Knowledge Base
Roth conversions, rollovers, contribution strategies, and the retirement account structures that optimize your tax position over a 40+ year horizon.
39 articles in this category — page 2 of 4
The short answer: yes, but the mechanics matter more than most articles admit. Using a Roth IRA as an emergency fund works cleanly for contributions, gets complicated fast for conversions, and is largely irrelevant for anyone earning above the income phase-out thresholds unless they've been running
AIG IUL products sit at a specific intersection: permanent life insurance with cash value growth tied to a market index, a floor that prevents losses in down years, and a cap that limits upside in strong ones. For most retail buyers, the pitch stops there. For someone at $5M+ net worth, the relevant
IUL policies sit in a specific, narrow category: permanent life insurance with a cash value component credited based on the performance of a market index, typically the S&P 500. They are not securities. The NAIC regulates them at the state level, not the SEC or FINRA, which has direct consequences f
The roth ira conversion basis calculation is the single number that separates a tax-efficient conversion from an expensive mistake. Your basis is the after-tax money already sitting in your traditional IRA accounts, contributions you made but could not deduct. Convert without knowing it, and you pa
USAA IUL is a permanent life insurance product that credits interest based on the performance of an external index, typically the S&P 500, subject to a cap and a floor. Before anything else: USAA membership is restricted to active duty military, veterans, and eligible family members. If you don't qu
Yes, and the mechanics are straightforward. A non-working spouse can contribute up to $7,000 in 2024 ($8,000 if age 50 or older) to a Roth IRA through a spousal IRA, provided the couple files jointly and the working spouse has sufficient earned income to cover both contributions. The IRS codifies th
The window between age 60 and your first Required Minimum Distribution is the most tax-efficient conversion opportunity most high-net-worth retirees will ever have. Your income has likely dropped, your bracket is temporarily lower, and the IRS isn't yet forcing distributions. The question isn't whet
The IRS definition is narrower than most people expect. Under IRC Section 72(m)(7), you must be unable to engage in any substantial gainful activity due to a medically determinable physical or mental impairment. That condition must be expected to result in death or last continuously for at least 12
The short answer: yes, but the eligibility rules for a Roth IRA for non-US citizens are more restrictive than most expat-focused content admits. The Foreign Earned Income Exclusion, which most Americans abroad rely on to reduce their US tax bill, can simultaneously disqualify them from contributing
The Transamerica IUL lawsuit centers on allegations that Transamerica used inflated policy illustrations, concealed fee structures, and misrepresented the long-term performance of its indexed universal life insurance products, specifically the Transamerica Financial Foundation IUL and the Transameri
Yes, but the answer depends entirely on how your income is sourced and whether you qualify as a bona fide Puerto Rico resident under IRS rules. A Puerto Rico resident whose income is fully excluded under IRC Section 933 has zero qualifying compensation for Roth IRA purposes, making them completely i
Yes, but the backdoor Roth IRA for married couples filing separately works against you more often than it works for you. The mechanics are legal. The income limit on Roth conversions is zero regardless of filing status, per IRC Section 408A. The problem is everything surrounding the conversion: a pu