Calculator

Traditional vs. Roth Calculator

Compare the after-tax retirement value of a Traditional-style account against a Roth-style account, given the same pre-tax savings each year.

← Read the Retirement & Tax-Advantaged Accounts concept page

Pre-tax income saved per year

Years until retirement

yrs

Expected annual return

Current marginal tax rate

Expected marginal tax rate in retirement

Tie

$358,950.99

Traditional (after tax)

$358,950.99

Roth (after tax)

$358,950.99

How the math works

Traditional: grows to $472,303.93 pre-tax,
             taxed at 24% on withdrawal → $358,950.99 after tax

Roth: only $3,800.00/yr contributed after paying 24% tax now,
      grows tax-free → $358,950.99 after tax (already tax-free)

With the same tax rate now and in retirement, the deduction Traditional gives you today and the tax-free withdrawal Roth gives you later cancel out exactly — both land on the same after-tax value.