In this podcast, the hosts answer questions from a 10-year-old about saving for a first car, debate the best investment strategy for a young investor, explore different approaches to investing and the importance of industry knowledge, and discuss retiring on dividends vs the 4% rule. They also provide advice on whether to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth account while having student loans.
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Quick takeaways
It is advisable for Erica to prioritize converting her traditional IRA to a Roth IRA due to her low tax bracket and the potential long-term tax savings.
Erica should focus on the conversion of her traditional IRA rather than aggressively paying off her student loans in order to take advantage of the current tax benefits and have more financial flexibility in the future.
The hosts recommend prioritizing retirement contributions over student loan repayment, emphasizing the low interest rates on the loans and the option to defer payments for cash flow flexibility.
Deep dives
Convert Traditional IRA to Roth IRA
Erica should prioritize converting her traditional IRA to a Roth IRA as soon as possible. This is a unique opportunity for her to do so at a lower tax bracket, as she will only be earning income for five months this year. By converting now, she can take advantage of the lower tax rates and potentially save a significant amount of money in the long run. It's important to act quickly, as this opportunity may not be available next year.
Student Loans
While Erica has student loans to pay off, it is advisable for her to make minimum payments for now and prioritize the conversion of her traditional IRA. The interest rates on her loans are reasonable, and she can focus on paying off the debt more aggressively starting in January 2024. By converting her IRA now, she can take advantage of the current tax benefits and have more flexibility in managing her finances in the future.
Seize the Opportunity
Given Erica's circumstances and the potential tax savings, it is strongly advised that she prioritize converting her traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. This is a unique opportunity that she may not have in the future, and it can provide long-term financial benefits. While it may be tempting to focus on student loan repayment, the current low tax bracket makes the conversion a more advantageous choice.
Prioritizing Retirement Over Student Loans
In this episode, the hosts discuss the question of whether to prioritize paying off student loans or investing for retirement. They advise prioritizing retirement contributions, given the low interest rate of the student loans (4.4%) and the cash flow flexibility provided by the option to defer payments. They recommend making a lump sum contribution of $6,000 to the Roth IRA on January 1st, 2024, and continuing the extra $500 monthly contributions to the 403(b) retirement account.
Financial Advice for a Teacher
The hosts also provide financial advice to a teacher named Chloe. They suggest prioritizing retirement contributions, including the extra $500 monthly contribution to the 403(b) account and a lump sum Roth IRA contribution. They recommend deprioritizing the repayment of Chloe's $16,000 student loans with an interest rate of 4.4%, given the ability to defer payments and the long-term growth potential of retirement investments. They emphasize the importance of funding retirement accounts and reassessing priorities based on cash flow availability.
#459: Andrey is a savvy 10-year-old wondering what’s the best way to save up for his first car.
Ingrid wants to know if her parents’ preference for Retiring on Dividends is a better approach compared to the 4 Percent Rule.
Erica’s part-time work schedule will place her in an unusually low tax bracket this year. Should she take this rare chance to execute a Roth conversion? Or is it better to prioritize debt payoff?
Chloe is worried about the end of student loan forbearance. Should she pull back from making retirement contributions to focus on debt payoff?
Former financial planner Joe Saul-Sehy and I tackle these four questions in today’s episode.