Learn how you can use IRAs and other options to build wealth for your retirement years…
With the year of 2025 rapidly coming to an end–and the 2026 “tax season” fast approaching, TheWealthIncreaser.com thought that the time was right to touch upon a few tax topics as the year of 2025 comes to a close.
When it comes to retirement the use of IRAs and other vehicles can be an effective way that can help fund your retirement at some level so that you can live more abundantly during your retirement years and beyond (after you transition as your heirs may be in position to benefit).
In this discussion you will learn how you can use IRAs more strategically as you build wealth and it is the desire of TheWealthIncreaser.com that you utilize what you feel can move you closer toward your goals so that your retirement and financial future can take a turn for the better.
In general, there are 2 ways that you can utilize IRAs to build wealth. You can choose to invest for your retirement years annually using a TRADITIONAL IRA where you can get a tax deduction on your tax return if you have earned income up to a limit, or you can invest in a ROTH IRA, also based on your earned income–however you pay taxes on the amount invested up to a limit immediately and ideally in the future–when you withdraw the funds you would pay no taxes (however exceptions may apply).
For tax year 2026, you have up until April 15, 2027, to contribute to your IRA when, and if you qualify. Basically, you can contribute for the current tax year up until April 15th or the tax deadline of the subsequent year (contributions are not based on the calendar year). There are annual contributions limits (currently $7,500 for tax year 2026) that are adjusted upward annually. If you are age 50 or older, your 2026 contribution limit rises to $8,600!
In the paragraphs below you will learn about IRAs and other ways that you can make your money grow, thereby providing you the opportunity to improve your cash flow during your retirement years so that you have a better balance sheet to show and have a net worth that you know.
Conversions
After funding your Traditional IRA for a number of years and doing a serious analysis of your finances you may want to convert your IRA to a ROTH. You would be required to pay taxes at the time of conversion (or you could elect to 5-year average) and that conversion would allow your retirement funds that were converted to grow tax-free from that point onward.
ROTH conversions have no income restrictions and the possibility of the 5-year election that has the potential to reduce your tax bite significantly. Upon withdrawal there would be no taxation on the proceeds when done according to IRS guidelines.
Conversions are not a good strategy for everyone, as whether it is appropriate for you will depend on your unique financial and tax position, your goals and tax savings and your other financial obligations. A traditional IRA may offer you tax savings at 37% when initially deducted depending on your taxable income. And when you retire you may fall into the 10% tax bracket and that could be a better choice for you. Again, it depends on your unique financial position from income earned, family size, future happenings that are expected–along with your risk tolerance level among other concerns.
Rollovers
Types: 2
1) Direct–Employer to employer and you don’t touch the money–no tax consequence.
2) Indirect–Employer withholds 20% (required by law) and you receive funds directly (80%) and you would have 60 days to place in IRA (100%) or in a new employees 401k or other qualified retirement plan.
NOTE: If you don’t replace 100% it is considered a taxable event!
A direct rollover allows you to “roll over” tax free funds that are in your IRA to another fund upon retirement or job change if done within 60 days and the funds are transferred directly to the other IRA account.
However, if you receive the funds directly yourself you may have tax withholdings and even if you put the funds into another account within those 60 days (you could possibly recoup the tax withholding at tax time when you file taxes), you will face tax withholdings upfront meaning you need to deposit 80 percent plus 20 percent or 100 percent of the amount within 60 days. If not done within 60 days you would lose the benefit of a tax-free rollover altogether.
HSA/FSA Planning
If your company offers an HSA and/or FSA account (Health Savings Account or Flexible Spending Account), you can choose one but not both and by doing so you would reduce your taxes that you pay annually because the account is done on a “pre-tax basis” meaning it would help reduce your taxable income, thereby saving you money on your annual tax filing.
An FSA allows you to avoid taxation, however there are annual limits on contributions as well as the amount that you can carry forward, meaning you must use a large percentage of the contributions annually or you risk losing some or all of the amount in the account.
An HSA allows you to save for medical expenses “if you meet the eligibility requirements” and plan for your health care costs in a more tax efficient manner. If the funds in the account are used to pay medical expenses, you can withdraw tax free. However, you can also use your HSA contributions to build wealth over time and if you have other means to pay your medical expenses you could build up a sizable nest egg. Additionally, if withdrawals occur after you attain age 73, the proceeds would be tax free if used for medical purposes and taxed at your ordinary income tax rate if you withdrew after age 73–even if you did not use the withdrawal for medical purposes.
Age 59 1/2 catch-up provisions
With many retirement plans there is often a catch-up provision so that those over age 50 who did not effectively plan during the early years of their life stages can at least have a chance to live out their retirement years with dignity. If you find yourself age 50 or over and you have not planned appropriately for your retirement years, now would be the time to do so if you had the financial means.
Age 59 1/2 is also the age that you can possibly avoid the “early withdraw penalty” of generally 10% on your withdrawals from your retirement plan and other retirement accounts!
This 10% penalty is paid in conjunction with your ordinary income taxes that you pay based on your income, family size, adjustments, credits, deductions, exemptions, exclusions and exceptions that may be applicable (or another way of stating–your tax bracket at the marginal rate) when you file your taxes.
