Telly
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
- Joined
- Feb 22, 2003
- Messages
- 2,395
I avoided using the word "convert", since that makes one think of IRA -> Roth, which this is not.
The Background - Some years ago I received an unexpected inheritance. I decided to keep it as Separate Property, as defined by the laws of my state. I set it up as Transfer On Death (mine) to our kids. To keep it as Separate Property, all income as defined by the state that comes from it becomes Shared Property, and should not be co-mingled so as not to lose the Separate Property status. I have it invested in a moderate allocation fund (MorningStar-speak), one that is income-oriented. So the quarterly dividends are paid to me (us) as cash (Shared), and the capital gains (Separate) are reinvested in the fund. This is a Taxable account, of course. We use the dividends as one of our income streams.
Thinking of the future - When I and DW are on SS, income from a Roth is not counted in the SS 32k rule on taxation of SS benefits. And when we get on to RMD's, a Roth would not incure taxes like the RMD's.
So I was thinking... what if I was to create another Separate Property account as a ROTH, that parallels the existing account, and every year as long as I can, do a trustee transfer of $6,500 from Taxable account to the parallel Roth account?
This alone doesn't seem to be a problem. But then there is the quarterly distribution to me of the dividends. I have been reading IRS PUB 590 on all IRA's. I am over 59 1/2 YOA now, so distributions from a Roth incur no penalty due to age... but then there is that ill-defined "5 year rule" in there. I have had a different Roth account in existence for well over 5 years. But this new Separate Property Roth account might only be in existence 2 months or so before the first dividend distribution would occur.
Would the distribution from a newly-created Roth invoke a penalty, or is the fact that I have a different Roth that has been in existence for well over 5 years cover me? It's not clear to me at all.
I may or may not do this, I'm just thinking. I probably will not be able to convert all of it to Roth, not enough years @ 6.5k/yr. before DW ceases any employment, and that would end the wages income the IRS says is needed to make a contribution to a Roth.
Am interested in your thoughts, and the Roth 5 year rule issue.
EDIT: That's "An" account, not "and" in the thread title. Can't edit the title...
The Background - Some years ago I received an unexpected inheritance. I decided to keep it as Separate Property, as defined by the laws of my state. I set it up as Transfer On Death (mine) to our kids. To keep it as Separate Property, all income as defined by the state that comes from it becomes Shared Property, and should not be co-mingled so as not to lose the Separate Property status. I have it invested in a moderate allocation fund (MorningStar-speak), one that is income-oriented. So the quarterly dividends are paid to me (us) as cash (Shared), and the capital gains (Separate) are reinvested in the fund. This is a Taxable account, of course. We use the dividends as one of our income streams.
Thinking of the future - When I and DW are on SS, income from a Roth is not counted in the SS 32k rule on taxation of SS benefits. And when we get on to RMD's, a Roth would not incure taxes like the RMD's.
So I was thinking... what if I was to create another Separate Property account as a ROTH, that parallels the existing account, and every year as long as I can, do a trustee transfer of $6,500 from Taxable account to the parallel Roth account?
This alone doesn't seem to be a problem. But then there is the quarterly distribution to me of the dividends. I have been reading IRS PUB 590 on all IRA's. I am over 59 1/2 YOA now, so distributions from a Roth incur no penalty due to age... but then there is that ill-defined "5 year rule" in there. I have had a different Roth account in existence for well over 5 years. But this new Separate Property Roth account might only be in existence 2 months or so before the first dividend distribution would occur.
Would the distribution from a newly-created Roth invoke a penalty, or is the fact that I have a different Roth that has been in existence for well over 5 years cover me? It's not clear to me at all.
I may or may not do this, I'm just thinking. I probably will not be able to convert all of it to Roth, not enough years @ 6.5k/yr. before DW ceases any employment, and that would end the wages income the IRS says is needed to make a contribution to a Roth.
Am interested in your thoughts, and the Roth 5 year rule issue.
EDIT: That's "An" account, not "and" in the thread title. Can't edit the title...
