Take Advantage of Your Peak Deduction Years, Ep #371

Published: Oct. 21, 2024, 8 a.m.

Are you sure you're making the right call when deciding between Roth and traditional retirement accounts? A recent article on the Michael Kitsis blog started a debate into why, during your peak earning years, contributing to traditional pre-tax accounts might actually make more sense\u2014even if tax rates rise in the future.\xa0

I\u2019m going to break down why high-income earners can often benefit more from deferring taxes now and paying them later in retirement when they have more control over their income.

I\u2019ll explain how using tax deductions at your highest earning years and withdrawing funds at lower tax rates in retirement can save you a significant amount in taxes over time. It\u2019s all about maximizing your flexibility and finding opportunities to lower your tax burden down the road.\xa0

Outline of This Episode
  • [0:20] Why are pre-tax contributions better during peak earning years?
  • [0:52] How can retirees better control income and taxes after retiring?
  • [5:00] What\u2019s the key tax strategy difference between Roth and traditional?
  • [6:10] Why take deductions at high income and realize them later?
  • [9:20] How do tax rate changes affect Roth vs. traditional choices?
  • [12:08] Why is avoiding future "tax tidal waves" crucial for savers?
  • [13:20] What life events can raise taxes, even without rate hikes?
  • [14:50] How do traditional accounts allow for smart Roth conversions?
  • [15:20] Why should retirees focus on tax flexibility now?
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