the reality that taking additional risk is what creates the potential for higher returns.0:04 Friday Q&A intro and plea for more listener questions1:44 Backdoor Roth with gains—how to handle taxable growth6:01 Avantis vs. Vanguard for bond funds and why fees matter more in fixed income8:00 Using 529 plans for kids and new Roth rollover rules11:19 Odd ETF pricing on Vanguard and why it makes no sense13:38 AVGE vs. VT diversification concerns and factor investing explained18:24 Risk, factor tilts, and long-term expectationsLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Friday Q&A episode, Don answers listener questions on handling backdoor Roth conversions with investment gains, whether Avantis or Vanguard makes more sense for bond investing, and why 529 plans have become even more attractive with new Roth rollover rules. He also tackles a puzzling report of inflated ETF pricing on Vanguard's platform, urging further investigation, and reassures a listener concerned about AVGE's diversification compared to VT. Along the way, Don emphasizes the importance of low fees in fixed income, the long-term logic behind factor investing, and the reality that taking additional risk is what creates the potential for higher returns. 0:04 Friday Q&A intro and plea for more listener questions 1:44 Backdoor Roth with gains—how to handle taxable growth 6:01 Avantis vs. Vanguard for bond funds and why fees matter more in fixed income 8:00 Using 529 plans for kids and new Roth rollover rules 11:19 Odd ETF pricing on Vanguard and why it makes no sense 13:38 AVGE vs. VT diversification concerns and factor investing explained 18:24 Risk, factor tilts, and long-term expectations Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week's show covers "long degeneracy" that has replaced traditional investing, backdoor roth contributions, ETF's vs. mutual funds, and turning your portfolio into a paycheck.

Everything you need to know about Backdoor Roth Conversions in 2026. In this detailed presentation, Caleb Guilliams and Justin Gartman walk through the beginners guide to Backdoor Roth's as well as answering exactly what you need to know in order to start this strategy for yourself. Want a Life Insurance Policy? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/bw-yt-aa-clarity Want FREE Whole Life Insurance Resources & Education? Go Here: https://bttr.ly/yt-bw-vault 00:00 Introduction to Roth IRAs and Limitations 00:51 Roth IRA Contribution Limits 02:49 Why does the Government Limit Roth IRA Contributions? 04:37 Perspective on Government-Sponsored Plans 05:49 Backdoor Roth IRA Strategy 06:23 Steps for a Backdoor Roth IRA 08:41 Common Mistake: The Pro-Rata Rule 12:06 Filing Requirement for Non-Deductible Contribution 13:06 Mega Backdoor Roth Strategy 15:17 Example of Mega Backdoor Roth Contribution 16:47 Mega Backdoor Roth Conversion Options 18:17 Eligibility Requirements for Mega Backdoor Roth 19:20 Solo 401k for Business Owners 20:28 Summary and Final Thoughts on Backdoor Roths _________________________________ Learn More About BetterWealth: https://betterwealth.com ==================== DISCLAIMER: https://bttr.ly/aapolicy *This video is for entertainment purposes only and is not financial or legal advice. Financial Advice Disclaimer: All content on this channel is for education, discussion, and illustrative purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice or recommendation. Should you need such advice, consult a licensed financial or tax advisor. No guarantee is given regarding the accuracy of the information on this channel. Neither host nor guests can be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss incurred by applying any of the information offered.

