Will You Be Converted by Roth?

In late September, President Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs and Credit Act of 2010—legislation that allows participants to convert their 401(k) or 403(b) balances to Roth 401(k) or 403(b) accounts (also 457 plans, effective January 1). Now, in order for that to “matter,” the plan has to allow for Roth accounts, and the participant has to be eligible for a withdrawal (a withdrawal that, of course, the plan has to permit). A week after the bill was signed, I asked readers what—if anything—they would do regarding the Roth conversion option.