Root Talks: How Should I Split Retirement Withdrawals Between Pretax and Roth Accounts?

In this episode, we're talking about the importance of a strategic withdrawal plan in retirement to keep taxes in check and set you up for long-term financial stability. Ari and I break down why a simple 50/50 split between traditional and Roth accounts isn't enough—you need to plan based on your tax situation and future needs. Using a listener's example, we walk you through how to think about tax brackets, required minimum distributions (RMDs), and when it might make sense to convert funds to a Roth IRA. We also discuss the role of asset location—putting riskier investments in Roth accounts for tax-free growth and stable investments in traditional IRAs for withdrawals. It’s all about balancing tax strategies with your lifestyle goals. At Root, we prioritize your purpose first, and we encourage you to explore our resources, like our podcasts, YouTube channel, and community, to learn more about smart retirement planning. Submit your request to join James: On the Ready For Retirement podcast: Apply Here On a Retirement Makeover episode: Apply Here Timestamps: 0:00 - The comment that prompted this chat 2:39 - Run some projections 5:14 - The benefit of Roth 7:31 - Asset location and allocation 10:07 - Root reserves 13:50 - More often than not 15:22 - Tax insurance 17:17 - Cart before the horse? 19:30 - It starts with purpose 21:33 - Where to find James and Ari Create Your Custom Strategy ⬇️ Get Started Here. Join the new Root Collective HERE!