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—even if tax rates rise in the future. 

I’m 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’ll 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’s all about maximizing your flexibility and finding opportunities to lower your tax burden down the road. 

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’s 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?

Resources & People Mentioned

• The Retirement Podcast Network
• Michael Kitces Blog: The article titled "Why Pre-Tax Contributions Are Better Than Roth in Peak Earning Years, Even If Tax Rates Increase" by Ben Henry-Moreland.
• Retirement Tax Quiz Tool: Available at retirementstartstoday.com/tax
• Ben Henry-Moreland’s articles

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