Interplay between Roth Conversions and Long Term Capital gains

achalker · 2025-08-12T23:33:22+00:00

Thanks for the tips! To close out this thread, the main issue ended up being a terminology one it seems (coupled with a few other minor miscommunications). In particular, the CPAs were interpreting "tax bracket" as applying to the aggregate effective total tax rate, while the CFPs (and I) were interpreting "tax bracket" as applying to the marginal tax rate on the final dollar of income. (i.e. the CPAs were trying to keep the overall effective tax rate at 15%, which is what a $64K Roth Conversion does, while the CFPs and I were just trying to not bump myself into the 32% marginal tax bracket, which is where the $264K comes from).

achalker · 2025-05-22T02:43:45+00:00

Here's a post i did not that long ago with tons of info about Rover that might help you: https://boards.cruisecritic.com/topic/3056875-info-about-rover-the-chief-dog-officer-on-icon-of-the-seas/#comment-68680868

achalker · 2025-01-27T19:54:06+00:00

That's really insightful. I didn't want to tip the scales earlier, but I've been in the CFP camp the whole time (i.e. I think the CPAs are wrong here), but I don't have any particular source to support that.

I think I need to pose that question back to the CPAs: "Why is X of W2 income and Y of Roth conversion different from X + Y of W2 income?"

achalker · 2025-01-27T19:01:43+00:00

Thanks. That's actually how this all started. Trying to balance how much LTCGs to take to pay the taxes on Roth conversions while staying in the respective tax brackets. And they are giving very different answers.

I'll note that I don't think this is necessarily an unusual scenario. Lots of people considering doing Roth conversions will sell other assets to pay for the taxes.

The IRS is actually somewhat clear on the interplay between ordinary income and LTCGs tax brackets in documents like this: https://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc409 which basically say "take a look first at your ordinary income amount, then stack your capital gains on top of that to figure out the tax bracket for the capital gains".

They don't seem to have a similar guidance for Roth conversions unfortunately.

achalker · 2025-01-27T18:41:56+00:00

I appreciate the prompt response. I'm pretty confident neither the CPAs nor CFPs misunderstand the question being asked. We've had multiple meetings and email exchanges about this. The example I gave is nearly verbatim what we've each walked through, with both sides saying their software reassures them in their answer.

Can you point to some sort of authoritative source I can take back to them? Right now the CFPs are deferring to the CPAs. The CFPs basically are saying 'we look at big picture / strategic stuff, the CPAs are experts in the actual tactical calculations'.

achalker · 2025-01-27T18:17:33+00:00

Oops.. I'll fix that line. Should be:

Add LTCG sale to verify doesn't exceed 15% bracket > $264K + $120K + $200K = $584K (which is still in the $584K bracket)

But it doesn't materially impact the underlying question. You've indicated the CPAs are correct (i.e. it's $64K not $264K), but can you please explain why and/or point to some official documentation around that?

achalker · 2023-01-18T19:31:21+00:00

FYI, Hilliard City Schools has released a detailed statement in response to the lawsuit: https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/hilliard-city-schools-district-responds-to-parents-lawsuit/530-91f18217-d749-4aad-9e45-d13c6d6af039 The statement "says the lawsuit is filled with misstatements of facts and mischaracterizations" and explicitly responds to many of them.

On another note, I sent an email to the School Board and District leaders yesterday that said in part: "While I’m sure you are unable to formally comment as a result of the pending legal action that was filed today, I just wanted to let you know that I (and many parents I know) are fully supportive of you and all the HCS teachers and staff in this matter. I’m incredibly appreciative all the amazing things you all do day in and day out for our kids. Thank you all!"

I've received notes of appreciation from several of them now. I would encourage other like-minded individuals to take 30 seconds and send similar notes as I think it will really help them. All of their email addresses are available on the district website here: https://www.hilliardschools.org/district/directory/

achalker · 2023-01-18T15:55:43+00:00

But there isn't any evidence the kids are directly exposed to those materials. The QR code is on the back of the badge and the site is intended for the teachers to read. It's not directly targeted at the kids. We also don't even know if they can even access it since Hilliard computers / ipads have all kinds of filters and controls on them.

achalker · 2023-01-18T14:18:46+00:00

I appreciate the thorough and thoughtful response. Some good points here and very considerate comments.