To learn more on year-end retirement account strategies read our new article: https://directedira.com/year-end-retirement-account-strategies/?utm_source_youtube_socialmedia&utm_year_end_strategies_webinarYear-end is one of the most important windows for retirement planning. Some moves must be completed by December 31, while others can wait until the tax filing deadline – and new rules coming in 2026 will change how much you can save and whether certain contributions must be Roth.In this live webinar, Directed IRA's CEO, Mat Sorensen, will walk through the most important retirement account strategies to understand before year-end and how to position yourself for 2026.     You'll Learn- Which retirement account moves must be done by December 31…and which can wait- How to optimize 401(k), IRA, Roth IRA, HSA, and Solo 401(k) strategies at year-end- When Roth conversions make sense now vs. pushing them into 2026- Backdoor Roth and mega backdoor Roth strategies to know before year-end- Key 2026 rule changes that may impact contribution limits and Roth requirementshis session is designed to help you avoid missed opportunities, reduce taxes, and make informed decisions before the year closes.Why Directed IRA?At Directed IRA, we've helped thousands of investors put over $3 billion into real estate, private funds, notes, and more, all inside tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Our team of experts and streamlined platform make it easy to invest with confidence.Directed IRA Homepage: https://directedira.com/ Directed IRA Explore (Linktree): https://linktr.ee/SelfDirectedIRA Book a Call: https://directedira.com/appointment/ Other:Mat Sorensen: https://matsorensen.com & https://linktr.ee/MatSorensen KKOS: https://kkoslawyers.comMain Street Business https://mainstreetbusiness.com

In this episode, Brett Tanner and co-host Katelyn Mitchell walk through the exact end-of-year and start-of-year wealth checklist they personally use to manage their businesses, reduce taxes, and grow long-term wealth.This episode is highly tactical — Brett covers how to update entity structures, evaluate your investments, adjust your wealth plan, review rental performance, optimize retirement accounts, and create a simple 12-month business and financial roadmap.If you're building wealth, this episode shows you precisely what to review, update, and execute every December and January to stay on track for long-term financial freedom.

In this episode of the Tax Smart REI Podcast, Thomas Castelli and Nathan Sosa, Head of the National Tax Department at Hall CPA, sit down with Alex Savage, CPA, CFP, to unpack the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k), one of the most powerful yet underutilized tax strategies for high-income earners. They break down how the strategy works, who qualifies, and why it can be a game-changer for those looking to build long-term, tax-free retirement wealth, all while balancing real estate investing and other income streams. From contribution limits and in-plan conversions to control group rules and timing, this episode covers everything you need to know to decide whether this advanced strategy fits your situation. You'll learn: - What makes the “Mega” Backdoor Roth 401(k) different from a traditional or standard Roth IRA - How high-income W-2 earners and solopreneurs can contribute up to $70,000+ in after-tax dollars - Why this strategy can help you manage future tax rates, Social Security taxation, and estate planning - The key testing and timing rules to avoid IRS pitfalls - When a Mega Backdoor Roth makes sense and when real estate might be the better play Whether you're a tech executive, business owner, or high-earning real estate investor, this episode gives you the clarity to determine if the Mega Backdoor Roth 401(k) belongs in your financial toolkit and how to use it strategically alongside your real estate portfolio. To become a client, request a consultation from Hall CPA, PLLC at go.therealestatecpa.com/3KSEev6 Subscribe to REI Daily & Enter to Win a FREE Strategy Call: go.therealestatecpa.com/41JuQBX Connect with Engineered Tax Services: https://portal.engineeredtaxservices.com/cost-segregation/quick-start?utm_source=Live+Event&utm_medium=Others&utm_campaign=hall_cpa&pagesense_source=729733000061045013&utm_term=kim_lochridge&utm_content=cost_segregation Get the Solar White Paper: www.therealestatecpa.com/solar-white-paper/ The Tax Smart Real Estate Investors podcast is for general information purposes only and is not intended to provide, and should not be relied on for, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Information on the podcast may not constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information. No reader, user, or listener of this podcast should act or refrain from acting on the basis of information on this podcast without first seeking legal and tax advice from counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Only your individual attorney and tax advisor can provide assurances that the information contained herein – and your interpretation of it – is applicable or appropriate to your particular situation. Use of, and access to, this podcast or any of the links or resources contained or mentioned within the podcast show and show notes do not create a relationship between the reader, user, or listener and podcast hosts, contributors, or guests. Any mention of third-party vendors, products, or services does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. You should conduct your own due diligence before engaging with any vendor.

