The (Not Boring) Boring Small Business Bookkeeping and Accounting Podcast

Roth vs. Traditional IRA: Which One Fits Your Tax Picture? S10E04

Paul Rosenblum, Expert Bookkeeper Season 10 Episode 4

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0:00 | 3:11

Choosing between a Roth and Traditional IRA comes down to one question: what tax bracket do you expect to be in when you withdraw. Our favorite Bookkeeping Mensch, Paul Rosenblum, breaks down the tax treatment, contribution limits, and Required Minimum Distribution rules for both, plus a quick look at how inherited IRAs work differently. A short, practical primer for anyone weighing retirement savings alongside their business finances.

Schwab IRA calculator: https://www.schwab.com/ira/ira-calculators

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Paul Rosenblum has been doing hands-on bookkeeping for over 30 years, starting with QuickBooks Desktop and adapting to the world of cloud-based QuickBooks Online. He shares practical, in-the-weeds lessons from real client files every episode.

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Season 10 Episode 4: Roth vs. Traditional IRA: Which One Fits Your Tax Picture?

For today’s short episode, let’s speak about IRA’s. There are two kinds of IRA’s – 

  • A Roth IRA
  • And a Traditional IRA 

A Roth IRA should be used to invest into if a higher tax bracket is expected at the time of withdrawals. Roth IRAs have no tax deductions when you put money in, and no taxable income when you take money out or ‘distribute’ to yourself. There are also no “Required Minimum Distributions” that you need to take. You can deposit money into a Roth IRA with ‘after tax dollars’ or a 529 rollover. The maximum contributions to a Roth in 2026 is $7,500 if you are under age 50 and $8,600 if over age 50. 

A traditional IRA works better if you expect to be in the same tax bracket at the time of withdrawals. Contributions lower your current years taxes, but the withdrawals are taxable income when you retire.  Pre-tax OR after-tax dollars can be contributed to a traditional IRA.  Maximum contribution for 2026 is $7,500 if under age 50, and $8,600 if over age 50. Required Minimum distributions start at age 73. 

Needless to say, talk to your financial advisor or your accountant or tax preparer about the options and which would suit your situation better.

If you go to www.schwab.com and then search for ‘IRA Calculator’, there are tools to help you decide which way to invest your money.  

Inherited IRA’s have different rules. From the year that you inherit the IRA, you have 10 years to empty that account and as you withdraw money, that money is taxed. However, the withdrawal does not have to be the same every year.  

I made this into a short episode because it’s all part of your taxes even if you have a business. One has to look at the total picture, not only the profit that the business is making.  

Again, talk to your tax professional or your financial advisor about all of this. 

I’m Paul Rosenblum 

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