FREE NEWSLETTER

Forum › Taxes

ROTH Conversions and Fixed Indexed Annuities

I am 65. I plan to execute ROTH conversions over the next 10 years before I hit  RMDs. Obviously, handling the taxes at the conversion is front and center, pay with cash on hand or take out from the conversion. I understand there is an option to ROTH convert into Fixed Indexed Annuities, where the bonus (15-18%) may cover the entire tax burden. The one I have looked at is a 5-year contract, then you can take the money and put it back into the market. I will not need to use the money for the foreseeable future (>20 years). Does anyone have experience with this type of product for ROTH conversions?

More On This Topic

Email Alerts for this Comment Thread
Notify of
11 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
William Perry
11 months ago

Good Sunday afternoon Charles,

Thanks for the link to an annuity product you are considering.

In an earlier comment I said I thought the best use of a FIA is for a good contractual guarantee. I also think another potential advantage are mortality credits which can provide a person who is looking for an income stream they can not outlive.

I am unclear how the annuity described in the flyer would provide you with needed contractual guarantees or provide you a potential needed mortality credits as you state All the money in a ROTH will go to heirs.

In your original post you express your concern about the conversion taxes when you write handling the taxes at the conversion is front and center.

The statement in the linked flyer “EBR can only be elected at product issue. Rider charge is 0.95% of accumulation value at each contract anniversary during the surrender charge period. This rider charge is considered a penalty-free withdrawal…” reads to me the insurance company is offering to credit a higher initial deposit to the annuity by you agreeing to additional annual expense charges.

I do not see anything in the flyer that changes the tax rules that when you convert an amount from your traditional IRA to your Roth IRA that will impact your year of conversion taxes to the federal and maybe your state income taxes. The annuity is simply being purchased within the Roth IRA and the elected EBR bonus offered is a feature in selling to get you to buy the annuity. You will be paying the same tax in the year of the conversion regardless of if you buy an annuity in your Roth or not.

Your concern expressed in your comment about how to fund long-term care when needed appears to me to be an area that a hybrid life/LTC insurance policy could address.

I hope my thoughts help in your decisions.

Best,
Bill

Dan Malone
11 months ago

(new) Editor: Why was my comment not accepted?

William Perry
11 months ago
Reply to  Dan Malone

Hello Dan,

From my past experience with my posting comments to HD I know if I include more than one embedded link in my comment then my comment would disappear for a while waiting for moderation and approval from the volunteer editor. When I did have a post disappear for a while there would be a 404 notice flash on my screen after I hit the post comment button.

I know that Bogdan is young, an active CPA and still working full time. If he is still working with taxes in his professional capacity then the week leading up to the extended due date for filing individual tax returns, October 15, which typically was the busiest work period of the year for me before retirement, he likely has been unable to make time to moderate all HD comments as soon as they post. The editor may very well be burning his time candle at both ends and in the middle too.