Backdoor Roth

A backdoor Roth is a strategy that lets higher-income earners contribute to a Roth IRA when their income would normally disqualify them from doing so directly. The IRS sets income limits on who can make direct Roth contributions, but there's no income limit on converting money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA—which is where this strategy comes in. You land here to understand how the conversion works, what happens to your existing retirement accounts, and whether this approach makes sense for your situation.

These articles explain the mechanics of a backdoor Roth conversion, the tax consequences you need to watch for, and common mistakes that can derail the strategy. You'll learn how the pro-rata rule affects your conversion, what the "step" process actually involves, and how to coordinate this move with other retirement accounts you may already have.