Roth vs Traditional

Educational only. Not financial, tax, or legal advice.

Step 1: Behavioral Factors (Educational)

This tool is not just math. These questions help estimate whether a strategy is likely to be implemented as modeled.

Educational Use Only

This tool is for educational purposes only and is not financial, tax, or legal advice.

This step reviews behavioral factors only. The tax math step may indicate a different outcome depending on your inputs and rules such as required minimum distributions (RMDs), Medicare premium surcharges (IRMAA), and Social Security taxation.

Step 2: Your Situation Today

Fill in what you know. If you're not sure, the default values are reasonable placeholders - you can refine later.

If your state has no income tax, use 0.
Annual contribution
This changes what the math is holding constant when comparing Traditional vs Roth.
Long-term estimate (used for both options).
Use household income if filing jointly.

Step 3: Your Retirement Picture

This helps estimate the taxes you might pay later (including Social Security rules and Medicare surcharges).

If unsure, use an estimate. Adjusted for inflation automatically.
Adjusted for inflation automatically.
In today's dollars (the calculator inflates this forward).
Used to grow expenses to retirement.
This matters because future withdrawals (and required withdrawals) can increase taxes and Medicare premiums.