WCI #354: Mega Backdoor Roth Contributions with Minimal 1099 Income
Feb 15, 2024
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In this podcast, they answer questions about 529s and taxes on rollover IRA contributions. They also discuss Mega Backdoor Roths and compare UTMA vs. parental brokerage savings for minors. The episode is sponsored by SoFi, helping medical professionals with loan refinancing and payment plans. They emphasize striving for high achievement, maximizing retirement savings, and promoting financial literacy.
Using a UTMA account for saving for minors provides tax advantages but requires relinquishing control over the money.
Matching campaigns in charitable giving may not result in additional funds for the charity, serving more as a marketing opportunity.
Deep dives
Maximizing Contributions and Tax Benefits for UTMA Accounts
When it comes to saving for minors, there are benefits and disadvantages to using a UTMA account versus a parental brokerage account. With a UTMA account, you relinquish control over the money, as it becomes the child's property. However, you gain certain tax advantages, such as the money being taxed at the child's lower tax rate. UTMA accounts are subject to the kitty tax, but they can be a good option if you want to give your child a head start with investments and financial education. Opening multiple UTMA accounts for different children is possible, and each child can receive gifts up to the annual IRS gifting allowance. However, the tax treatment of UTMA accounts depends on various factors, so it's important to consult a financial advisor for personalized advice.
Understanding Matching Campaigns in Charitable Giving
Matching campaigns in charitable giving, where someone pledges to match contributions made to a charity, can be seen as a way to encourage more giving. However, it's likely that the individual offering the match is already a significant donor to the charity. While matching campaigns may create an incentive for people to donate more, it's probable that the charity would have received the pledged amount even without the match. These campaigns can be viewed as a form of marketing or charitable giving promotion, rather than an opportunity for the charity to gain additional funds. If you support the charity and want to give more, participating in a matching campaign can still have a positive impact.
Contributing to a Mega Backdoor Roth with Self-Employment Income
For self-employed individuals looking to contribute to a Mega Backdoor Roth, the amount that can be contributed depends on the net income from the self-employment activity. In this scenario, if the individual had $60,000 in self-employment income with $10,000 in business expenses, the net income would be $50,000. The entire net income can be contributed to the Solo 401(k) plan and then converted to a Roth IRA. However, contributions that are tax-deferred employer contributions would be limited to 20% of the net income. It's important to consider the contribution limits and tax implications when making contributions to a Mega Backdoor Roth.
Assessing the Benefits of Donor-Advised Funds for Charitable Giving
Donor-advised funds offer advantages for charitable giving, including the ability to give anonymously and separate the decision-making process from distributions. Matching campaigns might be a strategy used by charities to encourage larger donations. While it can create a perception of greater impact, it's likely that the individuals offering the matches are already significant donors. The actual benefit to the charity may be that donors give more than they would have without the match, but it's unlikely that the charity would have missed out on the pledged amount. Donor-advised funds can still be an effective tool for maximizing the benefits of charitable giving while maintaining control over the distribution of funds.
Today we tackle a few of your questions about 529s. We answer some questions about when you have to pay taxes on your rollover IRA contributions to Roth as well as a question about Mega Backdoor Roths. We talk about structured notes and what the advantages and disadvantages are to saving for minors using a UTMA vs. a parental brokerage.
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The White Coat Investor has been helping doctors with their money since 2011. Our free financial planning resource covers a variety of topics from doctor mortgage loans and refinancing medical school loans to physician disability insurance and malpractice insurance. Learn about loan refinancing or consolidation, explore new investment strategies, and discover loan programs specifically aimed at helping doctors. If you're a high-income professional and ready to get a "fair shake" on Wall Street, The White Coat Investor is for you!