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Mega Backdoor Roth IRA

The Roth IRA is a retirement savings account in which you invest only after-tax dollars. Subsequently, all earnings grow tax-free and may be withdrawn tax-free. However, there are limits to who can contribute and how much they can contribute to a Roth IRA.

 Federal rules restrict direct contributions to a Roth IRA for high-income earners. In 2023, a single, head of household, or married, filing separately tax filer may contribute up to $6,500 if under age 50; $7,500 if 50 or older. However, if the investor has a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) above $138,000, he is permitted only limited and phased out contributions up to a total annual income of $153,000, above which he cannot contribute to a Roth. Limited contributions for an investor who is married filing jointly begins at $218,000 in annual income and phases out at $228,000.

 However, there is a way to work around these contribution rules using a Roth IRA conversion. To optimize this strategy, investors may be able to conduct a Mega Backdoor conversion from their employer-sponsored retirement plan to a Roth.

 The Mega Backdoor Roth strategy is suitable in a handful of circumstances:

  • When you’ll be able to max out your employer plan contribution
  • When your earned income is too high to contribute to a separate Roth IRA
  • If you can save more than the 401(k) and IRA combined limits in one year

Employer Rules

To deploy this strategy, the investor must check with his retirement plan administrator to ensure that the plan allows for post-tax contributions and in-service distributions. If so, the investor should first max out his income-deferred contributions to the 401(k). In 2023, the maximum 401(k) contribution limit is $22,500; $30,000 if age 50 and older.

 However, he may invest a maximum of $66,000 or $73,500 (age 50 and up) in his 401(k) for the year, which is the combined total for employer and employee contributions. For example, let’s say a 52-year-old employee earns $200,000 and defers 15 percent ($30,000) of his pre-tax income. His employer kicks in another dollar-for-dollar match up to 4 percent of his salary ($8,000). With the deferred total at $38,000, the employee could pitch in another $28,000 in post-tax contributions to his after-tax 401(k) account – to reach the maximum total of $66,000.

 The next step is for the employee to take advantage of in-service distributions by immediately rolling over his contributions from the 401(k) to an in-plan Roth option or a separate Roth IRA – before any earnings accrue (to avoid taxes on earnings).

 Tax Notes

Once the after-tax funds are converted to the Roth IRA, the money grows tax-free, and the investor can withdraw it as tax-free income in retirement. There also is no RMD requirement for Roth IRA funds at any age. However, note that if the funds are converted to an in-plan Roth option, earnings are subject to a penalty if withdrawn before age 59½. If the funds are converted to a separate Roth IRA, tax-free withdrawals are only available penalty-free five years after each corresponding rollover is conducted.

 The Mega Backdoor Roth strategy is appropriate for high earners looking to minimize taxes on both their current income and their long-term retirement investments.

Russ-Headshot

Meet Russell Powers, CPA

Russ joined RBG in 2023 and serves as director of the Financial Institutions team. In this role, he provides assurance and consulting services to financial institutions of all sizes, including community banks, credit unions, and farm credit associations. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and Economics along with a Masters in Accounting from Rhodes College in Memphis.

Russ’s wife, Chelsea works in Marketing at FedEx and they have been married for 3 years.  The two have a baby boy, Sully, who turns one in May.  Russ has four younger siblings who all live in Memphis except for his comedian brother, who lives in Chicago.

Fun Questions

If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?

Honestly, I would probably still sleep because I love it but maybe a little less and spend some extra time running and playing basketball.

What fictional place would you most like to visit?

The Grizzlies championship parade down Beale Street. 

What is a new skill that you would like to master?

I have taken up golf as an adult and have accepted I will never master it, but I would like to at least get to average.

What do you wish you knew more about?

In another life I may have tried to do something in music.  I have Spotify on all day and love all types of music, but I know very little from a technical standpoint.

What’s the farthest you’ve ever been from home?

