Raising Your Living Standard

Can the Moderate-Income Gain from Converting to a Roth?

In 2010 everyone, regardless of income, will be eligible to convert their regular IRA money into Roth IRAs. Doing so will require paying taxes on the amount converted; i.e., the amount taken out of the regular IRA and put into a Roth IRA.

We've already published one case study that showed a couple converting 300K to a ROTH and raising their lifetime living standard 2.45% (i.e., every year they spend 2.45% more for the rest of their lives). That's a tremendous incentive to do the conversion if you have the resources to pay the tax bill. But how do the numbers work with a couple with more modest earnings, which makes a smaller, in this case, $50K, conversion.

Well, let's find out.

This case study shows a .6% annual gain ($443) in living standard from exercising this option.

Basic Profile

Tom is 54, Janet is 54

The 529 Solution

Mary Hinojosa and her husband Miles Sigwell have two children to put through college--Franky, born in 2001, and Juliet, born in 2006. They would like to continue the family tradition of attending Caltech in Pasadena, California, so they must brace themselves for the annual $50,000 it will cost for each child in tuition, room, and board.

Mary and Miles have good incomes and still have some time to save. But after putting pencil to paper, they realize that this is not a simple calculation. Here's what they want to know:

Shacking Up With Mom

Selma Jones and her only child, Roger, aren’t crazy about each other, but they share a common desire – obtaining a higher living standard.

Roger’s 35 and makes $60,000 a year working for a landscaping company. Roger owns a large home that’s feeling pretty empty now that his girlfriend Thelma’s left. Roger hates to cook, clean, and do laundry. He spends lots of money eating out and having his place cleaned and his shirts pressed.

There's No Place Like Home For Saving Taxes

Bert and Ernie have been pals for a long time. They have the same $80K annual salary, and their employer, PBS, matches their $4K contribution to a 403(b).

They live across the street from each other on Sesame Lane and each owns his $200K Tudor-style home outright. They pay annual property taxes ($2K) and insurance ($700) on their home. Their homes are identical save for one feature: Bert gets the morning sun and Ernie gets the evening sun. Alas, their envy of each other is palpable.

Should I Take My Pension in a Lump Sum?

Recently overheard on another financial website . . .

Question: "I'm 60 and have just retired. I have a pension that can pay me $760/mo. or a lump sum of about $120,000. I'm torn. Should I take the monthly payment format or the lump sum? It seems that I could take the lump sum and invest it elsewhere and do better job investing it. Right or wrong?" --Bill H., Birmingham, Ala.

Let's flesh this case out and see what ESPlanner suggests.

Convert Your IRA to a Roth!

Currently, only those with adjusted gross incomes of less than 100K (single or married) are eligible to do the conversion. And those with higher incomes (110K for singles and 160K for married joint filers) are not able to contribute to a Roth IRA, although they can contribute to a Roth 401(k) if their employer has established such an account.

The Bottom Line is Your Living Standard

All personal financial planning questions, from Can I retire early? to When should I take Social Security? to What can happen if I invest in risky assets? boil down to the impact on your living standard.

ESPlanner is the only financial planning program that directly calculates your living standard and helps you achieve the highest living standard that your current and future economic resources can support.

Take the example of Jack and Jill Sprat, a middle-aged couple.

Basic Profile:

Which Mortgage Should I Take?

John and Betty are very lucky. They are 30 years old; they just got married; and they have reliable jobs in today’s economy--earning $50,000 each. The couple has a 3 year-old and a 1 year-old. They plan to send their children to moderately expensive colleges and to retire at 65. They have a $12,500 in savings, plus $70,000 set aside for a down payment on a house.

When Should I Take Social Security?

For years the Social Security Administration has urged retirees to take Social Security as soon as possible, even though doing so means permanently receiving lower benefits. Here’s what they’ve said: “From an actuarial perspective, it doesn’t matter when you start collecting. But you may die early and regret (hopefully, in heaven) having waited, so don’t take the chance of dying before collecting. Take your benefits early.”

Contributing to the ROTH or IRA

Huck and Molly Finn from Hannibal, Missouri are both 30, earn $50K each, have a modest home, plan for one child in 2010, target to retire at 65, and expect to earn 3% real (after inflation) on their investments.

Their employers offer regular and Roth 401(k) retirement plans, but no match. Both plans can save taxes. Contributions to regular 401(k)s or IRAs are tax deductible, but withdrawals are taxable. Contributions to Roths aren’t deductible, but withdrawals are tax free.