People don't search for financial planning. They search for a decision. Here are the ones that matter most.
It sounds like the right question. But after helping people navigate this decision for over 40 years, I've learned the real question people are asking is: what happens if I do?
The internet loves simple answers on this one. Take it early. Wait until 70. The problem is that neither answer considers your specific situation.
At first glance this looks like a simple math problem. Sometimes it is. But where the money comes from, and what it does next, changes the answer entirely.
At first glance this seems like a real estate question. But it usually isn't. It's about income, taxes, liquidity, risk, retirement, and sometimes family and legacy planning.
My answer is usually the same: maybe. A Roth conversion is not a strategy by itself. It's a tool. And whether it makes sense depends entirely on what you're trying to accomplish.
For teachers, government employees, and long-term corporate workers, this may be one of the most important financial decisions they ever make. And unlike most decisions, it is often irrevocable.
