Social Security, IRMAA, Roth Conversions, Roth Contributions, TEFRA: Q&A #2633

Jim and Chris discuss listener emails on the Social Security Fairness Act, an IRMAA question involving deferred compensation, Roth conversions before and after key age milestones, Roth contributions for high-income catch-up savers, and how TEFRA affects an inherited annuity.

(9:45) — A listener disagrees with the show's characterization of the Social Security Fairness Act as unfair, explaining that after paying into both a government pension and Social Security for 40 quarters, she believes receiving both without penalty is fair for her situation.

(27:45) — The guys field a question from a retiree who retired in 2025 and will receive deferred compensation payments through 2029 that push his income over the IRMAA threshold. He wonders whether he can file an SSA-44 in 2029 to eliminate the IRMAA surcharges.

(37:00) — Jim and Chris are asked to revisit a recent discussion on moving money from Traditional to Roth accounts instead of taking distributions, with a listener wanting more detail on the implications of doing so before age 59 and a half and after RMD age.

(48:30) — George asks for the pluses and minuses of continuing Roth 401(k)/403(b) contributions later in life compared with investing in a taxable brokerage account, including how a 50-year-old might decide between the two and whether those aged 61-63 should use the Roth option for super catch-up contributions.

(1:03:30) — A listener has several questions about TEFRA, including what it stands for, when it was enacted, and how it affects distributions from an inherited annuity listing Pre-TEFRA and Post-TEFRA cost basis.