Roth vs Traditional Calculator

How to use this calculator

Enter contribution, current tax rate, expected retirement tax rate, and growth multiplier. The tool compares Roth after-tax growth with a traditional contribution adjusted for taxes.

When this calculator is useful

• Understanding tax-rate tradeoffs
• Comparing Roth IRA versus deductible contributions
• Testing future tax scenarios

Important limitations

This is simplified. Eligibility, contribution limits, state taxes, RMDs, credits, employer plans, and investment choices matter.

For best results, run at least three cases: a conservative case, a middle case, and a stretch case. If a small change in inputs creates a big change in the answer, that is a sign the decision may be sensitive to rates, fees, timing, or market performance.