Category
Conversion headroom, withdrawal sequencing, and account-level tradeoffs.
Charitable
QCD vs Roth Conversion Planner (RMD + IRMAA)
Model baseline MAGI, RMD, QCD, and Roth conversions to estimate conversion room before an IRMAA threshold and build a sequencing playbook.
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
In retirement planning, sequence is often the strategy. Not because sequence changes the math, but because it changes what is possible.
This planner helps you map QCD and Roth conversion decisions against an IRMAA guardrail using numbers you can actually estimate.
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.
QCD + Conversion Room Planner
Estimate taxable RMD after QCD and conversion room inside an IRMAA guardrail you enter.
Taxable RMD (after QCD)
$0
Conversion room (guardrail)
$0
Projected MAGI (with conversion)
$0
| Scenario | QCD | Conversion | Projected MAGI | Result |
|---|
Practical rule: decide your guardrail early, then execute monthly. The "right" sequence is the one you can actually follow without surprises.
Sequencing Playbook (What You Are Really Deciding)
QCDs can reduce income from required distributions and create more room for conversions.
Roth conversions can raise MAGI and push you into IRMAA brackets if you do not watch headroom.
The point is to build a plan that fits your reality: RMD needs, donation intent, and bracket control.
Inputs That Matter Most
Baseline MAGI (before RMD/QCD/conversions).
RMD amount and planned QCD amount (QCD is limited by RMD mechanics).
The IRMAA threshold you want to treat as a guardrail, plus your buffer.
Execution Notes
Do not wait until December to discover you have no headroom.
If you are close to the line, build a buffer and consider using withholding to smooth surprises.
Store the output as part of your year folder so you can explain decisions later.
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
Often the core math is similar, but sequence changes constraints and guardrails. The practical win is executing a plan without accidental bracket crossings.
It can, depending on your facts. This tool estimates conversion room by subtracting taxable RMD (after QCD) from your IRMAA headroom.
You only need the guardrail you care about. Enter the next threshold and a buffer so the plan stays conservative.
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.