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can create unexpected tax burdens and impact your retirement income strategy if you're not prepared. In this episode, we break down six smart financial moves to make before RMDs begin at age 73, so you can stay in control of your taxes, income, and investment strategy. Whether you're approaching RMD age or helping a parent prepare, this episode gives you the tools to protect your wealth and avoid common retirement pitfalls. 0:19 - Winners & Laggards in Earnings Season 4:30 - Earnings Season Beats Are Not Being Rewarded 9:39 - Time to Think About Taxes and RMD's 14:34 - Changes to RMD Rules 17:16 - Tapping the IRA First 20:01 - Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) 22:12 - RMD Deferral 25:43 - The Backdoor Roth 27:00 - Tax Savings with 401k 29:25 - The Retirement "Smile" 32:35 - When's the Best Time to Take RMD? 36:24 - Special Considerations 37:46 - Adulting at the Library Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO, w Senior Investment Advisor, Danny Ratliff, CFP Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Watch Today's Full Video on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0B99SnHJ4U&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1&t=24s ------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Earnings Beat, Stocks Drop" is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2pV8tKyHw&list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1 ------- Our Previous Show, "Smart or Risky? How Investors Are Adapting to Today's Markets," is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyKGGi6LSV8&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestm entadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #MarketUpdate #EarningsSeason #StockMarket #RiskManagement #Investing #RetirementPlanning #FinancialAdvice #TaxStrategy

Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) can create unexpected tax burdens and impact your retirement income strategy if you're not prepared. In this episode, we break down six smart financial moves to make before RMDs begin at age 73, so you can stay in control of your taxes, income, and investment strategy. Whether you're approaching RMD age or helping a parent prepare, this episode gives you the tools to protect your wealth and avoid common retirement pitfalls. 0:19 - Winners & Laggards in Earnings Season 4:30 - Earnings Season Beats Are Not Being Rewarded 9:39 - Time to Think About Taxes and RMD's 14:34 - Changes to RMD Rules 17:16 - Tapping the IRA First 20:01 - Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCD) 22:12 - RMD Deferral 25:43 - The Backdoor Roth 27:00 - Tax Savings with 401k 29:25 - The Retirement "Smile" 32:35 - When's the Best Time to Take RMD? 36:24 - Special Considerations 37:46 - Adulting at the Library Hosted by RIA Advisors Chief Investment Strategist, Lance Roberts, CIO, w Senior Investment Advisor, Danny Ratliff, CFP Produced by Brent Clanton, Executive Producer ------- Watch Today's Full Video on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G0B99SnHJ4U&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1&t=24s ------- The latest installment of our new feature, Before the Bell, "Earnings Beat, Stocks Drop" is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6B2pV8tKyHw&list=PLwNgo56zE4RAbkqxgdj-8GOvjZTp9_Zlz&index=1 ------- Our Previous Show, "Smart or Risky? How Investors Are Adapting to Today's Markets," is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyKGGi6LSV8&list=PLVT8LcWPeAugpcGzM8hHyEP11lE87RYPe&index=1 ------- Get more info & commentary: https://realinvestm entadvice.com/newsletter/ -------- SUBSCRIBE to The Real Investment Show here: http://www.youtube.com/c/TheRealInvestmentShow -------- Visit our Site: https://www.realinvestmentadvice.com Contact Us: 1-855-RIA-PLAN -------- Subscribe to SimpleVisor: https://www.simplevisor.com/register-new -------- Connect with us on social: https://twitter.com/RealInvAdvice https://twitter.com/LanceRoberts https://www.facebook.com/RealInvestmentAdvice/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/realinvestmentadvice/ #MarketUpdate #EarningsSeason #StockMarket #RiskManagement #Investing #RetirementPlanning #FinancialAdvice #TaxStrategy