Age 73 Withdrawals
With most retirement plans mandatory withdrawals are required at age 73, after increasing some over the past few years as retirees can now save a little longer before withdrawals mandated by the IRS, must happen. In many instances you avoided paying taxes or got a deduction over the years with your retirement contributions and the IRS says–now is the time that we collect taxes on those accounts that were never taxed, therefore you want to know this at the earliest point in your life stage.
If you have a ROTH IRA, mandatory withdrawals are not required, and you could continue to fund the account if you were still working and leave the money in the account to grow–as mandatory requirements do not apply. After you transition, your heirs may have to pay taxes on what they receive, however there are tax avoidance and tax reduction strategies that they could possibly use.
Social Security
You can elect to receive Social Security as early as age 62 and as late as you want after that point, however your maximum benefit amount would end at age 70 meaning if you waited until age 72, you would get the same benefit as if you retired at age 70 (however cost of living adjustments could increase the amount some). Your full retirement age for most is now age 67 if you wanted to wait and receive a higher benefit amount. If you desire to enroll in Medicare you want to enroll 6 months before you turn age 65.
Your Social Security benefit amount is based on the average of your highest 35-year earnings and taxation would occur based on your unique tax filing position (as much as 85% could be subject to taxation).
Pensions & Other Employee Sponsored Accounts
If you are in the group who currently are entitled to a pension, consider yourself fortunate. Many retirees no longer receive a pension but fund their retirement years in large part with 401ks, 403bs, Social Security and Thrift plans, among others, and many offer the opportunity for “catch-up” amounts of varying amounts to be contributed annually. Taxation on these accounts normally occur at your “ordinary income tax rate” and you want to prepare in advance for the payment of these and all of your retirement account taxation possibilities in advance of your retirement.
Additionally, many retirement accounts are protected under ERISA (Employee Retirement Income Security Act) and protected from creditors and others in cases when a lawsuit is filed against you. In short, 401k’s and other accounts that fall under ERISA have a higher level of protection than IRA’s, and would offer you more protection against creditor judgments, lawsuits, and bankruptcy filings.
Investments Outside of Retirement that will or can be Withdrawn During Your Retirement Years
When you invest outside of your retirement accounts you would generally pay taxes annually whether you are in your retirement years after age 59 1/2 or when you were in your roaring 20s you want to have a certain level of awareness. Mutual Funds, Index Funds, ETF Funds, individual stocks and bonds, crypto and other new technology financial assets, would all be taxable at the generally more favorable capital gains tax rate of 0, 15 or 20 percent.
Target date funds, and certain bonds would possibly be able to avoid taxation until the time that you cashed in (think I-bonds)–and not on an annual basis–and the taxation could be at your ordinary income or capital gains rate depending on asset type.
Interest income from CDs, money market accounts, savings accounts, and the like would be taxed at your ordinary income tax rate on an annual basis if not “inside of” your retirement account.
Conclusion
By having a basic understanding of IRAs and other retirement vehicles you can build wealth in a more informed and beneficial way for you, your family and causes or institutions that you hold valuable in your heart and mind.
Your desire to seek out at this time better ways to understand “retirement vehicles” put you on a better path toward building wealth and transferring that wealth in a more economically savvy manner and puts you in better control of your retirement future in ways that others may have failed to consider.
And although what has been presented is of a general nature, your conceptualization of the above concepts are what you really need to know, understand and act on when appropriate–as the technicalities of retirement planning and wealth building can often seem complex and confusing to those who are not familiar with personal finance at a deeper level.
However, your conceptualization and utilization of all of the above retirement vehicles (where and when appropriate) can help you move closer toward “your retirement number” that you need to reach to help you live out your retirement years at a designated level that you strive to reach so that you can live at a desired level of comfort.
You want to know what is possible if you take responsibility for your future at this time by making a real commitment to live out your life and particularly your retirement years in a more dignified manner.
All the best to your IRA, Retirement & Wealth Building Success…
Considering a home purchase, read What’s Up Homebuyer so you don’t jump into your next purchase without the necessary knowledge!
Learn the importance of your need to look out into your future…
Purchase The Art of Essential Action today…
Learn more about The Art of Essential Action…
Read a Sample Chapter Inside The Art of Essential Action…
Learn how The Art of Essential Action can help you Achieve More Throughout Your Lifetime…
Glossary of Real Estate Terms…
Learn how you can turn the X-factors into known-factors in your life…
Learn about 10 Empowering Principles that can greatly expand your thought process…
IRA Planning & Wealth Building to What is the 3 Step Structured Approach
IRA Planning & Wealth Building to Success Planning & Personal Finance
IRA Planning & Wealth Building to Income & Personal Finance
IRA Planning & Wealth Building to Compounding $ Personal Finance
IRA Planning & Wealth Building to Profit Sharing & Wealth building
IRA Planning & Wealth Building to IRAs & Wealth Building
Learn about SEP-IRAs and how you can benefit if you are a business owner…
Copyright© 2014–2026–TheWealthIncreaser.com–All Rights Reserved















