Roth IRAs: The Antidote to Higher Taxes?
By James Christy, Wealth Advisor
Who enjoys paying taxes? With federal income tax rates possibly going up in the near future, the case for opening and contributing to a Roth IRA account, if eligible, becomes even more compelling. Roth IRAs are considered tax-advantaged because earnings within them are tax-free if withdrawals are made after age 59 1/2 and the account has been held for five or more years. The deadline for making Roth IRA contributions for tax year 2020 is April 15, 2021. This is true even if you have received IRS approval for an extension of the filing of your 2020 federal income tax return. The maximum contribution for 2020 is $6,000, unless you are age 50 or over, in which case the maximum permissible contribution is $7,000.
Please remember that there is no longer an age limit for making a Roth IRA contribution. Prior to 2020, individuals could not make such a contribution once they turned age 70 1/2, but Congress in 2019 repealed the age limit for tax years 2020 and later.
There remain income limitations governing who is eligible to contribute, however. Single taxpayers must have modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) under $139,000 for tax year 2020, and under $140,000 for tax year 2021 to contribute to a Roth IRA. Married taxpayers filing jointly are permitted to make a contribution if their combined MAGI is under $206,000 for tax year 2020 and $208,000 for tax year 2021.
The rules governing contributions to IRAs can be complicated. Please give us a call if we can walk you through your individual situation to determine your eligibility.
This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific, individualized tax advice. We suggest you discuss specific tax issues with a qualified tax advisor.
James Christy, J.D.
Wealth Advisor
After a successful career as a senior executive in both the public and private sectors, Jim Christy joined Northwest Financial Advisors in 2003. Jim advises higher net worth families and individuals on a range of retirement income planning, estate planning, investment planning and tax mitigation strategies.
Consistently each year for the past 15 years, LPL Financial has recognized Jim among the top five Financial Institution Services (FIS) advisors. LPL Financial currently ranks Jim the #4 FIS advisor in the U.S. in total production, among LPL’s approximately 3,500 financial institution-based advisors.1 Jim was also recognized on Bank Investment Consultant’s former list of Top Bank Advisors from 2012-2019, including a #2 ranking in 2015.² Five Star Professional has also selected Jim as a Five Star Wealth Manager award recipient every year since 2015.³
Prior to joining Northwest Financial Advisors, Jim was a senior executive for two Fortune 500 companies and one of the nation’s leading industry trade associations. He was Vice President, Government Relations, in charge of the Washington office of defense and aerospace conglomerate, TRW Inc. (1993-1999), Washington Counsel for Air Products & Chemicals Inc. (1985-1993) and senior vice president at PhRMA, the trade association of the U.S. pharmaceutical industry (2000-2001). He previously served seven years on Capitol Hill in senior staff positions in the U.S. House of Representatives, including as Counsel to the House Committee on Energy and Commerce (1981-1984). Jim also served as Counsel to the Secretary of the Interior in the Reagan Administration (1984-85). In 1980, Jim was a candidate for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives representing Ohio’s 6th Congressional District.
Jim holds his undergraduate degree in economics from the University of Cincinnati and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from the University of Cincinnati College of Law. Jim is a member of the Bar of the U.S. Supreme Court.
Jim and his wife, Grace, are the parents of six adult children and are blessed with 12 grandchildren.
1 Rankings based on total production among all LPL Financial FIS advisors through September 30, 2024.
2 Based on assets under management, production, asset growth, percentage of fee business and production-per-assets.
3 Award based on 10 objective criteria such as credentials, experience and assets under management, among other factors. Wealth managers do not pay a fee to be considered or placed on the final list of 2015 -2024 Five Star Wealth Managers.
