Taxes suck. They erode away your income, savings and investments. One strategy to maximize your retirement savings is to convert your IRA to a ROTH IRA. ROTH IRAs are a powerful tool to help you do this but there are lots tax and planning issues to consider first.

That's why I turned to Ed Slott, America's IRA expert. He is a nationally recognized IRA-distribution expert, a professional speaker, and the creator of several public television specials, including the most recent, Ed Slott’s Retirement Rescue! Investing Corner--The Importance of Dividends 

When most people thing of making money in equities, they think of buying low and selling high. That's a great strategy, but it's only part of the story. This week I explore the importance dividends can have in any investment portfolio.

I discuss these 5 reasons dividend can be a benefit to any portfolio:   

1. How dividends have comprised over 50% of the total return of the S&P 500 index
2. The favorable tax treatment dividends can receive
3. How dividends can be a good hedge against inflation
4. Why dividends can help you control risk in your portfolio
5. What are the attributes of most companies that pay dividends

Retirement Tip of the Week During my conversation with Ed Slott, we cover: 

1. Best places to save for retirement
2. The benefit of contributing to a ROTH IRA
3. Ed's "Forever Tax to Never Tax" strategy using a ROTH IRA
4. The importance of understanding the ROTH IRA conversion rules
5. When it doesn't make sense to use a ROTH IRA
6. How to use ROTH IRAs as an estate planning vehicle
7. The types of people that should consider converting to a ROTH IRA
8. The order to draw from your taxable, IRA & ROTH IRA accounts during retirement
9. The benefits of drawing from your IRA in order to delay Social Security during retirement
10. Biggest mistakes people make with IRAs

Have you considered converting to a ROTH IRA?  If you have a question, ask me at rogerwhitney.com