Project a tax-free Roth balance.
One of the advanced-planning tools provided by the firm. Enter current age, retirement age, current Roth balance, annual contribution, and expected return to project the tax-free balance at retirement along with the split between contributions and growth.
| Age | Contribution | Balance |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | $7,000 | $28,675 |
| 37 | $7,000 | $37,977 |
| 38 | $7,000 | $47,951 |
| 39 | $7,000 | $58,646 |
| 40 | $7,000 | $70,115 |
| 41 | $7,000 | $82,413 |
| 42 | $7,000 | $95,599 |
| 43 | $7,000 | $109,739 |
| 44 | $7,000 | $124,901 |
| 45 | $7,000 | $141,159 |
| 46 | $7,000 | $158,593 |
| 47 | $7,000 | $177,286 |
| 48 | $7,000 | $197,332 |
| 49 | $7,000 | $218,826 |
| 50 | $7,000 | $241,874 |
| 51 | $7,000 | $266,588 |
| 52 | $7,000 | $293,088 |
| 53 | $7,000 | $321,505 |
| 54 | $7,000 | $351,975 |
| 55 | $7,000 | $384,649 |
| 56 | $7,000 | $419,684 |
| 57 | $7,000 | $457,252 |
| 58 | $7,000 | $497,536 |
| 59 | $7,000 | $540,732 |
| 60 | $7,000 | $587,050 |
| 61 | $7,000 | $636,717 |
| 62 | $7,000 | $689,974 |
| 63 | $7,000 | $747,082 |
| 64 | $7,000 | $808,317 |
| 65 | $7,000 | $873,980 |
Producers contracted through the firm use this tool as an input to case design rather than as a standalone answer. When the number here changes the shape of a case, bring it to the case design desk and we will work it through with you and the client's CPA or attorney. Request a conversation.
How a Roth IRA works
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account funded with after-tax dollars. There is no deduction in the year of contribution, but everything that happens inside the account is tax-free: dividends, interest, capital gains, and, most importantly, qualified withdrawals in retirement. That is the Roth trade: pay the tax now at a known rate to avoid paying it later at an unknown one.
2026 contribution limits
The IRS sets the Roth IRA contribution limit annually and adjusts it for inflation. Savers age 50 and older can add a catch-up contribution on top of the base limit. Contributions cannot exceed earned income for the year. Because the figures are indexed each year, this page treats the annual contribution as a user input; confirm the current year's exact numbers before finalizing a plan.
Income phase-outs
Direct Roth IRA contributions phase out as modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) rises. The phase-out ranges are different for single filers and for married filing jointly, and they are adjusted each year. Above the top of the range, a direct Roth contribution is not permitted. Savers above the phase-out often use a backdoor Roth: a non-deductible contribution to a traditional IRA followed by a conversion to the Roth. The mechanics are simple; the interaction with the pro-rata rule for anyone with existing pre-tax IRA balances is where careful analysis matters.
No lifetime RMDs for the owner
Unlike a traditional IRA, a Roth IRA has no required minimum distributions for the original owner. That single fact makes the Roth uniquely powerful for late-life planning. It can be left untouched through the entire retirement window, growing tax-free, and used as the last dollar spent or the first dollar inherited. For the traditional-side picture, see the RMD calculator linked below.
The 5-year rule
For earnings to be withdrawn tax-free, a Roth IRA must have been open for at least five tax years and the account owner must be at least 59 and a half (or meet another qualifying exception). Separate 5-year clocks apply to each Roth conversion for the purpose of the 10% early withdrawal penalty for anyone under 59 and a half. Direct contributions can always be withdrawn tax and penalty free.
Backdoor Roth in one paragraph
Savers above the income phase-out can still access a Roth by contributing to a non-deductible traditional IRA and then converting that contribution to a Roth. The conversion itself is not income-limited. The catch is the pro-rata rule: if the saver holds other pre-tax IRA money, part of the conversion is treated as taxable regardless of which dollars were converted. Clearing out pre-tax IRA balances (by rolling them into a 401(k) that accepts rollovers) is a common precondition and a common place where an advisor adds value.
Roth vs traditional in one sentence
If you expect your marginal tax rate in retirement to be higher than today, the Roth wins; if you expect it to be lower, the traditional wins; if you expect it to be similar, the answer is usually to hold both and give yourself the flexibility to draw from whichever bucket produces a better tax outcome in any given year.
How does a Roth IRA work?+
What are the 2026 contribution limits?+
What are the income limits?+
Roth IRA vs traditional IRA?+
What is the 5-year rule?+
This is an educational tool, not financial, tax, or legal advice. Results depend on the inputs you provide and the assumptions documented above. Consult a qualified professional before acting.