@shydig - here is a GREAT article on the 'time bomb' that awaits if you defer Roth Conversions. for many, there is a 'sweet spot' to accelerate Roth Conversions during the years after you retire and before Social Security (age 70 at the outside) and RMDs (age 72) kick in.
https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/retirement-planning/605109/is-your-retirement-portfolio-a-tax-b...
It is interesting that we have been conditions to 'defer, defer, defer' during our working years, but during the 'sweet spot' noted above, the mantra should really be 'accelerate, accelerate, accelerate'. (and it is VERY painful to write these BIG checks to the IRS each quarter; I've been doing it the last 4 years to take advantage of the 'sweet spot').
Once SS and RMDs kick in, reducing income and staying out of higher tax brackets and higher IRMAA payments is literally impossible without giving the money away via QCDs.
I've put a lot of time into this topic and one piece of advice: I wouldn't worry about whether Congress changes the rules again. (for example, even though the tax brackets are scheduled to revert to 2017 levels comes 2026, Congress could always extend the current brackets, so even That is even an unknown). It's complicated enough to come up with a plan with the known rules.
enjoy reading!
