The Roth IRA is often marketed as simple and straightforward, but once you get into what are known as the “five-year rules,” things can get confusing fast. Today I break down six must-know facts about the Roth IRA five-year rule and explain why misunderstanding it can lead to unnecessary taxes or penalties.

I'll take you through the differences between contributions, conversions, and earnings, how multiple five-year clocks can apply at the same time, and why ordering rules matter more than most people realize. This is a slightly more technical conversation, but it’s also one of the most important if you plan to use Roth money strategically before or during retirement.

The goal isn’t to memorize rules, but to understand how they fit together so you can avoid mistakes that eat away at your tax-free benefits. If you’re relying on a Roth IRA as part of your long-term plan, this episode will help you use it the way it was intended.