Tools

Roth vs traditional

Same paycheck cost, after-tax nest egg at your retirement bracket. A conversion of money already in a traditional IRA is a different file: Roth conversion calculator.

Traditional contribution / yr (pre-tax) Years invested Annual return % Tax rate now % Tax rate in retirement %

Same paycheck: the traditional dollar is pre-tax; the Roth dollar is that amount times (1 − today’s rate). Both grow at the return you type. Traditional is then taxed at the retirement rate; Roth is not. 2026 IRA cap is $7,500, or $8,600 at age 50+ (IRS Notice 2025-67). 2025 was $7,000 / $8,000. A 401(k) elective deferral is a different cap ($24,500 in 2026). 22% and 24% are ordinary brackets in Rev. Proc. 2025-32 — type your own marginal rate. Ignores state tax, RMDs, and a nondeductible traditional contribution. Educational only.