Roth Conversion after 59.5

Correct. And consequently SOME might just think of Roth Conversions as part of your Traditional IRA Distribution strategy after 59 ½ (i.e. make distributions when your marginal tax rates are lowest). For example, if you are in a "low income valley" or otherwise expect future marginal rates to be higher (e.g. particualtly after RMDs begin, but also maybe after a spouse passes or kids inherit) then you might want to make makes some discretionary taxable distributions from Tradtitional IRAs (e.g. to fill the 24% tax bracket) for tax reasons whether you want/need the cash of not. And any "surplus distributions" that you choose to make for tax reasons (i.e. distributions that you don't want or need to spend) are best reinvested in a Roth Account (rather than a taxable account) for whatever future use you may choose to use them for (i.e. spend it later, or leave it for heirs) – so those are your Roth Conversions. Of course you must decide each each year how much you want to distribute from Traditional IRAs and how to divide that between cash distributions (for pending) and Roth Conversions (for continued investment), but viewed this way your Roth Conversion Plan becomes a consequence of your Traditional IRA Distributions plan (and your spending plan) rather than an entirely seperate decision.

Contrarian idea: instead of doing conversions on the money to Roth, why not just spend it? Working in personal finance, there were a number of folks where it made more sense to just spend the money, especially once they reached “senior age” on their tax return.

That sounds correct to me. Once you are 59½, as long as you have had a Roth IRA open for at least 5 years, the other 5-year clock for avoiding the 10% early withdrawal penalty no longer apply. You can withdraw your conversions and earnings without penalty or additional income tax, as long as you have had a Roth account open for at least 5 years.

Joe gave the correct answer. Just wanted to share this good article that explains the two 5-year clocks with examples. The earnings on the converted amount is tax-free after 59.5 only once the “contribution” 5-year clock has been cleared.

Correct. The converted amount can be removed without penalty or tax at 59-1/2. The only thing is the earnings of that may be taxed as ordinary income.