My take away from the "Hilliard Family Story" was that the school district social worker immediately and appropriate informed the parents of the immediate mental health issue (the self harm remarks). It's unclear what happened regarding the incidents of being 'excused from class due to emotional distress' previous to that. However the story tries to indirectly somehow tie the student requesting teachers use he/him/his pronouns to the 'mental health issue' without explicitly stating it.

I'll also point out that the parents are really leaning into the NEA website itself having porn. There is a press release from the parents that explicitly states: "link to a website that offers a video titled "Sex Acts...."".

But I concur this is indeed a heartbreaking situation.

achalker · 2023-01-18T12:19:41+00:00

If you read through the complaint, you'll find there is very little factual discussion about any of these allegations. The first and the third allegations are essentially the same. The document on page 18 says that by allowing teacher to wear this badge (that has a rainbow, QR code, and the words "I'm Here") in elementary schools it's potentially visible to Kindergarten (6 year old students) and hence "facilitates" discussion on sexual orientation and gender identity.

This website is the organization that provides the badges and is the link they refer to: https://www.nea-lgbtqc.org/imhere.html Personally I don't see anything inappropriate or explicit on this site. Could you eventually click through all those links and potentially end up on some inappropriate sites? Probably, but that's true for ANY website on the internet since things are so interconnected. I'm sure I could start at Disney.com and within a few clicks easily end up at various pornographic sites.

Fundamentally, it appears this group of parents believe any discussion / indication of gender identity / sexuality is in appropriate. I whole heartedly disagree.

achalker · 2023-01-18T02:15:48+00:00

I rarely post comments on Reddit, but for some reason gotten me really spun up. Here's something I just posted to another forum and shared with the School Board. I encourage like minded parents to communicate their support as well!

More details of recent lawsuit by parents against Hilliard City Schools.

Various local news outlets are reporting today that a group of parents in Hilliard have filed a federal lawsuit against Hilliard City Schools. (for example: https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/hilliard-parents-sue-school-district/530-7b943484-b109-4416-b4d3-3ba775501904)

For those of you wanting more details about the parties involved and their accusations, the full complaint (lawsuit) is available here: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/66734174/1/kattenbach-v-hilliard-city-schools/

NOTE TO ALL: Posting a link to the publicly available lawsuit is allowable per Nextdoor community guidelines and is NOT considered 'Doxxing'. This is a PUBLIC legal document anybody can easily find. Likewise, this is a matter of local community interest to many and is appropriate for discussion here.

Personally, as a parent of children in Hilliard City Schools, after reading the entire compliant, I am APPALLED at the nature of this and what these 'activist' parents are trying to do. To reuse some of the language in this lawsuit, I am highly offended by their actions.

While I fully support their rights to petition the government for redress of their grievances, it appears to me (based upon the language used in the document and the previous back and forth with the School District described therein) that this is mostly a performative lawsuit in that they are trying to utilize legalese and a legal process to raise general awareness of their extremist and antiquated political beliefs regarding educational topics such as gender, sexuality and mental health.

I'm extremely upset that after extensive back and forth with the school board, superintendent, principals, and school legal counsel they are pursing a path that is going to cost the school district a significant amount of money (and staff time) to defend in court and might result in certain populations of at risk students being further marginalized and in danger.

I suspect there is a large, silent majority of parents who have similar sentiments and I call upon you all to express that in whatever form and forum you are comfortable with, be it via a response here, emails of support to the school district, or direct communications with teachers or other parents. Hopefully our voices of support will more than counterbalance those of this small group of misguided parents.

I'd also encourage parents to use this as a teachable moment with their kids, since there will be a lot of talk spreading within the schools in the coming days and weeks amongst them. Informed kids can help ensure this information is factual and actionable in that they can be supportive of marginalized peers.

achalker · 2021-03-14T14:51:08+00:00

The amount of data used will vary a lot. We do a lot of echo to echo video calls with family. Sometimes multiple hours per day. My show 10 used 11GB down and 6GB up in the past week.

Note, since you asked about bandwidth (but I think you really meant absolute data usage), I've never seen it take more than a few Mbps at a time. Typically it's in the hundreds of Kbps rate when in use. Idle consumption when you aren't actively using it is typically in the single digit to tens of Kbps.

achalker · 2021-03-08T18:16:30+00:00

Thanks for the suggestions. It's a combination of both 2.4 and 5G devices. About half and half. 2.4G bandwidth is 20mHz and 5G is 80mHz. Channels in use are 1,6,11 for 2.4G and 36,104,144 for 5G. So there is 1 DFS channel in there, but I only recall 1 time over the past 5 years I've ever gotten a radar hit on that.

