*The 4 Buckets Inside a 401(k): Why Most People Misunderstand the Mega Backdoor Roth**
Most people think the mega backdoor Roth is just a Roth conversion.
It is not.
A Roth conversion usually means taking existing pre-tax money, paying tax on it now, and moving it into Roth.
A mega backdoor Roth usually means putting new after-tax money into a properly designed 401(k), then moving that money into Roth.
Same destination.
Different starting bucket.
Completely different tax result.
The question is not, “Does Schwab/Fidelity/Vanguard allow it?”
The better question is:
**Does your specific 401(k) plan document allow voluntary after-tax employee contributions and Roth conversion or in-service rollover?**
That is what we will break down.
Educational only. Not tax, legal, or financial advice.