FIREproof Help

Guides, references, and concepts

Browse topics

Roth optimizer

Goal modes, headroom, and reading the Step-2 recommendations.

The Roth Optimizer suggests year-by-year Roth conversion amounts sized to maximize after-tax wealth across the simulation. It runs as a follow-up step on top of a completed Proof view: pick a goal mode, hit calculate, and the optimizer returns a list of recommended conversion sizes per year.

Goal modes

Fill to bracket

The classic mode. The optimizer finds the next federal income tax bracket above your current taxable income and converts just enough to reach the top of it. Anything more would spill into the next bracket and pay a higher marginal rate; anything less leaves cheap bracket headroom on the table.

Fill to IRMAA

For households on Medicare, the cliff that matters most is often the next IRMAA tier. The Medicare premium surcharge that kicks in when modified AGI crosses certain thresholds. fill_to_irmaa targets the IRMAA threshold instead of a federal bracket, so each year's conversion respects the surcharge cliff.

Related

Was this helpful?

For sim-specific issues, open Plan Diagnostics from the Proof view. For everything else, reach out to support.