How to use this quiz
Answer the 6 questions on brackets, RMD timing, where the tax money would come from, IRMAA proximity, gap years, and legacy intent. The bracket question carries the most weight — a conversion only pays when today's bracket is genuinely cheaper than the one RMDs will force later. Guessing is fine on any single answer; the verdict reflects the combination, not one input.
What your result means
"Strong fit" means you have the two things the strategy needs: a bracket spread in your favor and outside cash to pay the tax. "With guardrails" means the spread is there but IRMAA proximity or the payment source makes sizing each year's conversion the whole game — convert to a cap, not a goal. "Not yet" means the pieces aren't lined up today; the answer often changes when income drops or RMDs come into view. "Probably not now" usually means a 32%+ bracket or paying tax out of the conversion itself, both of which make the price hard to justify unless legacy goals or an even-higher future bracket change the math.
When to trust it
The quiz weighs six signals; real decisions also hinge on state taxes, your health and longevity picture, and future tax law — none of which a quiz can see. Treat the verdict as a reason to run numbers, not a conclusion. The companion planner prices actual scenarios year by year with verified 2026 federal tables, and its marginal-rate chart shows where conversions stop being cheap. For six-figure balances or tight situations, a fee-only advisor with tax training earns their fee here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What age is best for Roth conversions?
For most people, the window between retiring and claiming Social Security — often early-to-mid 60s — when taxable income drops into the 10–22% brackets. Close behind are the years just before required minimum distributions begin (73 if born 1951–1959, 75 for 1960 or later). The worst stretch is usually right after Social Security starts: each conversion dollar can drag up to 85 cents of benefits into taxable income, so a 22% bracket behaves like 40.7%.
Should I pay the conversion tax from the conversion itself?
Usually no. Withholding tax from the converted amount leaves less compounding in the Roth — and if you're under 59½, the withheld portion can count as an early distribution with a 10% penalty. Paying from cash or a taxable account keeps the full amount working tax-free. That said, paying from the conversion isn't automatically wrong when there's no outside cash; it just needs a clearly better future bracket to be worth it.
Is a conversion still worth it if my bracket stays the same?
It can be, for three reasons: converted dollars stop generating future RMDs, the Roth grows tax-free rather than tax-deferred, and inherited Roth money carries no income tax for heirs under current law. A same-bracket conversion is essentially a bet that today's rate beats tomorrow's — weaker than a spread in your favor, but not automatically wrong. Run both scenarios in the planner before committing.