Quiz · 6 questions · your answers stay on your device
Should you do a Roth conversion this year?
Your brother-in-law swears everyone should convert, and your accountant changed the subject. A conversion is a bet on your tax rate now versus later. Six questions about your bracket, your timeline, and how you would pay the tax, then a plain-English read and a checklist to bring to a tax professional.
Free consultation. No obligation to enroll.
- Six questions, about two minutes
- Framework, not financial advice
- Everything runs on your device
- Ends with a tax pro checklist
Six questions about your taxes, your timeline, and how you would pay the conversion tax. At the end you get a plain-English read on the idea plus a checklist to bring to a tax professional.
Question 1 of 6
Compare your tax bracket now to what you expect in retirement.
Your answers stay on this device.
How the quiz works
Each answer leans toward one of three outcomes: a conversion looks worth exploring, it probably is not worth it this year, or the call is too close and belongs with a tax pro. The outcome with the most leans wins.
The three things that decide a conversion are your tax rate now versus later, whether you can pay the tax from savings outside the account, and how many years the money has to grow. The quiz weighs all three.
This is a framework, not advice. Tax law has edges the quiz cannot see: state taxes, Medicare premium surcharges, and bracket thresholds. Every result ends with a checklist for a tax professional.
How to use this quiz
- Answer all six questions, picking the option closest to your situation.
- Read your result. It is a plain-English read, not a recommendation.
- Bring the checklist at the end to a tax professional before you act on it.
The scoring rule
Score for each outcome = points from every answer leaning toward it Winning outcome = the highest score Tie = too close to call, which is listed first
Skipped questions add no points. This is a framework, not advice.
Common questions about this quiz
Is this quiz financial advice?
No. It is educational. Your answers produce a plain-English read on the idea and a checklist for a tax professional. Only a pro who sees your full return can say whether a conversion makes sense for you.
What is a Roth conversion, in plain English?
You move money from a traditional retirement account into a Roth account. You pay income tax on the amount now, and qualified withdrawals later are tax-free. The bet is that your tax rate now is lower than it would be later.
Why does paying the tax from savings matter so much?
If you pay the tax from the converted money, less money lands in the Roth and starts growing. Paying from outside savings keeps the full amount working for you, which is where most of the long-term benefit comes from.
What is IRMAA and why does the quiz mention it?
IRMAA is a surcharge on Medicare Part B and Part D premiums for higher-income retirees. A big conversion can push your income over the threshold and raise your premiums for a year or two. A tax pro can model this before you convert.
Related tools and reads
Christian BrinkleyNC Life & Health · Greensboro, NC
The quiz raised a tax question? Bring it to me
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