Questions for you Mega-Backdoor Roth'ers...
#41
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 760
I think that ultimately the Roth vs Traditional debate comes pretty close. I've seen case studies to support both. The issue is that we are using present-day numbers to calculate future numbers or just simply using hypotheticals.
For me, it comes down to control. I don't want all of my money subject to RMDs. And I don't want to be subject to the possibility of higher tax rates in 30 years. Of course, I have to make the assumption that the gutterment won't pillage Roth accounts but all of this future planning comes down to a series of (hopefully) educated guessing.
For me, it comes down to control. I don't want all of my money subject to RMDs. And I don't want to be subject to the possibility of higher tax rates in 30 years. Of course, I have to make the assumption that the gutterment won't pillage Roth accounts but all of this future planning comes down to a series of (hopefully) educated guessing.
#42
Roll地 Thunder
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: Pilot
Posts: 3,552
It痴 a wash. Take the hypothetical 10 bagger over 25 years assuming a 30% tax rate on $100,000.
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .7 = $700,000
Roth
100,000 x .7 x 10 = $700,000
Either leaves you with the same $700,000 at the end of the day. A 30% hit to the whole enchilada one way or the other.
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .7 = $700,000
Roth
100,000 x .7 x 10 = $700,000
Either leaves you with the same $700,000 at the end of the day. A 30% hit to the whole enchilada one way or the other.
#43
If you invested for 15 years vs 25 years, the balance is probably only $2-3 million and less likely to put you in the top tax bracket from RMD alone. If you developed a source of retirement income other than just a 401k account, it is possible the two combined would keep you over $300k.
What you are missing is that many pilots invest outside of traditional retirement plans and are building up equity through income property investments, income from owning a profitable business and taxable stock/mutual fund investments. There is also the possibility of pension income, military retirement income and spousal income. This combination makes a high tax bracket likely in retirement even after walking away from a 300k job. Not everyone will be in that position, but we can all try our best to get there.
#44
It痴 a wash. Take the hypothetical 10 bagger over 25 years assuming a 30% tax rate on $100,000.
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .7 = $700,000
Roth
100,000 x .7 x 10 = $700,000
Either leaves you with the same $700,000 at the end of the day. A 30% hit to the whole enchilada one way or the other.
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .7 = $700,000
Roth
100,000 x .7 x 10 = $700,000
Either leaves you with the same $700,000 at the end of the day. A 30% hit to the whole enchilada one way or the other.
If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement (almost everyone flying for a legacy will be), then the traditional 401k makes more sense.
For someone who is presently in the 35% tax bracket and expects to be in the 12% tax bracket in retirement ($77,400 + $24,000 = $101,400 per year in the 12% tax bracket).
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .88 = $880,000
Roth
100,000 x .65 x 10 = $650,000
#45
You will receive some money as employer match along the way, making it impossible to put all 55k in 401a, before hitting the 415C limits. If your goal is maximizing 401a contributions for a mega BDR. Start the year at 75% into 401a while company puts 16% into DC funds. After earning a little more than 60k for the year, the 415C limit is reached with a split that is roughly 10k DC and 45k in 401a.
#46
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,987
You will receive some money as employer match along the way, making it impossible to put all 55k in 401a, before hitting the 415C limits. If your goal is maximizing 401a contributions for a mega BDR. Start the year at 75% into 401a while company puts 16% into DC funds. After earning a little more than 60k for the year, the 415C limit is reached with a split that is roughly 10k DC and 45k in 401a.
#47
Roll地 Thunder
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: Pilot
Posts: 3,552
This is correct. It's extremely important that people understand this fundamental concept, and it's obvious that many in this thread don't understand this.
If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement (almost everyone flying for a legacy will be), then the traditional 401k makes more sense.
For someone who is presently in the 35% tax bracket and expects to be in the 12% tax bracket in retirement ($77,400 + $24,000 = $101,400 per year in the 12% tax bracket).
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .88 = $880,000
Roth
100,000 x .65 x 10 = $650,000
If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement (almost everyone flying for a legacy will be), then the traditional 401k makes more sense.
For someone who is presently in the 35% tax bracket and expects to be in the 12% tax bracket in retirement ($77,400 + $24,000 = $101,400 per year in the 12% tax bracket).
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .88 = $880,000
Roth
100,000 x .65 x 10 = $650,000
Here's the real math:
18k/yr = $1500/month. That done over 25 years at an 8% rate of return nets 1.43 million. It's going to be 1.43 million no matter whether it's in a roth or traditional, since you're maxing it out either way. Either way you would have paid in 18k/yr X 25 years, or $450,000.
