Don’t Make This Huge Roth Mistake

Roth conversions can be an incredible retirement tax-planning tool—but doing one at the wrong time could leave you paying more in taxes than necessary. Brian and Bo break down 5 situations where a Roth conversion may not make sense, including high-income years, future tax brackets, paying conversion taxes from your IRA, estate planning, and state income taxes. If you’re wondering when to do a Roth conversion, whether Roth or Traditional is better, or how Roth conversions affect retirement taxes and RMDs, this episode will help you understand the numbers you should consider before making the move.

Timestamps
00:00:00 – Don’t Make This Huge Roth Mistake
00:05:31 – 5 Times You Should NOT Do a Roth Conversion
00:19:37 – Why Do Retirees Need Bonds If Stocks Perform Better?
00:26:33 – Are We Putting Too Much Money Down on Our House?
00:32:23 – How Do You Learn to Spend After Years of Saving?
00:38:50 – Rapid Fire Begins
00:39:16 – How Much Should Go Toward Retirement vs. a Home?
00:40:22 – Should You Invest in a Business Instead of a 401(k)?
00:41:29 – Can Trump Accounts Eventually Fund a Roth IRA?
00:42:26 – When Does a Charitable Giving Account Make Sense?
00:43:02 – Why Doesn’t FOO Step 1 Use Your Out-of-Pocket Maximum?
00:44:03 – Should I Pause Investing to Buy a New Car?
00:45:03 – Should I Roll My 401(k) Into an IRA?
00:46:00 – HSA vs. Roth IRA: Which Should You Prioritize?
00:58:02 – Why Is FOO Step 5 Specifically a Roth IRA?

🔗 2026 Tax Guide → https://moneyguy.com/resource/2026-tax-guide/
🔗 Money Guy’s Top Tax Planning Strategies → https://moneyguy.com/guide/taxes/
🔗 Retirement – Money Guy’s Ultimate Guide → https://moneyguy.com/guide/retirement/
🔗 Everything You Need to Know About Roth IRAs → https://learn.moneyguy.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-roth-iras
🔗 Work With a Money Guy Financial Advisor → https://moneyguy.com/become-a-client/

🎓 Brian Preston (CFP®, CPA) and Bo Hanson (CFA®, CFP®) share professional insights to help you own your financial future.

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