How to Avoid Common IRA Mistakes

To help you sidestep some of the most common blunders and get the most out of your IRA investments, Kiplinger’s recent article entitled “Don't Make These Common IRA Mistakes” points out the most common blunders and how to avoid them.

Not Planning for the "Second Half". It’s really about two halves. You accumulate wealth in the first half and withdraw it in the second. Many people only play the first half of the game: they focus only on saving as much as possible in their IRA. However, with retirement saving, it's not how much you have. It's how much you can keep after taxes.

Converting to a Roth All at Once. If you think your tax rate will be higher when you retire than it is right now, converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA this year might be smart. In the end, the total tax you owe on those funds may be lower by taking that step. However, a Roth conversion has a tax bill on your next return. The "mistake" people sometimes make is thinking they have to convert the entire account at once. Instead, you can do partial conversions.

Exceeding Roth IRA Income Limits. There are annual contribution limits for both traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. However, for Roth IRAs only, there are also income limits. If you are single, the amount you can contribute to a Roth IRA in 2022 is gradually reduced to zero, if your modified adjusted gross income is between $129,000 and $144,000 ($204,000 to $214,000 for joint filers).

Doing Indirect Rollovers. Many people have trouble when they attempt to move money from one retirement account to another. If you take money out of an IRA and the check is in your name, you have only 60 days to roll that money over into another retirement account before the withdrawn funds are deemed taxable income. This is an indirect rollover. For IRA-to-IRA transfers, you can only do one indirect rollover per year.

Forgetting to Account for All RMDs. You must start taking required minimum distributions (RMDs) when you reach 72 (or 73 under upcoming rules). Some people miss an RMD or don't take it for all of their accounts subject to the RMD rules. Other people miscalculate and don't withdraw enough money. These can be costly mistakes, because you could be hit with a stiff penalty for violating the RMD rules.

Reference: Kiplinger (July 25, 2022) “Don't Make These Common IRA Mistakes”