Three tax savings tips for your retirement plan from the folks at TIAA-CREF.

Maximize pretax contributions to your employer plans; 2) check on your eligibility for IRA tax deductions; 3) and see if it makes sense for you to convert to a Roth-IRA.

The latter is complicated. Starting this year, anyone can convert traditional pretax IRA savings into a Roth IRA. The same goes for eligible participants with pretax 401(k) and 403(b) retirement plans. Of course, you’ll owe taxes at the conversion. However, for any conversion made this year you can elect to pay the tax over two years. It’s a one time deal.

There is a lot to consider before converting. A good place to start is the Roth-IRA conversion calculators at Analyzenow.com.