Michael Kitces is the Chief Financial Planning Nerd at Kitces.com, dedicated to advancing knowledge in financial planning and helping to make financial advisors better and more successful.
In addition, he is the Head of Planning Strategy at Buckingham Wealth Partners, the co-founder of the XY Planning Network, AdvicePay, New Planner Recruiting, fpPathfinder, and FA BeanCounters, the former Practitioner Editor of the Journal of Financial Planning, the host of the Financial Advisor Success podcast, and the publisher of the popular financial planning industry blog Nerd’s Eye View.
In 2010, Michael was recognized with one of the FPA’s “Heart of Financial Planning” awards for his dedication and work in advancing the profession.
Back in the spring of 2021 Editor-in-Chief, Dominique Molina, sat down with Michael Kitces from Kitces.com to discuss creative ways to use the ROTH IRA when developing tax planning strategies. This exclusive video interview is jam-packed with a variety of recommendations and suggestions highlighting the flexibility you gain in your planning when including the ROTH IRA as a tool! Sit back, relax, and enjoy the show!
The basic concept of the “backdoor Roth IRA contribution” is relatively straightforward. Contributing directly to a Roth IRA is restricted for higher-income individuals; once a married couple has an AGI in excess of $193,000 (or $131,000 for an individual), the maximum contribution limit to a Roth IRA reduces to zero. However, anyone with earned income can contribute to an IRA, regardless of how high their income is; at worst, higher income levels may limit the deductibility of that IRA contribution (for those who are an active participant in an employer retirement plan), but not the ability to make the IRA contribution.
In addition, under the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (TIPRA), there have been no income limits on Roth conversions of traditional IRAs since 2010. As a result, anyone who has funds in a traditional IRA, whether originally deductible or not, is eligible to do a Roth conversion. In other words, while income limits remain on Roth contributions, there are no income limits for a Roth conversion.
President Trump’s campaign promises oriented toward working stiffs and geezers – No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Car Loan Interest, No Tax on Social Security – were not precisely fulfilled in the Big Beautiful Bill, but they were not ignored. Rather than the exclusion implied by “No Tax,” we get deductions. Just so we don’t miss the connection, the first three get their own chapter in the Big Beautiful Bill – Delivering on Presidential Priorities to Provide New Middle-Class Tax Relief. The bone thrown to seniors is an exemption.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act relieves some of the tax burden that comes along with tip income for tax years 2025-2028. But not in some of the ways that it was initially explained. Yes, tip income is still taxable income. No, customers do not have to pay tips in cash for them to be deductible. But the tip does have to be voluntary, qualified, and reported to the IRS.
Do you love giving your clients great news? I do. Especially when it is about a tax benefit they can receive as the result of the hard work that they have put in throughout the tax year. That is what the overtime deduction is for the taxpayer. A little bit of tax relief for their hard work. But before sharing the good news with them, we need to make sure that we understand that No tax on overtime is not a blanket statement that will apply to all overtime compensation and all taxpayers. It is our responsibility to do our due diligence to understand who it will impact and how.
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President Trump’s campaign promises oriented toward working stiffs and geezers – No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, No Tax on Car Loan Interest, No Tax on Social Security – were not precisely fulfilled in the Big Beautiful Bill, but they were not ignored. Rather than the exclusion implied by “No Tax,” we get deductions. Just so we don’t miss the connection, the first three get their own chapter in the Big Beautiful Bill – Delivering on Presidential Priorities to Provide New Middle-Class Tax Relief. The bone thrown to seniors is an exemption.
The One Big Beautiful Bill Act relieves some of the tax burden that comes along with tip income for tax years 2025-2028. But not in some of the ways that it was initially explained. Yes, tip income is still taxable income. No, customers do not have to pay tips in cash for them to be deductible. But the tip does have to be voluntary, qualified, and reported to the IRS.
Do you love giving your clients great news? I do. Especially when it is about a tax benefit they can receive as the result of the hard work that they have put in throughout the tax year. That is what the overtime deduction is for the taxpayer. A little bit of tax relief for their hard work. But before sharing the good news with them, we need to make sure that we understand that No tax on overtime is not a blanket statement that will apply to all overtime compensation and all taxpayers. It is our responsibility to do our due diligence to understand who it will impact and how.
When you own business properties, they will occasionally require repairs; that’s just a fact of business ownership. So, whether you need to make repairs on your place of business or your rental buildings, keep these simple truths in mind: You can either increase your net worth with tax-favored repairs, or you can decrease your net worth with tax-impaired improvements. Which would you prefer?
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Cross-border ventures can unlock exciting destinations for growth and investment, but they also come with some heavy-duty baggage -- think IRS paperwork, withholding headaches, and estate tax landmines. If you're a tax planner gearing up for this global expedition (especially if it's your first trip), this guide is your passport to smoother travels.
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A mix of old and new this month, obvious miscues and arcane strategies, an old protester/defier, and the perennial discovery jousts.
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Networking is vital to any profession and is no different for us Certified Public Accountants (CPAs). Attending conferences and seminars can be a game-changer, offering opportunities to learn, connect, and grow your professional network. These events are not just about business but also about personal and professional growth. However, to truly benefit from these events, it's essential to have a strategy in place.
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In an era where Artificial Intelligence (AI) effortlessly handles the computational heavy lifting of tax preparation, the role of the accountant is evolving into something far more profound. The Post-Cognitive Accountant emerges not as a number cruncher but as a holistic advisor, transforming mundane tax documents into gateways of deep personal and financial insight. The once straightforward Form 1040 is now a rich tapestry, each box a doorway into the unique narrative of an individual's life. Let's embark on a journey through the 1040, reimagined as a portal to new dimensions of understanding and opportunity.
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There are a few tax tips for people with disabilities that I think are not as well-known as they should be. They can also be applicable to their parents or others who care about them. This is not meant to be a comprehensive treatment of all aspects of how taxation and disability interact. Rather it is to alert you to some things I think should be more widely known. One thing to keep in mind is that some of the parents and grandparents of disabled adults don’t necessarily share this part of their personal life, so you may be surprised at how this information might be valuable and appreciated by some of your clients.
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Taxes are scary enough, even without the threat of scammers involved. While technology has in some ways made taxes easier than ever, like any tool ever invented by humans, these new technologies have also become the plaything of scammers looking to pull off cons. Elderly clients who often have large life savings can be easy targets for scams, whether because of social isolation or emotional and cognitive problems, or maybe just because they didn’t keep up with the latest IRS or FBI warnings about being careful on the internet. Some elderly victims learn too late that it takes serious effort to resolve thefts of money – and potentially years to fix identity theft. These clients need to be extra vigilant. Here’s what to tell them.
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In the competitive accounting world, where trust and reliability are paramount, client retention is not just a success metric—it's a vital strategy for sustainable growth. For Certified Public Accountants (CPAs), accountants, and bookkeepers, maintaining a solid relationship with existing clients can unlock new business opportunities, turning satisfied clients into powerful referral sources.
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