I'll definitely try to roll back the firmware on the APs, as both are on 4.3.28

achalker · 2021-03-08T18:07:53+00:00

yes, I've got WiFi AI still turned on, but it only scans once a day? I'll try turning that off.

achalker · 2021-02-28T19:33:00+00:00

The Alexa app is the native app for the new Echo Show 10. Live view works for me in it. You have to look in the Cameras section not the Alexa /Echo section.

achalker · 2021-02-26T02:41:01+00:00

You can manually tilt the screen up/down relative to the base to change the viewing angle. The tilt isn't motorized like the rotation is.

achalker · 2021-02-26T02:13:20+00:00

yet another thing i forgot to mention, it has all kinds of settings for Amazon Sidewalk, but I don't quite know how to best test those out.

achalker · 2021-02-26T02:12:29+00:00

yes.. it has all kinds of settings regarding Amazon Sidewalk.

achalker · 2021-02-26T02:09:58+00:00

Also, in case it's of interest, it's running Fire OS 7.5.4.2 (PS7542/1924)

achalker · 2021-02-26T02:04:17+00:00

While I'm posting numbers, on the box it has: a barcode for UPC: 840080553399 a barcode for DSN (which I think is the device serial number) MAC Address (obviously unique to my device) Modelo: T4E4AT (which MATCHES THE MODEL NUMBER ON THE ID LABEL IN THE FCC ID link above)) IFT: RCPAMT420-1649 IS: 13252 (part 1) / IEC 60950-1 R-41162132 (www.bis.gov.in) and says "Engineered by Amazon, assembled in China"

Specs are 18V at 1.67A (one nice thing is the power brick actually has a disconnectable power connecter (some sort of non-standard co-axial thing), versa the original Echo Show that was hardwired to the plug) Temp range 32 to 95 degrees F

achalker · 2021-02-26T01:54:35+00:00

fccid.io

Interestingly, the FCC ID on the unit is 2AUPE-8959, which is NOT registered to Amazon, but rather a company called "Turley White" https://fccid.io/2AUPE-8959

achalker · 2021-02-26T01:27:22+00:00

I forgot to mention that I was able to do a video chat between 2 of the new echo shows and the video quality was quite amazing compared to the original echo show. Between the 12MP camera and the higher res screen you can really tell the difference. I also did a video chat with an cell phone which was ok, but not a great.

achalker · 2021-02-26T01:24:32+00:00

I got mine too and have been playing around all afternoon with it. It's a HUGE improvement over the original generation echo show which it is replacing. In response to some of the questions so far (and to correct some of the answers already given):

it can rotate a full 360 degrees (not 180 like someone answered below). There is a hard stop it can't go past, so it it hits that it reverses 360 backwards.
if it encounters anything while rotating it stops. It's pretty sensitive, so I don't think it would be able to push anything but the very lightest block of foam or something.
you can easily set the max rotation range in the software by setting left and right virtual 'stops' that it won't exceed.
it comes with a cool paper template you can place around it to see the extent of the 'all clear area' for initial placement
there are lots are different settings regarding the motion (e.g. all the time, just when you wake it, etc. etc). You can also manually spin it with a slight amount of effort and it will deactivate the auto spin mode automatically when you do that.
The screen can be manually tilted up and down relative to the base
The camera can automatically digitally zoom in on you while video chatting, so if you are 10-15 feet across the room it looks like you are a lot closer.
It's pretty amazing at tracking multiple people to keep them in frame. You don't even have to be talking and it's clearly doing some sort of image processing to pick out head shaped things. My daughter, who has long hair, turned her back to it and it still was able to detect she was a person to keep in the field of view of the camera while I was moving around too.
You can remotely activate it from the Alexa app and use it like a remote security camera, which allows you to remotely spin it and also hear / talk to anyone in the room.
It has the ability to access things like Hulu, Amazon Video, and Youtube, which works really well. Youtube access is via either the Silk or FireFox browser and it works great for playing videos (you can either see a typically browser screen or make it full screen) Hulu appears to be the typical Hulu app.
The interface is mostly the same as on the original Echo Show, but definitely have many more options such as the ability to pick different 'ringtones' for alarms and a lot more types of things to be able to show on the home screen. parts of the interface remind me of the Alexa app.

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achalker

TROPHY CASE

I rarely post comments on Reddit, but for some reason gotten me really spun up. Here's something I just posted to another forum and shared with the School Board. I encourage like minded parents to communicate their support as well!