Craig Wear explains why you should plan Roth conversions in January, not December. Conversions create taxable income that locks in after year-end, so starting early gives you time to adjust. He recommends calculating your required minimum distributions first using a free 30-second online calculator.
Roth conversions are not something you want to rush at the end of the year. They work best when you give yourself time to think, to plan, and to make good decisions. Why is that? Because when you convert money from an IRA to a Roth, you're creating taxable income, and once December 31st hits, that decision is locked in. So for 2026, the conversion plan really should start early in the year. So starting early gives you flexibility, and it lowers the odds of making the decision that you may regret later. An easy first step to starting early is to calculate your required minimum distributions and understand their tax impact. We actually even have a free calculator that takes about 30 seconds to fill out, and it spits out all kinds of helpful information. There's a link below in the description where you can have access to that.
