5 Ways to Get More Money Into Roth Accounts in 2026
One of the most common questions I receive from clients is:
"How can I get more money into Roth accounts?"
It's a great question—and an important one.
Roth accounts can be one of the most powerful tools available for retirement planning. While contributions are made with after-tax dollars, the money grows tax-deferred and can ultimately be withdrawn tax-free in retirement. For investors who believe tax rates may be higher in the future, building tax-free retirement income can be extremely valuable.
Unfortunately, many high-income earners discover they make too much money to contribute directly to a Roth IRA. The good news is that there are several alternative strategies that may allow you to continue building Roth assets.
In this article, we'll discuss five ways to get more money into Roth accounts, including the Backdoor Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), Roth conversions, and the Mega Backdoor Roth IRA.
Why Roth Accounts Are So Valuable
Before discussing the strategies, it's important to understand why investors seek Roth accounts in the first place.
Unlike traditional retirement accounts, Roth accounts provide:
Tax-free withdrawals in retirement
No required minimum distributions (RMDs) during the owner's lifetime for Roth IRAs
Greater flexibility when managing retirement income
Potential protection against future tax rate increases
Tax-free inheritance opportunities for beneficiaries
For many retirees, maintaining a combination of taxable, tax-deferred, and tax-free accounts creates significantly greater flexibility when managing retirement income, Roth conversion opportunities, Medicare premiums, and overall lifetime tax liability.
1. Traditional Roth IRA Contributions
The most straightforward way to fund a Roth account is through a direct Roth IRA contribution.
2026 Roth IRA Contribution Limits
For 2026:
Individuals under age 50 may contribute up to $7,500 annually.
Individuals age 50 and older may contribute up to $8,600 annually, including a $1,100 catch-up contribution.
However, Roth IRAs have income limitations.
Single Filers
Full contribution allowed if Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) is below $153,000.
Contributions phase out between $153,000 and $168,000.
No direct Roth IRA contribution is allowed once MAGI reaches $168,000.
Married Filing Jointly
Full contribution allowed if MAGI is below $242,000.
Contributions phase out between $242,000 and $252,000.
No direct Roth IRA contribution is allowed once MAGI reaches $252,000.
For many professionals, business owners, and dual-income households, these income limits create the need for alternative strategies.
2. The Backdoor Roth IRA Strategy
The Backdoor Roth IRA is one of the most popular ways high-income earners can fund Roth accounts.
How It Works
Instead of contributing directly to a Roth IRA, you:
Open both a Traditional IRA and Roth IRA.
Make a non-deductible contribution to the Traditional IRA.
Convert the contribution into a Roth IRA shortly afterward.
Because the original contribution was made with after-tax dollars, little or no tax may be owed on the conversion.
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The Pro-Rata Rule
One of the biggest mistakes investors make involves the IRS pro-rata rule.
If you own:
Traditional IRAs
SEP IRAs
SIMPLE IRAs
Rollover IRAs
The IRS requires all IRA assets to be considered when calculating the taxable portion of the conversion.
For example:
Existing Traditional IRA balance: $93,000
New non-deductible contribution: $7,500
Total IRA assets = $100,500
Only 7.46% of the conversion would be considered tax-free.
This often creates unexpected tax consequences.
Potential Solution
If your employer's 401(k) plan allows rollovers, you may be able to move pre-tax IRA assets into the 401(k), eliminating them from the pro-rata calculation and making the Backdoor Roth strategy significantly more effective.
If you are self-employed and currently using a SEP IRA or SIMPLE IRA, you may want to consider establishing a Solo 401(k). Doing so may allow you to roll those pre-tax assets into the 401(k) and preserve your ability to execute annual Backdoor Roth IRA contributions.
3. Roth 401(k) Contributions
Many investors overlook one of the easiest ways to increase Roth savings—the Roth 401(k).
Unlike Roth IRAs, Roth 401(k)s have no income limits.
2026 Roth 401(k) Contribution Limits
For 2026:
Employee contribution limit: $24,500
Catch-up contribution (age 50+): $8,000
Individuals ages 60–63 may qualify for an enhanced catch-up contribution of $11,250, allowing total employee contributions of up to $35,750 if their plan permits.
You can choose to contribute:
100% Traditional
100% Roth
Or a combination of both
This makes the Roth 401(k) an excellent option for high-income earners who are no longer eligible to contribute directly to a Roth IRA.
New Roth Catch-Up Rules Under SECURE 2.0
Beginning in 2026, SECURE 2.0 requires many employees earning more than $150,000 in prior-year wages to make catch-up contributions on a Roth basis rather than a pre-tax basis.
