Tag: Medicare IRMAA

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How to Evaluate a Roth Conversion for Retirement Tax Planning (Ep. 210)

How to Evaluate a Roth Conversion for Retirement Tax Planning (Ep. 210)

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Are you approaching retirement and wondering whether paying taxes on your IRA now through a Roth conversion could help reduce your future tax bill?

A Roth conversion can be an important part of retirement tax planning, but there’s no single approach that works for everyone. The timing, amount you convert, current and future tax brackets, Medicare costs, and even what you plan to leave to your children can all influence the decision.

In this episode, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, explains how Roth conversions work and what you should consider when deciding whether paying taxes today could create greater flexibility throughout retirement.

Larry discusses:

  • How Roth conversions work and why the converted amount becomes taxable income in the year you make the conversion
  • Why lower-income years before Social Security or required minimum distributions may provide an opportunity to consider converting
  • How current and future tax brackets can help determine when a Roth conversion may make sense
  • Why Medicare IRMAA and other tax consequences should be considered when choosing how much to convert
  • How Roth conversions and inherited IRA rules can affect the retirement assets you eventually leave to your children
  • And more!

Connect with Larry Heller: 

Heller Wealth Management is now part of Savant Wealth Management. Savant is a Registered Investment Advisor. This content is provided for informational and educational purposes only and should not be construed as personalized investment advice.

Effective March 31, 2026, Heller Wealth Management joined Savant Wealth Management (“Savant”). A copy of Savant’s current written disclosure Brochure discussing our advisory services and fees is available at www.savantwealth.com/disclosure-brochures/

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Top Retirement Tax Pitfalls to Avoid with Rob Premselaar (Ep. 180)

Top Retirement Tax Pitfalls to Avoid with Rob Premselaar (Ep. 180)

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Think you’ve done everything right for retirement? One overlooked tax detail could cost you thousands.

In this episode of Retirement Unlocked, Larry Heller, CFP®, CDFA®, welcomes Rob Premselaar, CPA and founder of Premselaar CPA LLC, to shed light on the hidden tax pitfalls that can derail even the most carefully crafted retirement plans.

They explore the real impact of Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), the surprise taxation of Social Security benefits, and the often-misunderstood IRMAA Medicare surcharge. Rob also shares proactive strategies for minimizing taxes in retirement, including qualified charitable distributions (QCDs), the pros and cons of Roth conversions, and key planning opportunities for business owners approaching or entering retirement.

Discussions in this release include:

  • The income thresholds that quietly increase your Medicare premiums (IRMAA)
  • Why Roth conversions are often misunderstood and underutilized
  • How to navigate RMD timing and avoid excise penalties
  • How Medicare surcharges can catch retirees off guard and what to do about them
  • Advanced planning opportunities using cash balance plans
  • And more!

Connect with Rob Premselaar:

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About Our Guest:

Rob is the Owner of Premselaar CPA LLC, managing a portfolio of small-to-medium sized businesses and high-net-worth individuals, providing tax planning, tax strategy, tax filing, and CFO business services. Premselaar CPA LLC provides outstanding service to its clients because of its dedication to the three underlying principles of quality, professionalism, and responsiveness.