Questions? Comments?Don answers a range of listener questions covering topics from Fidelity's fully paid lending program to the Roth 401(k) decision and mortgage payoff strategies. He explains why stock lending rarely adds much value for ETF investors, why paying off a 2.6 percent mortgage makes little financial sense, and why even Berkshire Hathaway isn't a substitute for true diversification. Listeners also learn about HSA payroll tax savings and how to build Roth flexibility without triggering the pro-rata rule.0:04 Friday Q&A intro and listener invitation1:25 Fidelity's fully paid lending program explained—small returns, limited upside3:47 When stock lending might make sense for rare or hard-to-borrow shares4:33 Mortgage payoff debate—2.6% rate vs. 7% investing return5:30 Don confirms: investing wins, emotion aside7:09 Caller argues for Berkshire Hathaway B as the “perfect” one-stock portfolio9:14 Don dismantles the myth—Buffett's own warnings, risk concentration11:23 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k)—how to decide and why a plan matters14:04 Backdoor Roth options for self-employed spouses15:32 Importance of long-term planning once portfolios near $1 million15:56 HSA payroll advantage—no Social Security tax on contributions17:11 Using a Roth to store “extra mortgage” money until retirement18:08 Why paying off a low-rate mortgage later may not make sense19:37 Free fiduciary portfolio checkup offer from Apella WealthLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don answers a range of listener questions covering topics from Fidelity's fully paid lending program to the Roth 401(k) decision and mortgage payoff strategies. He explains why stock lending rarely adds much value for ETF investors, why paying off a 2.6 percent mortgage makes little financial sense, and why even Berkshire Hathaway isn't a substitute for true diversification. Listeners also learn about HSA payroll tax savings and how to build Roth flexibility without triggering the pro-rata rule. 0:04 Friday Q&A intro and listener invitation 1:25 Fidelity's fully paid lending program explained—small returns, limited upside 3:47 When stock lending might make sense for rare or hard-to-borrow shares 4:33 Mortgage payoff debate—2.6% rate vs. 7% investing return 5:30 Don confirms: investing wins, emotion aside 7:09 Caller argues for Berkshire Hathaway B as the “perfect” one-stock portfolio 9:14 Don dismantles the myth—Buffett's own warnings, risk concentration 11:23 401(k) vs. Roth 401(k)—how to decide and why a plan matters 14:04 Backdoor Roth options for self-employed spouses 15:32 Importance of long-term planning once portfolios near $1 million 15:56 HSA payroll advantage—no Social Security tax on contributions 17:11 Using a Roth to store “extra mortgage” money until retirement 18:08 Why paying off a low-rate mortgage later may not make sense 19:37 Free fiduciary portfolio checkup offer from Apella Wealth Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jim and Chris discuss listener questions on spousal Roth IRA eligibility, backdoor Roth contributions using a solo 401k, Social Security timing, post-tax contributions to an IRA and 401k , and an HSA strategy coordinating withdrawals with Roth conversions.(9:30) George asks whether he can contribute to a spousal Roth IRA after his retirement if his wife […] The post Spousal Roth, Backdoor Roth, Social Security, Post-Tax Contributions, HSA Strategy: Q&A #2542 appeared first on The Retirement and IRA Show.

Unlock one of the most powerful tax and wealth-building strategies available today: the Mega Backdoor Roth. In this episode, Mat Sorensen breaks down how you can contribute up to $70,000 each year into Roth accounts, creating massive tax-free growth for retirement. Originally filmed for the Mat Sorensen YouTube channel, this special episode is now available on the Directed IRA Podcast.Mat explains step by step:Why the Mega Backdoor Roth is so effective for high-income earnersHow to use a 401(k) or Solo 401(k) to maximize Roth contributionsThe role of after-tax contributions and how to convert themKey rules, qualifications, and pitfalls to avoidWhy rolling funds to a Roth IRA can provide greater investment flexibility and lower feesWhether you're a high earner with a workplace 401(k) or a self-employed professional with a Solo 401(k), this strategy can help you supercharge your retirement savings and build wealth tax free.Chapters: 00:00 - Introduction to Mega Backdoor Roth01:15 - Breaking Down the $70K Strategy02:12 - After-Tax Contributions Explained05:17 - Converting to Roth: Two Options08:19 - Potential Snags and Limitations10:17 - Disclaimer and ClosingDirected IRA Homepage: https://directedira.com/ Directed IRA Explore (Linktree): https://linktr.ee/SelfDirectedIRA Book a Call: https://directedira.com/appointment/ Other:Mat Sorensen: https://matsorensen.com & https://linktr.ee/MatSorensen KKOS: https://kkoslawyers.comMain Street Business https://mainstreetbusiness.com

