Spine surgeons and Roth IRAs

To the editor:

The article “Using Roth IRAs for college savings” (July/August 2015, Spine Surgery Today), did not make a compelling presentation for the utilization of a Roth IRA for college.

Most spine surgeons cannot contribute to a Roth IRA. A non-working spouse cannot contribute to a Roth IRA. I would guess it would be a very rare situation where a spine surgeon and his or her family could utilize a Roth IRA due to the phase-out component. I suppose if somebody was willing to pay the penalty for a conversion of an IRA to a Roth IRA, then this would work. I find it is hard to beat the section 529 plans. The money grows tax-free and comes out tax-free. The owner can designate other beneficiaries, such as maybe a grandchild.

I feel I am slowly becoming an expert on this by having seven children, of which six are in college this fall.