Should You Contribute to Your Traditional IRA, or Go Roth Instead?

MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY! https://kkoslawyers.com/schedule-an-a... Should you take the tax deduction today… or build tax-free wealth for tomorrow? In this episode of the Main Street Business Podcast, Mark J. Kohler and Mat Sorensen break down the Roth vs. Traditional IRA debate and explain why the “lower tax bracket in retirement” argument doesn’t always hold up in the real world. They walk through the math, the mindset, and the long-term strategy behind both options — including inheritance planning, self-directing for higher returns, tax rate uncertainty, flexibility in retirement, and why most entrepreneurs don’t actually earn less in retirement. You’ll also learn how the backdoor Roth IRA works for high-income earners and how to use creative tax strategies to offset Roth conversions. If you’re rushing to make a last-minute IRA contribution before the tax deadline, this episode could change your decision. Make sure you understand the long-term consequences before chasing a short-term deduction! CHAPTERS: 0:00 Teaser 0:36 Roth Vs Traditional Basics 1:40 How the Traditional IRA Works 2:27 Why Roth Wins Long Term 3:00 Access Roth Contributions Early 4:20 The Tax Bracket Debate 5:11 Listener Question On Roth 6:09 Is It Really Break Even 7:33 Why Income Stays High 9:01 Debt Snowball Vs Avalanche 11:00 Why Kids Should Inherit Roth 12:30 Inherited IRA Tax Rules 14:00 The Lower Tax Bracket Myth 15:59 Roth Gives You Optionality 17:31 Self-Direct For Bigger Returns 19:38 Should You Do Both 21:15 Get Creative With Offsets 24:24 Don’t Skip Your Contribution 26:01 Invest Early For Compounding 27:43 How Backdoor Roth Works 29:19 Final Takeaways And Next Steps Resources: Interview a Main Street Tax Pro that Speaks like Mark: https://taxadvisornetwork.markjkohler... Meet with a Real Lawyer on Zoom: https://kkoslawyers.com/schedule-an-a... Self-Direct Your IRA or 401k- Buy a Business or Real Estate with Your Retirement Account (Directed IRA): https://directedira.com/appointment/?... Keep Your LLC or Corp in good standing and Hide Your Address (Main Street Business Services): https://mainstreetbusiness.com/?utm_s... Become a Certified Tax Advisor in Mark’s Program - https://mainstreetpros.com/?utm_sourc... Connect: Website: https://markjkohler.com/?utm_source=m... LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markjkohl... Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markkohler/?... Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markjkohler... X: https://x.com/markkohler/?utm_source=... TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@markjkohler/?...