In this week's Ask Me Anything, Ryan and Kipp tackle pressing questions from the Iron Council, all centered on money. From understanding the habits of wealthy men, to real vs. nominal gains, to the psychology of budgeting and investing, they cover practical insights that cut through financial confusion. The guys also dive into real estate, Roth strategies, and why prudence matters more than market timing. Tune in for a candid, actionable conversation on building and stewarding wealth with wisdom. SHOW HIGHLIGHTS 00:05 – Opening and headlines 11:41 – Wealthy habits vs. average habits 21:44 – Real vs. nominal gains 24:49 – Selling a house and liquidity decisions 35:07 – Budgeting and psychology of money 43:23 – Wealth and dishonesty mindset 46:24 – Borrowing against equity 49:14 – Rentals vs. 401k 50:57 – When to sell real estate investments 53:16 – Backdoor Roth explained 59:47 – Iron Council promotion 1:02:57 – Social and community links Battle Planners: Pick yours up today! Order Ryan's new book, The Masculinity Manifesto. For more information on the Iron Council brotherhood. Want maximum health, wealth, relationships, and abundance in your life? Sign up for our free course, 30 Days to Battle Ready

Roth IRAs can offer substantial benefits.  Tax deferred growth, tax free withdrawals and no Required Minimum Distributions.  But if you are single and your Modified Adjusted Income is greater than $150,000 or your joint income exceeds $236,000, you are not eligible for a Roth contribution.  However, there is a work around and it's called the Backdoor Roth.  We'll explain how it works, the benefits and the rules, this afternoon on the Jon Sanchez Show at 3pm.

In this episode of ThimbleberryU, we dive into a common and costly mistake that often undermines the effectiveness of the backdoor Roth IRA strategy. We begin by establishing that the strategy itself is sound—used by high-income earners to legally sidestep income limits on Roth IRA contributions—but the pitfall lies in the tax return process, particularly in how the transaction is reported to the IRS.We walk through how the strategy works: First, an individual makes a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA. Then, they convert those funds to a Roth IRA. The key here is that the contribution was already taxed, so the conversion should be non-taxable. The mistake happens when this sequence isn't reported properly. We discuss how custodians like brokerage firms don't know your tax strategy or income limits and cannot flag these issues for the IRS. So, if you're not proactively involved, you risk the IRS treating the conversion as fully taxable.We unpack the three IRS forms involved: Form 1099-R (reports the conversion but not the tax status), Form 5498 (shows the IRA contribution but often arrives too late to help with timely tax filing), and most importantly, Form 8606 (tells the IRS the contribution was non-deductible and prevents double taxation). We emphasize that most errors occur because Form 8606 is either filed incorrectly or not filed at all. Without it, the IRS assumes your entire IRA is pre-tax, meaning future withdrawals will be fully taxed—even if you already paid taxes on that money.Using a real-world example, we show how someone like “Jill” can end up paying taxes and penalties she didn't owe, all because her CPA didn't receive the full picture. This reinforces the importance of owning the communication and documentation process. We stress the need for record-keeping, proactively communicating with your CPA, and double-checking your return to ensure Form 8606 is present and correct.In closing, we make it clear: the IRS isn't malicious here—they can only go by what's filed. It's up to each of us to ensure our tax reporting matches our financial strategy. If you're going to use the backdoor Roth, you need to take responsibility for the reporting piece or work with an advisor who helps manage that process effectively. To get in touch with Amy and her team at Thimbleberry Financial, call 503-610-6510 or visit thimbleberryfinancial.com.

