48. Medicare IRMAA 2026: Should You Stop Your Roth Conversion?
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48. Medicare IRMAA 2026: Should You Stop Your Roth Conversion?
Could Roth conversions raise your Medicare premiums—and should that stop you from converting? In this lesson of Retirement Income School, Dr. Amanda explains how the income-related monthly adjustment amount (IRMAA) affects Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, why exceeding an income threshold by even one cent can trigger higher costs, and how Medicare’s two-year lookback works. You’ll also see a Roth conversion demonstration using an IRMAA tier-cap strategy. Through a hypothetical case study, Dr. Amanda compares conversion timelines, explains the potential cost of waiting, and shows why strategically managing IRMAA may be more effective than abandoning Roth conversions altogether.
Timestamps:
00:00 Should IRMAA stop your Roth conversions?
01:09 What is IRMAA?
01:51 Understanding the 2026 IRMAA tiers
03:47 The IRMAA cliff explained
04:46 Three IRMAA rules that matter
06:08 How an IRMAA tier-cap strategy works
07:05 Roth conversion software demonstration
10:07 Sam and Sally’s five-year conversion plan
14:11 Comparing a no-surcharge strategy
16:06 Why every Roth conversion plan is different
16:54 The potential cost of waiting to convert
18:07 Key takeaway: Convert with the IRMAA cliff in mind
18:22 Building a personalized Roth conversion strategy
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About Dr. Amanda
Amanda Barrientez | PhD, RICP®, RSSA®, NPN #19460436
IBC Practitioner®, Ed Slott's IRA Advisor Group Member®
Court of the Table Member MDRT®
Dr. Amanda is the founder of Retirement Solutions Financial™ and creator of the Retirement Income School™. After losing her father and helping her mom navigate retirement, she felt called to help others avoid the stress and confusion of planning alone.
She specializes in safe money strategies using dividend-paying whole life insurance, fixed index annuities, long-term care coverage, and Social Security claiming strategy. Her mission? To help you protect your wealth and enjoy a secure, stress-free retirement with confidence.
⚠️ DISCLAIMER
The information in this podcast is provided for general educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or tax advice. Retirement Income School™ and Dr. Amanda Barrientez do not provide individual investment recommendations. Always consult with a licensed advisor or tax professional before implementing any strategy discussed.