I did a Maymester in Antwerp for a month and traveled to Brussels, Reims, Paris, and Amsterdam.  I loved every minute but that is the only time I have ever been out of the country.

What question would you most like to know the answer to?

Probably just everything that did not get answered at the end of Game of Thrones.

What is the most impressive thing you know how to do?

  I used to wakeboard a lot and was never great but could hold my own.

What was the best compliment you’ve ever received?

I play a lot of basketball and anytime someone on the other team tells their teammate that they have to actually guard me I blush a little bit.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

I am going to have to go with the honest/cheesy answer of being a dad.

What is your favorite smell?

Would definitely have to go with coffee.

If you had a clock that would countdown to any one event of your choosing, what event would you want it to countdown to? 

Probably the start of BBQ Fest. I am a member of team Grill N Grind and look forward to it every year.

When was the last time you climbed a tree?

Probably when I was 25 to jump off the waterfall in Pickwick Lake.  That may be my last time ever as well. 

What’s the most unusual thing you’ve ever eaten?

I hate to admit I do not have a good answer for this.. Probably just sushi. 

What was your first job? 

I have a lot of younger siblings and cousins so I would have to say babysitter/chauffeur.

If you could have any superpower, what would it be?

I think teleporting would be pretty cool.   

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Different Ways to Value a Business

When it comes to valuing a business, there are many ways to examine a company’s profitability. Looking at a business’ liquidation value and its breakup value are two of many approaches to see how a company is functioning and how it might run under different management and economic environments.

Liquidation Value

This type of valuation can be defined as the difference between what tangible assets would sell for at auction minus outstanding liabilities. Typically, intangible assets are not considered in this type of valuation. However, if the intangibles along with the physical assets are considered for sale and not sold at auction, it would be considered a business’ “going-concern value.” Examples of intangibles include goodwill, brand recognition, patents, etc.

There are many considerations when exploring liquidation value. Generally speaking, the liquidation value is more than salvage value but less than book value. When a company is going out of business and assets are auctioned off, proceeds will normally be valued below the asset’s historical cost. Historical cost refers to how assets are reported on the balance sheet. However, if the market assesses assets lower in value compared to business use, it could be lower than book value.

Here is an example of how liquidation value can be calculated. Say a business has liabilities of $1.1 million. Based on the balance sheet, the book (or historical) value of assets is $2 million; and assets have a salvage value of $100,000. If the value of selling the business’ assets via auction is projected to be $0.80 per dollar, it could be expressed as follows:

$1.6 million (assets sold at auction at $0.80 per dollar) – $1.1 million (liabilities) = $500,000 (Liquidation Value)

Breakup Value

Also known as “the sum-of-parts value,” the breakup value determines the worth of a corporation’s individual segments if they were operating independently. Investors might pressure the company to spin off one or more segments into a separate publicly traded company to maximize its value.  

For each operating unit, the first step involves determining the segment’s cash flow, revenue and earnings. Such valuations can be benchmarked to publicly traded industry peers to determine comparative value of the business segment in question.

Financial ratios, including price-to-earnings (P/E) or price to free cash flow, are examples of starting points that analysts use to compare segmented business lines to industry peers to determine if it’s trading at below fair value, fair value or above fair value.

For example, if the P/E ratio of the company being analyzed is lower than its peers, it could mean the company is cheaper, or trading below fair value on an earnings basis. Though a more thorough financial analysis and assessment of macroeconomics is recommended, such as interest rates, inflation, etc., analysts could make an educated projection on how future earnings may or may not hold up in the future, compared to the business segment’s snapshot valuation.

Another way to evaluate is via discounted cash flows (DCF). This shows the segment’s future free cash flow projections through a discount rate, generally the weighted average cost of capital (WACC). The formula arrives at the present value of the business segment’s future cash flows. The following DCF example can tell the expected profitability and how to treat it going forward as part of the business:

Assume the company’s WACC is 10 percent; the amount invested is $5 million; it will last three years; and the annual estimated cash flows are as follows:

Cash Flow                           Discounted Cash Flow

Year 1: $2 million             $1,818,181.82

Year 2: $4 million             $3,305,785.12

Year 3: $6 million             $4,507,888.81

Compared to the amount invested of $5 million for the business’ selected business segment, the discounted cash flows for the project are $9,631.855.75. This could give an indication of how the business line might do if it’s spun off or how its performance will impact other lines of the business financially.

