The Clark Howard Podcast 12.09.25 Ask An Advisor With Wes Moss
11 snips
Dec 9, 2025 
This week, Wes Moss, a fiduciary financial advisor and CFP®, joins the conversation to discuss crucial retirement planning tips. He warns against the risky idea of converting a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA all at once, citing potential tax burdens. Wes also highlights the staggering amount of forgotten 401(k) accounts costing Americans billions in growth. He recommends gradual Roth conversions and shares insights on managing liquidity, Medicare implications, and the importance of diversified investments for a secure retirement.
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Don't Do One-Time Mega Roth Conversions
- Avoid converting an entire Traditional IRA to a Roth in one year because it can create a massive, unaffordable tax bill.
- Do convert gradually, filling tax brackets to prevent hitting top marginal rates and Medicare/IRMAA shocks.
Academic Models Can Miss Real-World Tax Effects
- Academic models may assume flat tax rates and short horizons that mask real-world marginal tax effects.
- Real conversions push taxpayers into higher marginal brackets and trigger state tax and Medicare premium impacts.
Plan For The Tax Payment And Medicare Consequences
- If you convert, ensure you have separate liquidity to pay the tax bill so you don't withdraw from the IRA itself.
- Also consider Medicare IRMAA, Social Security taxation, and lost deductions before converting large sums.
