Roth conversions in your 60s: a quiet way to keep more

A Roth conversion moves money from a pre-tax account, like a traditional IRA, into a Roth IRA, and you pay the tax now instead of later. The lower-income years between retirement and required withdrawals, which generally begin at age 73 for people born from 1951 through 1959 or age 75 for people born in 1960 or later, can be a time to evaluate whether a conversion fits your plan.

Why your 60s are the window

For many people, the years between when they retire and when required minimum distributions begin, at age 73 for people born from 1951 through 1959 or age 75 for people born in 1960 or later, are lower-income years. Wages have stopped, but RMDs and, often, full Social Security haven't kicked in yet. That dip in income can create a planning opportunity. If you're still a few years from retiring, mapping this window ahead of time is part of how Roth conversions fit into pre-retiree planning.

What a conversion actually does

• Moves money from pre-tax to Roth, where it grows and is later withdrawn tax-free
• Fills up your lower tax brackets now, at a rate you know
• Shrinks future RMDs, which can otherwise push you into higher brackets
• Leaves heirs a tax-free account instead of a taxable one

It isn't free, or automatic

You pay tax on every dollar you convert, in the year you convert it. Convert too much and you can push yourself into a higher bracket, raise your Medicare premiums, or trigger more taxation of your Social Security. The art is converting just enough, in the right years. For the 2026 tax brackets, RMD ages, and contribution limits, see our updated reference guide.

There's another reason income management matters in your early 60s: if you're retiring before Medicare eligibility at 65, your reported income directly determines what you'll pay for ACA marketplace coverage. Getting this interaction right — how conversions affect both your tax bill and your health coverage options before Medicare eligibility — is part of building a coordinated plan for the bridge years.

This kind of sizing decision is exactly the sort of work I do as part of retirement planning in Chester County, PA, coordinating conversions against your full tax and income picture rather than looking at them in isolation.

Frequently asked questions

Should I do a Roth conversion?

It depends on your tax brackets now versus later, your other income, and your goals for heirs. The low-income years in your 60s are often the best time, but the right amount varies year to year.