#173 Think Twice Before Rolling Your Old 403(b) into a Traditional IRA

#173 Think Twice Before Rolling Your Old 403(b) into a Traditional IRA

From Physician Family Finances Podcast by Nate Reineke

June 24, 2026 · 27 min · Season 1

About this episode

Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones discuss the implications of rolling over a 403(b) into a traditional IRA and answer listener questions on financial decisions.

When you change jobs, a rollover rep may offer to help move your old retirement account, stressing how much control you'll have over your investment options in an IRA. But is that what this decision is really about? Nate Reineke and Chelsea Jones take a question from an OBGYN in South Carolina moving about $400,000 from former employers. A rollover rep is steering them toward an IRA instead of their new 403(b). Nate and Chelsea unpack what that call is really offering: an account with potentially higher investment management fees, plus a tax wrinkle many physicians miss. Pre-tax dollars in a traditional IRA can complicate a future Backdoor Roth. Rolling old funds into the new 403(b) is often worth a look, though the right move depends on your situation. We also answer your colleagues' questions. An Emergency Medicine Doc in Washington wonders, “We have about $5,000 in credit card debt, no emergency fund, and we want to start investing. Should we crush the debt, build savings, or start investing first?” An Orthopedic Surgeon in Ohio asks, “I have a practice partnership buy-in coming in about two years, and it looks like I'll either have to pay cash or take a roughly cut-in-half…

People in this episode

Host: Nate Reineke

Guest: Chelsea Jones

Topics covered

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Mentioned in this episode

Places: South Carolina, Washington, Ohio, New York

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