Should I Convert to a Roth IRA? Ian's perspective

A Roth IRA conversion can be one of the most powerful long-term tax strategies — but only when timed correctly. You’re paying tax now to enjoy tax-free withdrawals later, and the amount and timing matter far more than the decision to convert itself.

When a Roth Conversion Makes Sense

• 📉 Market dips = tax discounts
  If the market is down, your IRA balance is lower. Converting during a dip means paying tax on a smaller amount while future recovery happens tax-free inside the Roth.

• ⬇️ Lower-income years
  If your income is unusually low, that’s an ideal time to “fill up” lower tax brackets with a conversion.

• ⚖️ Bracket management
  The strategy is rarely “convert everything.” We typically convert only up to the top of a target bracket (often 22%–24%) to avoid pushing you into higher rates.

• State taxes matter — especially if you may move

  If you expect to move to a no-income-tax state (like FL, TX, TN, etc.), timing your conversion can save real money:

  • Converting after you establish residency in the new state may mean no state tax on the conversion.

  • Converting before the move may trigger state tax where you currently live.

  • If a market dip is happening now but your move is soon, we may split conversions across years to capture both benefits.

  Your relocation timeline should absolutely be part of the planning.

Why Conversions are Valuable

• Future qualified Roth withdrawals are tax-free.

• No required minimum distributions (RMDs).

• Conversions spread over several years keep your lifetime tax bill lower and more predictable.

Ian’s Take

A Roth conversion works best as a measured, multi-year plan — using market dips, income fluctuations, and future state residency to your advantage. It’s not about converting everything at once; it’s about converting the right amount at the right time.

👉 Book a Tax Planning meeting and let’s talk about whether a Roth conversion makes sense for your situation.