How to Make the Most of Your RMDs

Age 70 may be the new 40, but try telling that to the IRS. As older Baby Boomers enter their 70s, they’re nearing the legal requirement (that kicks in at age 70.5 to be exact) to start taking their required minimum distributions (RMDs) from their retirement accounts. Many scrupulous savers dread these withdrawals because they are taxable distributions which can drive up their tax bills. Although if you are already taking out more than the RMDs from your accounts, the information below probably doesn’t apply to you.

For those who don’t need to use such funds right now and can hang in a bit longer, there are some sound strategies available to put the money to good use. Let’s look at the questions I hear most frequently from my near-70 Baby Boomer clients about their RMDs. (For related reading, see: Using Indexed Universal Life for Retirement Income.)

Can I Convert My RMD to a Roth IRA?

If only. This is a fairly common question, but sadly the answer is no. Under current tax laws there is no way to rollover your RMD into a Roth IRA. 

But despair not—all is not lost. If the money is not needed now, you can still potentially do a Roth conversion on your remaining IRA funds and use the RMDs to help pay some or all of the taxes that would be due. Converting your IRA to a Roth IRA is a taxable event, so you will pay taxes on all of the IRA money you are converting to a Roth IRA. The benefit lies in the fact that you don’t have to take RMDs from a Roth IRA and the money can then continue to grow tax free. If you end up needing the money later, it can also be withdrawn tax free.

Hypothetical Case Study, Part I: Sebastian, age 71, has $822,000 in his IRA and is now being forced to take an RMD in the amount of $30,000. That amount is determined according to IRS calculations and again, cannot be rolled over or converted into a Roth IRA.

Sebastian will owe taxes on any money he takes out of his IRA—in this case $30,000. But there is no restriction on what he does with this money; it’s his at this point. Since Sebastian doesn’t need the withdrawn money to live on, he wants put it to good use and converting part of his remaining IRA into a Roth IRA is an excellent option. Any money converted to a Roth IRA would no longer be subject to RMDs during his lifetime, and it will also help lower any future RMDs that he is forced to take from any money he ends up leaving in his IRA.

In this case, I would likely figure out how much of his IRA we could convert to a Roth IRA and then use the $30,000 RMD to cover the taxes due. This exact amount would depend on what other income he has as well as his overall tax bracket. (For related reading, see: A Defined Benefit Plan for Small Business Owners.)

One last thought. If, on the off chance, he qualifies, Sebastian could use his RMD to fund his own Roth IRA. To qualify, Sebastian would have to be working and his income from work must not exceed the Roth IRA contribution limits that year. This is currently $117,500 for singles and $184,000 for spouses filing jointly for 2016. And while there are age limits for traditional IRAs, there are no such restrictions for Roth IRAs. 

Can I Gift My RMDs?

Sure. The money is yours and you can do whatever you want with it. But since you said "gift," I’m assuming you are looking for a way to give away the money in a tax-advantaged manner. If you convert to a Roth IRA as mentioned above, you can consider passing along some assets to an heir in the form of an outright gift while you are still living (and can reap the benefits of your heirs’ gratitude at your largesse).

Or you could gift your RMD to children or grandchildren to help fund to their own retirement accounts, or to offset taxation of their own Roth IRA conversions. This idea really has legs for people who want to pass assets to loved ones. They may be in a lower tax bracket than you are, and we can assume they have a longer time frame for investing than you do—hence there is potential for them to create even more tax-free wealth. They will not be forced to take RMDs from their own Roth IRAs as they would if they happened to inherit the Roth IRA of someone else.

Can RMDs Fund Life Insurance?

Absolutely. Assuming you are in good health, funding life insurance with an RMD can be another way to build tax-free wealth or to pass assets to another generation. If you choose the right policy, life insurance can do double or even triple duty.

• It can function as a “rich person’s Roth” with a cash balance that will grow and can be taken out tax-free if handled properly. 
• Many policies today come with coverage for serious life events like terminal illnesses, chronic illnesses, critical illnesses, long-term care, or even critical injuries.
• There is also a death benefit for when you pass away. No fun for you, true, but it could be a nice financial payday for your heirs. 

Can My RMDs Fund My Long-Term Care Insurance?

Sometimes. The permanent life insurance policy can include a long-term care benefit or rider that can potentially help protect the rest of your lifetime savings and free you up to spend a bit more of your retirement assets if you have coverage for long-term care insurance (LTC). If you die quietly at home (note to self: This is how I want to go—on my own luxury bedding), the insurance company will provide a highly leveraged tax-free death benefit to your heirs. On the other hand, if you do need LTC, you will get the benefits provided in the long-term care package. (For related reading, see: How the Long-Term Care Insurance World Is Changing.)

How Do Charitable Donations Figure Into the RMD Picture?

One more option for those who are feeling generous is to donate your RMD to charity. The qualified charitable distribution (QCD) rule has been made permanent. If you happen to give to charity regularly anyway, using the QCD provision just makes it a tad bit more efficient. Generally your tax cost is lower for you, and the charitable organization still gets the funds.

Hypothetical Case Study, Part II: If our friend Sebastian normally gives $30,000 per year to his beloved charities, he would be in better shape tax-wise if he uses the QCD to transfer the $30,000 directly to the charity from his IRA. The great thing about this is the QCD eliminates the need to actually take the RMD, and therefore Sebastian doesn’t have to declare the $30,000 of income on his respective tax returns. Depending on his other assets and income, this can help him keep more of the various tax deductions and exemptions that may be phased out for higher earners.

These are just a few tips for those facing the big 70.5 age; a qualified fiduciary CFP can give you many more. You’ll find that when it comes to RMDs, a little strategy can make a large impact on your bottom line ... even if you don’t look like you’re a day over 41. (For related reading, see: 3 Costly Retirement Account Mistakes to Avoid.)

Securities and advisory services offered through National Planning Corporation (NPC), Member FINRA, SIPC, a Registered Investment Advisor. Trilogy Capital Trilogy Financial and NPC are separate and unrelated entities.  The opinions voiced in this article are for general information only and do not constitute an endorsement by NPC. NPC does not provide tax advice. They are not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual and do not constitute an endorsement by NPC.  To determine which investments may be appropriate for you, consult your financial professional. Please remember that investment decisions should be based on an individual’s goals, time horizon, and tolerance for risk. To qualify for the tax free penalty free withdrawal of earnings, a ROTH IRA must be in place for at least five tax years, and the distribution must take place after age 59 ½ or due to death, disability, or a first time home purchase (up to $10,000 lifetime maximum). Before taking any specific action, be sure to consult with your tax professional.