There is no limit to the bonds you can convert. When you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you pay taxes on the money you exchange to secure tax-free withdrawals in the future, as well as various other benefits, including no required minimum distributions. Plus, regardless of your age, you can still contribute to your Roth IRA as long as you’re still earning eligible income. Traditional IRAs are generally financed with pre-tax dollars. You only pay income tax when you withdraw (or convert) that money.
However, regardless of your age, you can still contribute to a Roth IRA and make rollover contributions to a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA. Remember that once you’ve added money to your rollover IRA, you may no longer be able to include the account in a future employer’s plan. You can transfer any IRA money you’ve saved outside of your employer-sponsored plan to a Vanguard IRA through an asset transfer. However, most people looking to buy I bonds this year won’t be able to use this option.
One advantage of Roth IRAs over traditional IRAs is that you don’t have to claim the required minimum distributions, which you need to think about if you want to leave the money to your heirs. A rollover is when you transfer the assets of an employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401 (k) or 403 (b), into an IRA. You then call the financial company that manages your former employer’s retirement savings and your savings are transferred into a Vanguard IRA. You can contribute to a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA, even if you participate in another retirement plan through your employer or company.
The most obvious drawbacks are the impact on your current tax bill. Your IRA withdrawal amount is considered taxable income for this year and that you can’t touch any of the money you exchange for at least five years unless you pay a fine. When you convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, you owe tax on any money in the traditional IRA that would have been taxed when paid out. You can convert almost any type of employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401 (k), 403 (b), or 457, into a Vanguard IRA. Depending on when you buy I-bonds, you also need to keep track of when you can access the money.
