by John D. Bledsoe
© 1998, John D. Bledsoe
The following copyrighted article is available exclusively on the Roth IRA Web Site:
I have seen so many articles concerning Roth IRAs in both the general and financial press that have been filled with errors, inaccuracies, incorrect innuendo and just downright bad advice. I have also received many phone calls from people who discussed Roth IRAs with their stockbroker, butcher, banker, accountant, neighbor, the clerk at their brokerage house or some other Roth "expert" who had given them some misinformation. I would like to take this opportunity to clear the air on the most prevalent misconceptions about Roth IRAs.
"You cannot use the money converted to a Roth IRA for five years without additional taxes and penalties."
Wrong.
You may use up to 100% of the amount transferred or contributed to a Roth even the day after you convert without any additional taxes (and no penalties if you are over 59½). The reason for this is that Roth IRAs use a very favorable accounting method called FIFO. That stands for first in first out. What this means is that any withdrawals from a Roth will first be considered from the principal or basis, which is tax-free. After 100% of the amount of your transfers or contributions have been withdrawn then taxes or penalties may apply, but then only if the five-year rule has not been met. People who are under 59½ will still be subject to the old 10% early withdrawal penalty on converted Roth IRAs. This is exactly as it was before these people under 59½ converted to a Roth. So to those of you under age 59½, and who have complained about this, I say GROW UP!
"It takes years for the Roth conversion to catch up and exceed my regular IRA or IRA rollover."
Wrong.
Many people who convert from a regular IRA to a Roth IRA have more spendable (after tax) money from the very first day that they convert. If the conversion temporarily pushes you into a higher tax bracket, you may less spendable money for a time (typically a very short time). This amount of excess spendable money created by the Roth conversion then usually grows even greater over time. No pain no gain clearly does not apply to the Roth IRA conversion.
"Roth conversions are for the young."
Wrong.
Due to the mandatory distribution rules of regular IRAs and retirement plans the Roth may even have a greater advantage for those age 70 and over who convert to a Roth. Younger people will still have great benefits by the Roth conversion and they may have much longer periods to accumulate money on a tax free vs. tax deferred basis.
"My income tax rate will be lower when I retire."
Maybe not.
Most of the clients that I have had through the years thought that this would be the case. However, for almost all of them, the older they get, even through retirement, the higher their income tax bracket.
"My regular IRA is my money and it is worth what the brokerage statement says that it’s worth."
Wrong.
The IRA or rollover account is always worth less than the account statement says that it is. This is because you have a partner in the IRA on every penny…called the IRS.
"My spouse and I can pass to our children $1,250,000 without any estate tax."
Not always.
If an IRA is a substantial part of your assets it is often needed to fund the (currently) $625,000 bypass trust created at the first death. In a very high percentage of the cases the IRA cannot be placed into this bypass trust. If the non-IRA holder spouse dies first the IRA may not even be considered as an asset of the bypass trust. Even if the IRA is available for this bypass trust it is often not utilized due to the adverse income tax consequences of holding the IRA in trust. Bottom line what this means is that many people who are married with their IRAs representing their main asset, will only have the one estate tax exclusion of $625,000.
"My income is too high to qualify for the IRA conversion."
Maybe not.
It is true that your modified adjusted gross income has to be $100,000 or less in the one year that you convert to a Roth IRA. However, many of my clients with substantially higher incomes have met this qualification with careful income tax planning. Remember this $100,000 limitation only applies to the conversion year. Even if you cannot qualify for a 1998 Roth conversion, converting in a later year will still be a great advantage for most people even without the benefit of the special 1998 4-year conversion tax deferral.
"The Roth conversion will not be advantageous to most people, and for the few people that it would help, it really only benefits their heirs."
Wrong.
There are two main categories of people who can benefit from the Roth conversion. The first type is anyone over age 59½. The second type is anyone else who has funds outside their IRA with which to pay the taxes upon conversion. These two categories comprise a large number of the folks who have regular IRAs. Additionally the benefit is to the person who converts, as they are able to enjoy more in after tax spendable income for the rest of their lives. To the extent that there is money left over at death then the Roth conversion further benefits their heirs.
"The IRA can be deferred for a long time after I turn age 70½, and when I die my spouse or heirs will be able to continue this deferral for a long time in the future."
Not likely.
Most IRA holders desire this so-called "stretch out", or maximum deferral strategy for their IRAs. However, the mandatory taxable withdrawals are in reality much faster than desired. This is often due to the first death occurring later than anticipated as well as the "wrong spouse" (non-IRA holder) often dying first. Keep in mind that Roth IRAs have no mandatory lifetime withdrawals as well as no elections (irrevocable or otherwise) that must be made at 70½. As a result if maximum income tax deferral is your desire, then the Roth is a much better vehicle.
"My congresswomen or favorite presidential candidate has assured me that a flat tax is near, and this flat tax rate will be so low that the Roth conversion will have no significant advantage."
Don’t tell me that you fell for that one!
The majority of political pundits do not believe that a flat tax is in our future. Even if we were to have a flat tax, the flat tax rate would have to be so unrealistically low (17% or so), for the Roth conversion to have been a mistake.
The conversion of an ordinary IRA to a Roth will be very beneficial to many people.
Before you dismiss the Roth IRA as a bad idea or convert your IRA to a Roth, you really
must run the numbers on your specific situation. I suggest that you consult a true Roth
IRA expert on this very important decision.
Author:
John D. Bledsoe is the author of the book, Roth to Riches:
The Ordinary to Roth IRA Handbook.