Patent on Roth IRA Conversion

May 21, 2007 by TFB

If you have a Traditional IRA, perhaps as a result of rolling over a 401(k) plan balance, should you convert it to a Roth IRA? I heard on the radio program Marketplace (link to transcript) that someone got a patent on the thought process. I looked it up and lo and behold it's there. U.S. Patent 6,058,376 "Process for evaluating the financial consequences of converting a standard form I.R.A. to the Roth form I.R.A." Here's a quote from the summary of the patent:

"Disclosed is a computer-implemented process for evaluating the financial consequences of converting a standard format IRA to a new Roth form IRA. The process includes computing and disclosing the substantial federal income tax consequences involved in converting the standard form IRA to the Roth form."

Whether one should convert from Traditional IRA to Roth IRA is basically a math problem. Given a set of inputs, you have a number for converting which you can compare against that for not converting. Although the output is highly dependent on the inputs (garbage in, garbage out), the process itself is a set of basic math formula. How someone can put a patent on applying math formula is beyond me. It's like me saying I have a patent on how to calculate 5 + 6. Perhaps I should apply a patent on my tax equivalent yield calculator. Nah, anybody can use that one for free.

There are patents on some ubiquitous stuff. I once saw on a plastic grocery bag that there are no fewer than 6 patents on it. The latest of which was granted in 2000. Yes, grocery bags. Aren't they everywhere? Innovation is still going on in grocery bags? Here are the patent numbers if you are interested:

  • 5,188,235 Bag pack
  • 5,335,788 Self-opening polyethylene bag stack and process for producing same
  • 5,363,965 Self-opening thermoplastic bag system
  • 5,561,967 Self-opening thermoplastic bag system
  • 5,863,130 Self opening thermoplastic bag system
  • 6,105,780 Self opening thermoplastic bag system

Go figure.

Software picked, likely related posts:

Keywords:
Filed under: Investing | Leave a comment

Comments

2 Comments on Patent on Roth IRA Conversion

  1. Ted Valentine on May 22, 2007 | permalink
    2.  

    The conversion exercise just a "best guess" anyway. There are so many unknowns that cannot be quantified with certainty. How can you patent something that doesn't even give you a guaranteed right answer?

  2. JLP on May 22, 2007 | permalink
    3.  

    yeah, people and companies are trying to patent everything. I'm in the process of patenting sitting down on the toilet. Once it is passed, if you want to sit while you do your business, you have to pay me $.50!

Tell me what you're thinking, but please don't spam. See comments moderation policy.