The IRS income limit blocks direct Roth IRA contributions — full stop. What it doesn't block is a conversion. That one distinction opens a door most high earners never hear about: a path that can move up to $46,500 a year into tax-free growth, with no required minimum distributions, ever, done completely legally through a strategy called the Mega Backdoor Roth.
Check every box that's true for you right now.
This is a directional check, not a formal eligibility determination — your specific 401(k) plan design and income situation determine what's actually possible.
Most high earners hear about the Roth income limit once and never look further. From Loudoun and Fairfax to Richmond and Henrico to Lynchburg and Danville, the households who benefit most from this strategy are the ones already doing everything else right — and getting blocked at the finish line.
$150K+ as a single filer or $236K+ as a married household — squarely above the Roth IRA income limit for direct contributions.
You've been doing the obvious thing for years. The Mega Backdoor Roth is specifically for people who've already hit that ceiling and want more room.
That's only true for direct contributions. Conversions are a completely separate rule — and most people are never told the difference.
A Mega Backdoor Roth builds a bucket of money that grows tax-free and comes out tax-free, with no RMDs ever forcing a withdrawal.
The strategy hinges on the gap between your standard 401(k) deferral limit and the much higher total combined contribution limit across employee, employer, and after-tax dollars.
Your 401(k) needs to allow after-tax contributions beyond the standard deferral limit, plus either in-service withdrawals or in-plan Roth conversions. Not every plan includes these features.
Beyond your standard deferral and any employer match, after-tax contributions fill the gap up to the combined IRS limit — this is where the extra room comes from.
Those after-tax dollars are converted to Roth — ideally soon after contribution, before meaningful taxable growth accumulates — moving that money permanently into tax-free territory.
This can also be paired with permanent life insurance to build a second, completely separate tax-free income stream in retirement — layering two different tax-free sources instead of relying on just one.
The specifics depend on your 401(k) plan design and overall financial picture — this is exactly what a strategy session works through.
A strategy that lets high earners blocked from direct Roth IRA contributions still move significant money into tax-free growth — through after-tax 401(k) contributions converted to Roth.
The IRS income limit applies to direct Roth IRA contributions, not conversions. This strategy uses a conversion, not a direct contribution, so the income limit doesn't apply to it.
It depends on the gap between your standard deferral limit and the total combined 401(k) limit across employee, employer, and after-tax contributions, minus what you've already contributed. This is calculated specifically for your situation.
After-tax contributions beyond the standard deferral limit, plus either in-service withdrawals or in-plan Roth conversions. Plan design varies by employer, so this is confirmed early in the process.
Free, with no obligation. It includes a review of your 401(k) plan features, income situation, and whether this strategy fits your retirement picture.
Tell us a little about your situation. Lee reviews every submission personally and follows up within one business day.
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