Today we are talking about everyone's favorite topic - the Backdoor Roth! We are answering questions about common mistakes for the Backdoor Roth IRA as well as having a larger discussion around what the Mega Backdoor Roth is, who it makes sense for, and how to make the most of it. Today's episode is brought to us by SoFi, the folks who help you get your money right. Paying off student debt quickly and getting your finances back on track isn't easy, but that's where SoFi can help — they have exclusive, low rates designed to help medical residents refinance student loans—and that could end up saving you thousands of dollars, helping you get out of student debt sooner. SoFi also offers the ability to lower your payments to just $100 a month* while you're still in residency. And if you're already out of residency, SoFi's got you covered there too. For more information, go to https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/Sofi SoFi Student Loans are originated by SoFi Bank, N.A. Member FDIC. Additional terms and conditions apply. NMLS 696891. The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors, dentists, and other high-income professionals with their money since 2011. Our free personal finance resource covers an array of topics including how to use your retirement accounts, getting a doctor mortgage loan, how to manage your student loans, buying physician disability and malpractice insurance, asset allocation & asset location, how to invest in real estate, and so much more. We will help you learn how to manage your finances like a pro so you can stop worrying about money and start living your best life. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you! Find 1000's of written articles on the blog: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  Our YouTube channel if you prefer watching videos to learn: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice for all your student loan needs: https://studentloanadvice.com  Join the community on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Join the community on Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Join the community on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Join the community on Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Learn faster with our Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Sign up for our Newsletter here: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter 

Finally being ready to retire is a huge milestone. It takes years of planning and hard work. There is nothing worse than feeling like you missed something in all that preparation. Listen in as Ben Utley and Nate Reineke break down whether it is worth it to open a new backdoor Roth account right before retirement. We discuss the factors to consider and how your time will come into play when making that decision. We also answer your colleagues' questions. Social Security: A Pain Management doc in New York is wondering, with everything happening politically, should we take Social Security early since it may go away? And a Psychiatrist in Missouri read the latest federal report that Social Security will run out in the next 8 years. They ask if they should include Social Security in their plan. Emergency Fund: The spouse of a hospitalist in Tennessee says that they have 7 kids, so that's a lot of college to pay for. They also don't have an emergency fund. They're curious about what to put off while building the emergency fund. Paying for private K-12: The spouse of a dermatopathologist in Pennsylvania asks, given the recent 529 rule changes that are coming with the “Big Beautiful Bill,” should I be putting more money in my 529 to pay for private K-12 school? Are you ready to turn worries about taxes and investing into all the money you need for college and retirement? It's time to make a plan and get on track. To find out if we're a match visit physicianfamily.com and click get started or, you can ask a question of your own by emailing podcast@physicianfamily.com. See marketing disclosures at physicianfamily.com/disclosures

Mark Kohler and Mat Sorensen are back for another Open Forum episode of the Main Street Business Podcast — answering real tax, legal, and wealth-building questions from listeners across the country.In this episode, they cover advanced strategies and insider tips for:The Mega Backdoor Roth: How it works and who can use itMaximizing vehicle deductions and depreciation the smart wayFixing a broken S-Corp partnership structureLLCs vs. business trusts in CaliforniaSolo 401(k) contribution strategies to hit the $70K capCombining multiple accounts in a Multi-Member IRA LLCRV write-offs: What full-time RV entrepreneurs can (and can't) deductWhether you're a business owner, investor, or just want to stop overpaying the IRS — this episode is packed with strategies and answers that could save you thousands. Grab my FREE Ultimate Tax Strategy Guide HERE! You don't want to miss this! Secure your tickets for the most significant business, tax & legal event of the year: Main Street 360 Looking to connect with a rock star law firm? KKOS is only a click away! Are you ready to get certified in EVERY strategy I teach? Start your journey with a FREE 15-minute discovery call to explore the Main Street Tax Pro Certification. Check out our YOUTUBE Channel Here: https://www.youtube.com/markjkohler Craving more content? Check out my Instagram!

