06/12/2026
Did you know??... if someone has $500,000 in a traditional IRA, they may mentally think they have $500,000 saved. But when withdrawals are made, every dollar is generally taxed as ordinary income. Depending on their future tax bracket, they might effectively keep only 70–85% of that balance after taxes.
This becomes especially important when people reach the age for Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs). Large tax-deferred balances can:
* Push them into higher tax brackets.
* Increase taxation of Social Security benefits.
* Increase Medicare Part B and Part D premiums through IRMAA surcharges.
That’s why some retirees intentionally convert portions of traditional IRA money to a Roth IRA during lower-income years—even though they pay taxes upfront—to reduce future tax surprises.
Many people spend decades focusing on growing the account balance and very little time planning for how they’ll eventually pay the taxes.
Want help planning and making moves? Call me!