Thanks - because the Roth TSP and traditional TSP must be invested identically, and distributions are taken on a pro-rata basis across all investments, I think I'm going to keep moving TSP money to an IRA, then converting (I do it with this intermediate step because of reports that the TSP has messed up direct rollovers to a Roth IRA, and also because it gives me more flexibility to keep money in the traditional IRA if we're close to a tax cliff by the end of the year, or even send it back to the TSP though that means it's not earning anything until the TSP processes the incoming rollover). The Roth 401K and traditional 401K also have to be invested the same way, though I'm not sure if distributions are pro-rata or can be directed. So my husband should probably just roll his 401Ks to IRAs when he retires, even though they got rid of RMDs on the Roth 401Ks. But given the liability protection differences between IRAs rolled over from employer plans and contributory IRAs, I will advise him to start a separate traditional and Roth IRA for his 401K rollovers.