Now the real comparison:
If you went the traditional route that whole 1.43 mil would be taxable. Assuming a 25% tax bracket, the tax bill on that would be 357k.
If you go the Roth route, you would have paid taxes on the 450k up front, which at a 40% rate = $180k. The other 1 million bucks growth is all tax free.
Again, paying a higher rate up front on a smaller amount is better in the long term than paying a smaller rate on a much larger sum later. Naturally as you get closer to retirement the scales start to tip the other way just because there isn't as much time for the tax free growth of the Roth to take effect.
#48
Roll地 Thunder
Joined APC: Oct 2009
Position: Pilot
Posts: 3,552
This is correct. It's extremely important that people understand this fundamental concept, and it's obvious that many in this thread don't understand this.
If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement (almost everyone flying for a legacy will be), then the traditional 401k makes more sense.
For someone who is presently in the 35% tax bracket and expects to be in the 12% tax bracket in retirement ($77,400 + $24,000 = $101,400 per year in the 12% tax bracket).
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .88 = $880,000
Roth
100,000 x .65 x 10 = $650,000
If you expect to be in a lower tax bracket in retirement (almost everyone flying for a legacy will be), then the traditional 401k makes more sense.
For someone who is presently in the 35% tax bracket and expects to be in the 12% tax bracket in retirement ($77,400 + $24,000 = $101,400 per year in the 12% tax bracket).
Non Roth
100,000 x 10 = 1M x .88 = $880,000
Roth
100,000 x .65 x 10 = $650,000
Last edited by tennisguru; 07-01-2018 at 06:59 PM.
#49
It's only a wash if you invest different amounts of money. In your example the person is only investing 70k/yr in the Roth vs 100k/yr in the non Roth. The reality is, especially in our situation, people are putting the max amount in either one. 18k non Roth investment is not the same as 18k Roth investment. The true pre tax comparison is 18k traditional vs ~24k Roth.
“Because while you are paying a higher rate now, it is on a much smaller sum of money. After 20-30 years of steady investing the vast majority of money in your account will be growth, not what you actually put in. All that growth money is tax free at a cost of paying taxes on a much smaller amount up front.”
All that growth money is also much smaller. Again, it’s a wash at the same tax rates.
#50
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2011
Posts: 760
In the end this is all a guess, isn't it? The fact that we are discussing this and people are truly weighing the pros and cons is a great thing.
To this point;
"For someone who is presently in the 35% tax bracket and expects to be in the 12% tax bracket in retirement ($77,400 + $24,000 = $101,400 per year in the 12% tax bracket)."
This is doable provided you have Roth money to live off of. Otherwise, if it's all traditional funds, by the time you hit retirement the RMDs on your account SHOULD far surpass that and force you into a much higher tax bracket. It's all about control of my money in retirement.
Play with the numbers here; https://www.bankrate.com/calculators...alculator.aspx
based on a 25 year career investing $55,000/yr, 7% return, 2.9% inflation I get $3.8 million. I think that is a VERY conservative estimate.
Then go here;
https://www.schwab.com/public/schwab...alculators/rmd
I'm showing around $140,000 in RMDs starting at age 70 1/2.
So, if you're doing it right, investing systematically every month, maxing out your retirement accounts and investing in a simple index, the likelihood of being in the 12% tax bracket is pretty slim (assuming this is all traditional funds and not Roth)....And that doesn't include the possibility of having other income sources (frozen pension, military pension etc).
To this point;
"For someone who is presently in the 35% tax bracket and expects to be in the 12% tax bracket in retirement ($77,400 + $24,000 = $101,400 per year in the 12% tax bracket)."
This is doable provided you have Roth money to live off of. Otherwise, if it's all traditional funds, by the time you hit retirement the RMDs on your account SHOULD far surpass that and force you into a much higher tax bracket. It's all about control of my money in retirement.
Play with the numbers here; https://www.bankrate.com/calculators...alculator.aspx
based on a 25 year career investing $55,000/yr, 7% return, 2.9% inflation I get $3.8 million. I think that is a VERY conservative estimate.
Then go here;
https://www.schwab.com/public/schwab...alculators/rmd
I'm showing around $140,000 in RMDs starting at age 70 1/2.
So, if you're doing it right, investing systematically every month, maxing out your retirement accounts and investing in a simple index, the likelihood of being in the 12% tax bracket is pretty slim (assuming this is all traditional funds and not Roth)....And that doesn't include the possibility of having other income sources (frozen pension, military pension etc).
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
cloudseer
Flight Schools and Training
2
07-12-2011 05:51 PM