While this may increase taxable income in the current year, it also creates an opportunity to accumulate significantly larger tax-free retirement assets over time.
4. Roth Conversions
A Roth conversion allows you to move money from a Traditional IRA or Traditional 401(k) into a Roth account.
Why Consider a Roth Conversion?
You may benefit from a Roth conversion if:
You expect future tax rates to be higher
You expect your retirement income to be higher than your current income
You recently retired and have a temporary low-income window
You want to reduce future Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)
You want to leave tax-free assets to your beneficiaries
Important Tax Considerations
The amount converted is added to your taxable income for the year.
For example:
If you convert $100,000 from a Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, that $100,000 becomes taxable income.
This can potentially:
Push you into a higher tax bracket
Increase Medicare premiums through IRMAA surcharges
Trigger the Net Investment Income Tax (NIIT)
Increase the taxation of Social Security benefits
Because of these factors, Roth conversions should be carefully coordinated with your financial advisor and tax professional.
In-Plan Roth Conversions
Some employer retirement plans also allow in-plan Roth conversions.
This enables participants to move money directly from the Traditional 401(k) side to the Roth 401(k) side without leaving the employer plan.
If your employer's plan offers this feature, it may provide an efficient way to build Roth assets without opening additional accounts.
When Does a Roth Conversion Make Sense?
In my opinion, some of the best opportunities for Roth conversions occur during years when income is temporarily lower than normal.
Examples include:
Early retirement before collecting Social Security
A career transition
A year with lower business income
A year following the loss of a spouse
Prior to Required Minimum Distributions beginning
These low-income years often create an opportunity to fill lower tax brackets with Roth conversions.
5. The Mega Backdoor Roth IRA
The Mega Backdoor Roth IRA is perhaps the most powerful Roth funding strategy available.
However, not all retirement plans allow it.
How It Works
For 2026, total contributions to a defined contribution retirement plan—including employee contributions, employer contributions, and after-tax contributions—can reach $72,000, excluding catch-up contributions.
Let's assume:
Employee contribution: $24,500
Employer contribution: $7,000
Total contributions = $31,500
Since the annual limit is $72,000, there is potentially another $40,500 available for after-tax contributions.
Those after-tax contributions can then be:
Converted into the Roth 401(k), or
Rolled into a Roth IRA
This strategy can allow high-income savers to move tens of thousands of dollars into Roth accounts each year.
Why Is This So Powerful?
Most investors focus only on the standard annual contribution limits.
However, the Mega Backdoor Roth IRA may allow an investor to move substantially more money into Roth accounts each year than a traditional Roth IRA contribution alone.
Over time, this can result in hundreds of thousands—or even millions—of additional dollars growing tax-free.
Does Your Plan Allow It?
To utilize this strategy, your retirement plan generally must permit:
After-tax employee contributions
In-service distributions or in-plan Roth conversions
While many large corporate plans offer this feature, many do not.
Check with your HR department or retirement plan administrator to determine whether your plan supports Mega Backdoor Roth contributions.
Which Roth Strategy Is Best?
The best Roth strategy depends on your unique situation.
For many investors:
Roth 401(k) contributions provide the easiest solution.
Backdoor Roth IRAs work well for high-income earners without large IRA balances.
Roth conversions can be extremely powerful during low-income years.
Mega Backdoor Roth IRAs offer the largest contribution opportunities when available.
In many cases, the most effective retirement plan incorporates several of these strategies over time.
Final Thoughts
Building tax-free retirement income can significantly improve your retirement flexibility and potentially reduce your lifetime tax burden.
While many investors believe they earn too much to benefit from Roth accounts, the reality is that there are several strategies available that can help move additional assets into Roth accounts each year.
Whether through a Backdoor Roth IRA, Roth 401(k), Roth conversion, or Mega Backdoor Roth strategy, careful planning can help you create a more tax-efficient retirement income plan.
If you're unsure which strategy makes sense for your situation, consider speaking with a qualified financial advisor and tax professional before implementing any Roth planning strategy.
The tax code is constantly evolving, and the right strategy today may look different from the right strategy five years from now. By proactively evaluating your Roth opportunities each year, you can position yourself for greater flexibility, lower taxes, and more tax-free income throughout retirement.
Written by Ryan Morrissey CFP®, CLU®, CHFC®, CMFC
Founder & Principal Advisor of Morrissey Wealth Management
Host of the Retire with Ryan Podcast