While valuation is subjective, especially in periods of volatile inflation and interest rate conditions, the more points of valuation analysis that occur, the better the chances that valuations will turn out to be correct.

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6 Tax Tips for 2023

It’s that time of year again: tax time. And while many of your money-saving options might be limited after Dec. 31, there’s still a lot you can do to help lower your taxes, save money and avoid penalties. Here’s a quick snapshot.

Contribute to Your Retirement Accounts

Yes, doing this will help lower your tax bill. So, if you haven’t already maxed out your contribution for 2022, you can still do so up until April 18 for a traditional IRA (deductible or not), and a Roth IRA. If you have a Keogh or Simplified Employment Pension Plan (SEP), you can apply for a tax filing extension until Oct. 16; however, it’s best not to wait that long to contribute to those plans so you begin tax-free compounding. Plus, when you make a deductible contribution, your money will compound tax deferred. For instance, if you put away $5,000 a year for 20 years with an annual return of 8 percent, your $100,000 in contributions will grow to more than $250,000. Do you see these numbers? Gotta love this.

File a Form 2210

So last year, if you had an income windfall that arrived after Aug. 31, 2022, and you think you might owe taxes on it, you can file what is called an Underpayment of Estimated Tax. It will help annualize your estimated tax liability and possibly reduce any extra charges. That said, don’t try to pay too much. It’s better to owe the government than to expect a refund. As we all know, the IRS doesn’t give you any interest when they borrow money from you.

Itemize Your Deductions

While it’s so much easier to take the standard deduction, you could save a boatload when you do this, especially if you’re self-employed, own a home or live in a high-tax area. Here are couple ways to figure out if this option is right for you.

  • When your qualified expenses add up to more than the 2022 standard deduction of $12,950 if you’re single and $25,900 if you’re married.
  • If the portion of your medical expenses exceeds 7.5 percent of your 2022 adjusted gross income.

Take that Home Office Deduction

Good news: eligibility rules for claiming your home office deduction have been loosened, so for small business owners this is huge. And the rules apply even when you don’t have clients visit you in your office space. Here’s what you can write off:

  • Rent or mortgage interest
  • Utilities
  • Insurance
  • Repairs or maintenance
  • Depreciation
  • Housekeeping

Note: The percentage of these costs that are deductible are based on the square footage of your office within the context of the total area in your home.

Provide Dependent Taxpayer IDs

Don’t forget to enter Taxpayer Identification Numbers (usually Social Security numbers) for your children or other dependents. If you fail to do this, the IRS will deny you these important credits that might rightfully be yours, such as the Child Tax Credit. However, you’ll want to be careful if you’re divorced. Only oneof you can claim your kids as dependents. If you and your ex both claim your child, your return process will be detoured and they’ll be contacting you for more information. If you’re a new parent, be sure to get your child’s Social Security card as soon as you can so you’ll have it ready at tax time.

Consult a Professional

If you feel you need help or if your numbers aren’t where you’d like them to be, get in touch with your trusted tax specialist. You might be missing some critical info in your return that could help lower your tax obligation.

Taxes are a necessary part of life in the United States, so make sure you have all the right tools when diving in. When you’re well-equipped, chances are this process won’t be as much of a chore.

Sources

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/how-small-business-owners-can-deduct-their-home-office-from-their-taxes#:~:text=The%20home%20office%20deduction%2C%20calculated,%2C%20maintenance%2C%20depreciation%20and%20rent

https://turbotax.intuit.com/tax-tips/tax-planning-and-checklists/tax-tips-after-january-1st/L8fY6OyFl