Brad and Rachael Camp tackle listener-submitted questions focusing on bonds, retirement strategies, pensions, and optimizing Roth IRA conversions. Rachael Camp, a Certified Financial Planner, sheds light on various financial independence (FI) strategies—discussing the impact of interest rate volatility on bond investments, the importance of tax planning during retirement, and navigating unexpected inheritances. Timestamps and Key Topics 00:01:10 - Introduction to Bonds 00:03:15 - Bonds vs. Bond Funds 00:24:07 - Pension Strategies 00:27:29 - Roth IRA Conversions 00:45:11 - Handling Inheritance and Taxes Key Insights Understanding Bond Dynamics: Timestamp: 00:04:10: Understanding the inverse relationship between bond prices and interest rates is crucial. Timestamp: 00:16:30: Review your bond strategy annually to assess risks associated with interest rate changes. Bond Funds vs Individual Bonds: Timestamp: 00:21:24: For long-term strategies, individual bonds and bond funds often perform similarly. If you consistently reinvest mature bonds, you effectively manage the same risk as a bond fund. Pension Ramifications: Timestamp: 00:25:53: Use your pension wisely to enhance your tax strategy! Roth IRA Conversion Strategy: Timestamp: 00:34:10: Maximize your savings with strategic Roth conversions, particularly before pension income starts. Inheritance Implications: Timestamp: 00:46:21: Evaluate the impact of any inheritance on your overall tax strategy carefully. Actionable Takeaways Regularly assess your bond exposure and adjust according to market conditions. Prioritize Roth conversions during income gaps in your retirement timeline to leverage low tax brackets. Plan your inheritance withdrawals strategically over the 10-year required period to mitigate tax impacts. Frequently Asked Questions What is the difference between bond funds and individual bonds? Bond funds are collections of bonds that continue to reinvest, while individual bonds are purchased with a fixed interest rate and maturity. This influences cash flow needs and risk tolerance. Timestamp: 00:10:40 How do Roth conversions affect my tax bracket? Roth conversions can fill your tax bracket before pensions begin to reduce available space, maximizing tax efficiency of your retirement income. Timestamp: 00:34:10

