Introduction

Those who are saving for retirement may have to sort through a confusing set of strategies, including:

•    Employer-provided qualified plans
•    IRAs
•    Social security benefits
•    After-tax personal investments

Each of these strategies may have an equally bewildering sub-set of choices.

Take IRAs for example.  Employers may help employees fund traditional IRA accounts through a SEP plan.  Traditional personally-funded IRAs may allow deductible or non-deductible contributions.  And many taxpayers have to decide whether traditional or Roth IRAs are the best choice.

In 2010, the rules with regard to Roth IRAs are changing.  More taxpayers will be eligible to convert their traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs.  The change will cause clients to ask questions that financial professionals will need to be prepared to answer.  The key question for most will be this:

Is it better to keep my traditional IRA, or should I convert to a Roth IRA?

The answer depends on the client’s goals with regard to

•    Current income tax results,
•    Retirement income,
•    Family wealth distribution, and
•    Tax timing.

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