Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen) Suze Answers Your Mega Retirement Plan Strategy Questions
Jan 8, 2026
Suze dives deep into the mega backdoor Roth strategy, clarifying the pro rata rule and its intricacies. She explains 415(c) after-tax contributions, the importance of employer offerings, and the specifics around catch-up contributions for those over 50. Listeners learn how earned income impacts IRA contributions and the applicability of after-tax contributions across different plans. Suze also discusses in-plan conversions, TSP limits, and shed light on when to utilize mega backdoor strategies effectively.
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Make Emergency Savings Your Foundation
- Build an emergency savings account as the core of financial security.
- Suze Orman recommends the Ultimate Opportunity Savings Account at Alliant Credit Union for that purpose.
From Zero To Multi-Million Retirement
- Shelby went from zero savings and debt at 40 to $3M retirement and $300k emergency savings at 62.
- She credits Suze Orman's guidance and proper estate documents for that transformation.
Don't Use Backdoor Roth If You Have Pre-Tax IRAs
- Avoid a backdoor Roth IRA if you have any pre-tax traditional IRAs because of the pro rata rule.
- Use employer-sponsored Roth 401(k)/403(b)/TSP options instead, since the pro rata rule doesn't apply to employer plans.