Roth recharacterization - would you do it?

[MVal]

Okay, I just came across this on Madfientist, http://www.madfientist.com/roth-ira-horse-race/. I had never heard of this and I'm not sure I completely understand. As far as I can tell, when you want to start converting your tIRA to Roth, you could open a second Roth and move money into both and whichever one performs more poorly, you "give the money back" to your tIRA. Someone correct me if that is not right, but that is what I get from this.

Anyone already using this practice or would try it? It seems like a good way to maximize growth on conversions.

[seattlecyclone]

I read that article a while ago and it seems like an interesting way to optimize things, but the paperwork-to-benefit ratio is a bit too high for me to bother.

[MVal]

I read that article a while ago and it seems like an interesting way to optimize things, but the paperwork-to-benefit ratio is a bit too high for me to bother.

Maybe so. This might be up there with shifting cash around those high interest bearing online savings accounts like Mango--advantageous, but a pain in the rear. I like things to be as simple as possible so I don't lose track of what is going on, so I'm not certain I would do this.