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Much of the Roth conversion guidance out there is built on married couple numbers. If you're single, or expect to be, those numbers can be off by about half.

In this episode, I model four Roth conversion strategies on a $2 million IRA for Joanne, a hypothetical 65-year-old single woman: convert everything, convert nothing, convert half, and a banded approach that converts up to the Medicare line each year. The aggressive strategy came out $605,000 behind doing nothing. The banded strategy came out ahead by about $51,000. Then I changed one assumption, who inherits the IRA, and the result swung by roughly $129,000.

In this episode:

• Why single filers get about half the room couples get under the Medicare surcharge, the 22% bracket, and the senior deduction phase-out
• How the $6,000 senior deduction phase-out raises the real tax rate on conversions
• Why selling brokerage shares to pay conversion taxes can give up a valuable step-up in basis
• How RMDs starting at 75 can push a single filer over the Medicare threshold year after year
• Why your heirs' tax bracket may matter more than your own when deciding whether to convert
• How portfolio growth changes the value of converting
• Three things you can do this week without hiring anyone

Episodes mentioned:

• Inheriting an IRA? The 10-Year Rule That Can Quietly Cost Your Kids Six Figures → https://alignyourretirement.buzzsprout.com/2591501/episodes/19391630-inheriting-an-ira-the-10-year-rule-that-can-quietly-cost-your-kids-six-figures
• The Widow's Penalty: Why Taxes Rise After a Spouse Dies and How Roth Conversions Can Help → https://alignyourretirement.buzzsprout.com/2591501/episodes/19458008-the-widow-s-penalty-why-taxes-rise-after-a-spouse-dies-and-how-roth-conversions-can-help

Resources mentioned:

• The Executive Woman's Tax Playbook (free guide): https://alignfinancialsolutions.com/retirement-tax-playbook/

📝 Free Retirement Readiness Assessment → https://alignfinancialsolutions.com/retirement-readiness-assessment

📞 Book a free Align Call: → https://calendly.com/alignfinancialsolutions/align-call?utm_source=podcast

Follow the Conversation:

• LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/hazel-secco
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/alignfinancialsolutions

About Hazel Secco, CFP®, CDFA®

Hazel is the founder of Align Financial Solutions. As a fee-only, fiduciary advisor, she specializes in helping independent women navigate career transitions, equity compensation, and building toward a Work Optional life.

Disclaimer: All content in this podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and does not constitute individual investment, legal, or tax advice. Investing involves risk. Always consult with a qualified professional regarding your specific situation.
The above case study is hypothetical and does not involve an actual Align Financial Solutions client. No portion of the content should be construed by a client or prospective client as a guarantee that he/she will experience the same or certain level of results or satisfaction if Align Fina...