Category
Conversion headroom, withdrawal sequencing, and account-level tradeoffs.
Retirement
IRMAA Headroom + Roth Conversion Room Planner
Estimate how much conversion room you have before you cross a Medicare IRMAA threshold (using thresholds you enter), then map a conversion plan you can execute.
On This Page
3 planning notes, 3 FAQs, and source links for follow-up.
Workflow
Start with sample inputs, review the live output, then save the assumptions you plan to act on.
Why This Tool Exists
Most Roth conversion mistakes are not about the Roth. They are about the hidden cliffs around it.
This planner is built for execution: enter your projected MAGI and the next IRMAA threshold you care about, then get a simple conversion headroom number and a plan.
Execution note: Run the tool, then write down your assumptions and keep the receipts and logs as you go. The strategy that wins on paper only matters if your process holds up in the real world.
IRMAA Headroom Planner
Enter your baseline MAGI and the next IRMAA guardrail, then get conversion room with buffer.
Headroom (after buffer)
$0
Max conversion (guardrail)
$0
Planned conversion status
N/A
| Scenario | Conversion | Projected MAGI | Guardrail | Result |
|---|
If avoiding the threshold costs you a valuable conversion, that can still be the right trade. This tool helps you see the ceiling so you decide intentionally.
How This Planner Works
You enter a projected baseline MAGI for the year (before conversions).
You enter the next IRMAA threshold you want to avoid (thresholds vary by year and filing status).
The tool calculates headroom and shows a conversion plan that stays inside the guardrail.
What To Enter So The Output Is Actually Useful
Use a baseline MAGI that is realistic, not optimistic. Underestimating MAGI is how people fall into brackets by accident.
If you are doing QCDs, large capital gains, or one-time income events, model those into baseline MAGI first.
Treat the output as a ceiling, not a goal. You still need a tax projection for full optimization.
Execution Notes
Pick a cadence you will follow (monthly or quarterly). A plan that is too complex usually becomes a Q4 scramble.
Save your inputs and a dated projection snapshot in the same folder each year.
If you are close to a threshold, leave buffer room. Small surprises happen.
Documentation Checklist (Keep It Defensible)
- Create a one-page objective memo before you execute (what outcome you are trying to buy).
- Store your assumptions and calculations in a dated PDF (no year-end reconstructions).
- Keep evidence in the same folder structure every month (receipts, logs, approvals).
- Ask your CPA what would make this easy to sign off on, then build that packet.
Primary Sources To Verify Before You Act
Use primary guidance and your own records before you treat any page like a final answer. These are the source layers that should drive the decision.
- IRS retirement plan guidance and IRA rules
- Medicare premium and IRMAA guidance
- Current IRS forms, instructions, and publications for the relevant tax year
- Your actual account statements, payroll reports, entity records, and advisor memos
Frequently Asked Questions
IRMAA thresholds change by year and filing status. This tool stays evergreen by letting you input the guardrail that applies to you.
IRMAA is based on modified AGI concepts. Use a projected MAGI number from your advisor or a conservative planning estimate.
Not always. Sometimes the conversion is still worth it. This tool helps you see the headroom and make that decision intentionally.
Use The Tool, Then Build The Full Plan Live
Before You File runs live on Zoom from Friday, April 17, 2026 through Sunday, April 19, 2026, from 10 AM to 4 PM Eastern each day. Preston walks through how to read your 2025 return, choose the right tax and wealth moves, and leave with a dated 12-month 2026 plan.
Get Your Seat Before You FileEducational content only. Results vary based on your facts. Always consult a qualified tax professional before making decisions.