The IRS mandates withdrawals from pre-tax retirement accounts once you reach a certain age. These are referred to as required minimum distributions (RMDs). For many retirees, RMDs don't change much since they already take out more than the minimum to cover living costs. But, for those who want to withdraw less than the required amount or leave money invested, RMDs can pose a challenge. To help you calculate how much to withdraw from your own retirement accounts, let’s walk through an example of a 78-year-o ...

SmartAsset and Yahoo Finance LLC may earn commission or revenue through links in the content below. Converting a 401(k) into a Roth IRA can be appealing for several reasons. Not only can you make qualified withdrawals from Roth accounts tax-free, but Roth accounts are also exempt from required minimum distributions (RMDs.) That can give you more flexibility when withdrawing from your account in retirement and potentially save you money on taxes. Imagine you’re nearing retirement age and have $1.3 millio ...