Roth Conversion Ladder

Plan annual Traditional → Roth conversions during the gap years between retirement and RMDs — fill lower tax brackets now to dodge higher RMD tax later

📖 About this tool

What it does

Plans annual Traditional → Roth conversions during the gap years between retirement and RMDs. Compares lifetime federal + state tax with conversions vs without, and shows year-by-year converted amounts and tax brackets reached.

Who this helps

Early retirees with sizeable Traditional IRA / 401(k) balances. The window between retirement and age 73/75 is golden — low income, full control over conversions, no RMDs forcing your hand yet.

How to use it

  1. Pick filing status (Single / MFJ).
  2. Enter age timeline (current / convert start / convert end / end age).
  3. Enter Traditional + Roth + Cash balances and any other annual income.
  4. Set the bracket-fill target (12% sweet spot for most retirees, 22% if aggressive).
  5. Set your living expenses and which bucket funds them — Trad-funded expenses compete with conversion for bracket headroom.
  6. Read the verdict comparing lifetime tax with vs without conversions.

What it doesn't do

Doesn't model the 5-year clock for tax-free Roth principal withdrawal (acknowledged but not enforced). Federal brackets are 2025; state rate is a flat %.

Your Plan

Age & Timeline

Balances

Living Expenses

If you're living off retirement savings during the conversion window, choose a source. Trad withdrawals are taxable and reduce the room available for bracket-fill conversions that year — pick this only if you have to.

Strategy

Other Income & Tax

Pension, dividends, capital gains, etc. that count toward taxable income each year. Leave at 0 if you'll have no other income during your conversion window.

Conversion vs No-Conversion Comparison

Account Balances Over Time — With Conversion
Annual Tax — Conversion vs No-Conversion
Year-by-Year (With Conversion)
Age Trad Start Living Exp. Conversion RMD Marginal Bracket Federal Tax State Tax Trad End Roth End Cash End