Should I Consider a Roth Conversion? - A Planning Flowchart

Roth conversions are often discussed as a tax-saving opportunity — but in reality, they’re highly situational. The Roth Conversion Flowchart is designed to help you slow the conversation down and evaluate whether a Roth conversion is worth considering based on your specific circumstances.

Rather than providing a yes-or-no answer, this flowchart walks through the factors that typically matter most when assessing a potential conversion. These include current income levels, expected future tax brackets, proximity to retirement, required minimum distributions, Medicare considerations, and the availability of cash to pay associated taxes. Each step is intended to help clarify whether further discussion makes sense — or whether a Roth conversion may not be appropriate right now.

The value of this tool is its structure. By laying out the decision points visually, the flowchart helps separate common misconceptions from meaningful considerations. In many cases, it confirms that doing nothing is a perfectly reasonable outcome. In others, it highlights situations where additional analysis may be worthwhile.

This resource is not a recommendation and is not meant to prompt immediate action. Instead, it’s designed to support thoughtful conversations and prevent reactive decisions driven by headlines or incomplete information.

Used alongside broader planning discussions, the Roth Conversion Flowchart can help you approach this topic with greater clarity and confidence — understanding not just what a Roth conversion is, but when and why it might deserve consideration.