The Clark Howard Podcast
The Clark Howard Podcast

12.09.25 Ask An Advisor With Wes Moss

December 9, 2025

AI Summary

5 min read

🎙️ The Voices & The Context

  • Format: This episode is a hosted discussion, primarily featuring financial advice and insights with a conversational and informative tone. The dynamic between the hosts creates a friendly and engaging atmosphere.
  • Key Players:
    • Wes Moss: A financial advisor with a focus on practical financial planning and investment strategies, known for his approachable style.
    • Krista Debias: Co-host who complements Wes with questions and insights, creating a balanced dialogue.

🗝️ Key Themes & Topics

  • Roth IRA Conversions: The episode begins with a critical analysis of a Wall Street Journal article advocating for converting traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs all at once. Wes argues against this, emphasizing the potential for a massive tax bill that could result from such a strategy, especially for those with significant assets.
  • Old 401(k) Accounts: The discussion shifts to the dangers of forgetting about old 401(k) accounts, which can lead to substantial losses over time. Wes highlights that many people unknowingly leave behind small balances that could be better invested.
  • Retirement Planning Strategies: Various questions from listeners prompt discussions about withdrawal strategies in retirement, the 4% rule, and how to adjust for changing financial needs as retirement approaches.
  • **Life In

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What you'll learn

  • 1 (00:00) **🎙️ Introduction: Wes Moss**
  • 2 (00:50) **Roth IRA Conversions**
  • 3 (01:44) **The $400,000 Tax Bomb**
  • 4 (03:50) **Tax Bracket Considerations**
  • 5 (06:14) **Practical Advice on Roth Conversions**
  • 6 (09:02) **Listener Questions: 529 Plans and Roth IRAs**
  • 7 (11:30) **The 4% Rule and Retirement Planning**

+ Full timestamped outline available in the app

Show Notes

Costly IRA Conversion Warning & the Hidden Billions Americans Are Leaving Behind

In this episode, fiduciary financial advisor Wes Moss tackles a piece of financial advice that he calls "lunacy" and "insanity" – a recent Op-Ed arguing that retirees should convert their entire Traditional IRA to a Roth IRA in a single year. Wes explains why this academic advice is a dangerous real-world strategy, warning listeners about the potential for a massive tax bill that could reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Also, Wes addresses a sinister issue in retirement savings: billions of dollars in "forgotten" 401(k) balances. Wes warns that this money is often parked in cash or a low-interest money market, missing out on decades of critical growth.

Mentioned on the show: Forgotten 401(k) Accounts Are Costing Americans Billions in Lost Investment Gains Plus, Christa shares your #AskWes questions and Wes gives his take. All this and more on the December 9, 2025, Ask an Advisor episode of the Clark Howard podcast. Submit your questions at clark.com/ask.

We hope you enjoy our weekly Ask An Advisor episodes.  Let us know what you think in the comments!


Learn more about Wes: 

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