John Nunes Fortis Insurance Solutions

One of the biggest mistakes people can make with Roth conversions is acting out of fear.

Fear that taxes may rise.

Fear that RMDs may be too high.

Fear that they will miss an opportunity.

But fear is not a strategy.

A Roth conversion should not be based only on what someone thinks might happen later.

It should be based on your actual numbers.

Your income.

Your tax bracket.

Your timeline.

Your RMD outlook.

Your Medicare picture.

Your liquidity.

Your retirement goals.

𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗯𝗲 𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹.

But it should be planned, not panicked.

Before you convert, understand the reason.

Message me 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 for the free Fortis booklet.

Retirement money is not all taxed the same.

That is why the three tax buckets matter.

Most people have some combination of:

Taxable money.

Tax-deferred money.

Tax-free or tax-advantaged money.

A Roth conversion may help move some dollars from the tax-deferred bucket into a Roth bucket.

But the question is not just whether Roth money is good.

The better question is:

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗯𝘂𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝘁𝗼𝗴𝗲𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿?

Because in retirement, flexibility matters.

The right mix may help you manage income, taxes, RMDs, Medicare, Social Security taxation, and legacy planning.

Before you convert, understand your tax buckets.

Message me 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 for the free Fortis booklet:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁

Yesterday we talked about not leaving a tax problem behind.

Today, let’s talk about beneficiary clarity.

Many people spend years building retirement accounts, but never fully review how those accounts may pass to the people they care about.

A Roth conversion may play a role in legacy planning, but it should not be done blindly.

Before converting, ask:

𝗪𝗵𝗼 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆?

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻?

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲?

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁?

Legacy planning should create clarity, not confusion.

Before you convert, understand the beneficiary picture.

Message me 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 for the free Fortis booklet:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁

Or request it here:
https://www.fortisinsurancesolutions.com/before-you-convert

Your old 401(k) may still be invested—but that also means it may still be exposed to market losses.

And doing nothing does not eliminate that risk. It simply leaves your retirement money positioned exactly where it is until the market—or you—makes the next decision.

You spent decades building that account. The question is no longer just:

“How much money have I accumulated?”

The more important question is:

“Is that money positioned to do everything I will need it to do in retirement?”

A properly designed rollover strategy may allow you to reposition those dollars as part of a coordinated retirement plan built around four important needs:

• Income dollars to help create a dependable retirement paycheck
• Liquidity dollars for emergencies and unexpected expenses
• Growth dollars with the potential to earn interest without direct exposure to market losses
• Legacy dollars positioned for the people and causes you care about

Leaving the account where it is may ultimately be the right decision—but that should be determined after a careful review, not simply because no one has taken the time to evaluate the alternatives.

You worked too hard to accumulate this money to enter retirement without giving every dollar a clearly defined job.

Before the next market decline determines what your account is worth, let’s determine whether your old 401(k), 403(b), 457 plan or IRA could be positioned more strategically.

Message me ROLLOVER and let’s review what you have, how much risk you are currently carrying, and what options may be available.

No pressure. No obligation. Just the information you need to make an informed decision with confidence.

John Nunes
Fortis Insurance Solutions
800-900-3150
FortisInsuranceSolutions.com

Not every retirement account should be rolled over. Any recommendation should consider your goals, existing plan benefits, fees, liquidity needs, surrender charges, tax circumstances and other available options. Insurance guarantees are subject to contract terms and the financial strength and claims-paying ability of the issuing insurance company.

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗗𝗜𝗗𝗡’𝗧 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗 𝗠𝗢𝗥𝗘 𝗧𝗜𝗠𝗘.

𝗬𝗢𝗨 𝗡𝗘𝗘𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗧𝗢 𝗠𝗔𝗞𝗘 𝗔 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗦𝗜𝗢𝗡.

A few days ago, I asked a simple question:

You said 2026 would be different.

It’s July.

What changed?

For some people, the honest answer is:

Nothing.

Not because the information wasn’t available.

Not because the risks weren’t explained.

Not because opportunities were never presented.

Nothing changed because every time the moment came to act, something else became more important.

Work got busy.

The family needed attention.

The market felt uncertain.

The timing didn’t feel perfect.

Another month wouldn’t hurt.

But here is the truth that no one wants to hear:

𝗗𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗮 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

And it may be the most expensive decision you make all year.

While you wait:

Taxes do not wait.

Inflation does not wait.

Debt interest does not wait.

Market risk does not wait.

Retirement does not stop moving closer because you are uncomfortable making a decision.

The calendar keeps moving—even when your plan does not.

Every month you postpone taking control is one less month available to correct the mistakes, reposition the assets, reduce the risks and build the future you said you wanted.

𝗪𝗮𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗼𝗽𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀.

𝗜𝘁 𝘀𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗹𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗺 𝗮𝘄𝗮𝘆.

And eventually, the decisions you refuse to make today will be made for you by taxes, circumstances, age, health, the market or a financial emergency.

That is the price of procrastination.

So stop telling yourself you are “thinking about it.”