Don and Tom expose the seductive illusion of “wealth without risk” by dissecting the explosion of equity-hedged ETFs and mutual funds. They tear into the high fees, low returns, and false promises sold by funds claiming to protect investors from market drops while capturing the upside. With support from recent Wall Street Journal coverage and AQR data, they explain how these “hedging” strategies—especially options-based ones—often underperform simple stock/bond portfolios. Listener questions tackle Roth conversions, AVGE vs. GLOV, and the myth of magical investing pills. 0:04 Investing dreams and chocolate dreams: both come with a price 1:31 Wall Street sells “protection” from volatility—Americans are buying 2:37 Hedged funds as “stock insurance”? More like expensive illusions 3:57 Comparing VOO to PHDG: 13% vs. 4.3% returns 4:54 Downside protection claims fall apart under scrutiny 6:18 Lower volatility, far lower returns—does it help you sleep or retire? 7:34 How these funds work: options-based “protection” explained 8:48 Options decay and premium costs crush performance 9:56 Simpler is better: most “safety” funds fail to beat basic stock/bond mix 11:03 5-year S&P 500 returns: mostly up, and up a lot 11:50 Hedged funds underperform in up years—and still lose in down ones 12:22 Hidden costs in options-based funds aren't in the expense ratio 13:30 Bottom line: no panacea, no magic. Just smart allocation 14:05 Investor responsibility: no one will protect your money but you 14:12 Listener Q&A intro and apology for delay 15:05 Backdoor Roth vs. regular Roth when income is uncertain 16:59 AVGE vs. GLOV: performance vs. philosophy 17:55 GLOV's returns look good—but it's far less diversified 19:21 Passive label vs. reality: GLOV is focused, possibly active 20:38 Short track record makes comparisons tricky 22:04 Don and Tom favor massive diversification over short-term wins 23:42 Set expectations low and you'll be pleasantly surprised 24:49 Ask us anything—and yes, crypto guy left another bad review 26:02 Crypto is “generational”? Maybe, but Don still won't use money he can't spend Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Questions? Comments?Don and Tom expose the seductive illusion of “wealth without risk” by dissecting the explosion of equity-hedged ETFs and mutual funds. They tear into the high fees, low returns, and false promises sold by funds claiming to protect investors from market drops while capturing the upside. With support from recent Wall Street Journal coverage and AQR data, they explain how these “hedging” strategies—especially options-based ones—often underperform simple stock/bond portfolios. Listener questions tackle Roth conversions, AVGE vs. GLOV, and the myth of magical investing pills.0:04 Investing dreams and chocolate dreams: both come with a price1:31 Wall Street sells “protection” from volatility—Americans are buying2:37 Hedged funds as “stock insurance”? More like expensive illusions3:57 Comparing VOO to PHDG: 13% vs. 4.3% returns4:54 Downside protection claims fall apart under scrutiny6:18 Lower volatility, far lower returns—does it help you sleep or retire?7:34 How these funds work: options-based “protection” explained8:48 Options decay and premium costs crush performance9:56 Simpler is better: most “safety” funds fail to beat basic stock/bond mix11:03 5-year S&P 500 returns: mostly up, and up a lot11:50 Hedged funds underperform in up years—and still lose in down ones12:22 Hidden costs in options-based funds aren't in the expense ratio13:30 Bottom line: no panacea, no magic. Just smart allocation14:05 Investor responsibility: no one will protect your money but you14:12 Listener Q&A intro and apology for delay15:05 Backdoor Roth vs. regular Roth when income is uncertain16:59 AVGE vs. GLOV: performance vs. philosophy17:55 GLOV's returns look good—but it's far less diversified19:21 Passive label vs. reality: GLOV is focused, possibly active20:38 Short track record makes comparisons tricky22:04 Don and Tom favor massive diversification over short-term wins23:42 Set expectations low and you'll be pleasantly surprised24:49 Ask us anything—and yes, crypto guy left another bad review26:02 Crypto is “generational”? Maybe, but Don still won't use money he can't spendLearn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we start out answering a few of your Mega Backdoor Roth questions. Then we move to answering a handful of questions about student loans including if we think the Trump administration is going to get rid of PSLF. We also have friend of WCI, Dr. Gretchen Green, join us for a few minutes to talk about the power of side gigs and increasing your income. Especially if you can use the skills you already have from your training. Dr. Green teaches docs how to boost their income by doing expert witness work. Today's episode is brought to you by SoFi, helping medical professionals like us bank, borrow, and invest to achieve financial wellness. SoFi offers up to 4.6% APY on their savings accounts, as well as an investment platform, financial planning, and student loan refinancing…featuring an exclusive rate discount for med professionals and $100/month payments for residents. Check out all that SoFi offers at https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/Sofi *Loans originated by SoFi Bank, N.A., NMLS 696891. Advisory services by SoFi Wealth LLC. The brokerage product is offered by SoFi Securities LLC, Member FINRA/SIPC. Investing comes with risk including risk of loss. Additional terms and conditions may apply. The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors with their money since 2011. Our free financial planning resource covers a variety of topics from doctor mortgage loans and refinancing medical school loans to physician disability insurance and malpractice insurance. Learn about loan refinancing or consolidation, explore new investment strategies, and discover loan programs specifically aimed at helping doctors. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you! Main Website: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com  YouTube: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/youtube  Student Loan Advice: https://studentloanadvice.com  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Twitter: https://twitter.com/WCInvestor  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thewhitecoatinvestor  Subreddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/whitecoatinvestor  Online Courses: https://whitecoatinvestor.teachable.com  Newsletter: https://www.whitecoatinvestor.com/free-monthly-newsletter