Why can’t I contribute to a Roth IRA if I make too much?

The answer almost always comes down to one thing — Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI).

In this episode, we break down the difference between Adjusted Gross Income (AGI) and Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) — two terms that sound similar but have very different impacts on your financial life.

You’ll learn:

• How AGI is calculated directly from your tax return
• What income counts (W-2 wages, capital gains, rental income, RSUs, Social Security, business income, and more)
• Which deductions reduce your AGI (HSA contributions, SEP/SIMPLE IRA, self-employed health insurance, student loan interest, etc.)
• Why itemized deductions and the standard deduction do NOT affect AGI
• How MAGI is calculated by adding certain items back to AGI
• Why MAGI determines eligibility for Roth IRA contributions, premium tax credits, education credits, child tax credits, and income-based student loan repayment

We also explain why lenders care about AGI — and why taxpayers often misunderstand what actually lowers it.

If you’ve ever been told your income is “too high” for a Roth IRA contribution, this episode will make it clear why — and what that really means for your tax planning strategy.

This is core tax planning knowledge. And if you earn a strong income, it’s not optional.

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