Stop calling inaction patience.

Stop waiting for the perfect time.

The perfect time is usually the excuse people use until the opportunity is gone.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗱𝗼 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴.

𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Because six months from now, you will either be grateful that you finally started—

or you will be making the same promises for 2027.

𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗲 𝗗𝗘𝗖𝗜𝗗𝗘.

Yesterday we talked about legacy.

Today, let’s take that conversation one step deeper.

Leaving money behind is one thing.

Leaving a plan behind is something different.

Many people spend decades building retirement accounts, but never stop to ask:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗵𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝗻𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘀 𝗶𝘁?

That question matters.

Some retirement dollars may create taxable income later.

Some dollars may be more tax-efficient if positioned correctly.

Some dollars may be better used for income during retirement.

Some dollars may be better preserved for legacy.

That is why Roth conversion planning should not only look at today’s tax bill.

It should also consider tomorrow’s impact.

Before converting, ask:

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻?

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘆?

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗼𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲?

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 𝗰𝗹𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆?

A Roth conversion may help create more tax flexibility.

But it should not be done only for heirs if it creates pressure on your own retirement.

Your income comes first.

Your liquidity matters.

Your tax picture matters.

Your family deserves clarity.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗹𝗲𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆.

The goal is to leave direction.

Before you convert, understand what you may be leaving behind.

Message me 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 for the free Fortis booklet:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁

Or request it here:
https://www.fortisinsurancesolutions.com/before-you-convert

Yesterday we talked about the ripple effect.

Today, let’s talk about one of the areas that ripple may reach:

𝗟𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆.

A Roth conversion is often discussed as a tax strategy for retirement.

But it may also affect the people who inherit your retirement dollars.

Traditional retirement accounts can create tax consequences later, both for you and potentially for your beneficiaries.

A Roth IRA may offer more tax flexibility if the rules are followed properly.

That does not mean everyone should convert just for legacy planning.

But it does mean legacy should be part of the conversation.

Before converting, ask:

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗺𝗼𝗻𝗲𝘆 𝗯𝗲 𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲?

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗶𝘁 𝗯𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆?

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲?

𝗗𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁?

The key is balance.

You should not weaken your own retirement just to create a legacy strategy.

Your income, liquidity, tax picture, Medicare situation, and retirement confidence still come first.

But once those pieces are coordinated, Roth planning may become part of a larger legacy conversation.

𝗔 𝗥𝗼𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂.

It may also affect what you leave behind.

Before you convert, understand the legacy impact.

Message me 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 for the free Fortis booklet:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁

Or request it here:
https://www.fortisinsurancesolutions.com/before-you-convert

Yesterday we talked about Social Security taxation.

Today, let’s step back and look at the bigger picture.

A Roth conversion is often presented as a simple tax move.

But in retirement planning, one decision can create a ripple effect.

A conversion may affect:

𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘁𝗮𝘅 𝗯𝗿𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗲𝘁
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝘂𝗺𝘀
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗳𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗥𝗠𝗗𝘀
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗱𝗶𝘁𝘆
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗿𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻
𝗬𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗲𝗴𝗮𝗰𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆

That does not mean Roth conversions should be avoided.

It means they should be coordinated.

The question is not only:

𝗦𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁?

The better question is:

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗰𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁?

Because the right move in one area can become the wrong move if it creates problems somewhere else.

A strong retirement strategy does not look at taxes by themselves.

It looks at how taxes, income, timing, risk, liquidity, Medicare, Social Security, and long-term goals all connect.

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁, 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝗶𝗽𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝗲𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁.

Message me 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 for the free Fortis booklet:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁

Or request it here:
https://www.fortisinsurancesolutions.com/before-you-convert

Yesterday we talked about withdrawal order.

Today, let’s talk about why that order matters.

Many retirees are surprised to learn that Social Security may be taxable.

That means retirement income decisions can affect more than just your IRA or 401(k).

They may also affect how much of your Social Security gets pulled into the tax picture.

This is why Roth conversions should not be reviewed in isolation.

Before converting, you need to ask:

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗺𝘆 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲?

𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗮𝗳𝗳𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗵𝗼𝘄 𝗺𝘂𝗰𝗵 𝗼𝗳 𝗺𝘆 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗦𝗲𝗰𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗮𝘅𝗲𝗱?

𝗪𝗵𝗶𝗰𝗵 𝗱𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗮𝗿𝘀 𝘀𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗹𝗱 𝗜 𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗳𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁?

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗺𝘆 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗻?

A Roth conversion may help create more flexibility later.

But the timing, amount, and withdrawal strategy all matter.

The goal is not just to create Roth dollars.

The goal is to coordinate retirement income so taxes, Social Security, Medicare, RMDs, and liquidity are all considered together.

𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲.

It is about what you actually keep.

Before you convert, understand the Social Security tax picture.

Message me 𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗩𝗘𝗥𝗧 for the free Fortis booklet:

𝗕𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘁

Or request it here:
https://www.fortisinsurancesolutions.com/before-you-convert

“Aloha Friday is here! From all of us at Fortis Insurance Solutions, mahalo for your trust and have a great weekend.”