Your Roth conversion window closes in December

A Roth conversion moves money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. You pay tax on it now, and never again. Whether that is a good idea depends almost entirely on your tax bracket this year compared with later.

Low-income years are the best window: the years between retiring and claiming Social Security, a sabbatical, a year with a large business loss. Conversions count in the calendar year they happen, so the deadline is December 31, not April 15.

Every fall Sam runs a tax projection for each client and sizes a conversion that fills the current bracket without spilling into the next. If you have not had yours yet, it is coming this month.