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401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? vs Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth?

Both 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? and Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? sit in the Investing & FIRE category. They share an underlying model (compound growth with annual contribution and employer match) but target different outcomes: 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? on one side, Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? on the other.

401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? and Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? comparison illustration

Photo: Maxim Hopman on Unsplash

The two tools at a glance

401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?

401k vs roth ira, roth ira vs 401k, which is better 401k or roth ira, retirement savings us, 401k roth comparison 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers?

Use it when

  • Projecting a portfolio value at a future date
  • Stress testing a withdrawal plan in retirement
  • Comparing two contribution rates over decades
Math model. Compound growth with inflation deflation.
Open 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?

Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth?

Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? computes roth ira vs traditional ira: same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? directly in your browser. It is built for roth ira balance projection with contribution limits and uses compound growth in a tax exempt wrapper based on the inputs you provide.

Use it when

  • Projecting a portfolio value at a future date
  • Stress testing a withdrawal plan in retirement
  • Comparing two contribution rates over decades
Math model. Compound growth with inflation deflation.
Open Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth?

Side by side: every attribute

Attribute401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers?Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth?
CategoryInvesting & FIREInvesting & FIRE
Primary input401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, returnAnnual contribution, current age, retirement age, return rate
Primary outputFuture value at retirement, contributions vs growth splitTax free retirement balance and total contributed
Math modelCompound growth with annual contribution and employer matchCompound growth in a tax exempt wrapper
Best forProjecting a 401(k) balance to retirement ageRoth IRA balance projection with contribution limits
Runs in browserYes, no data leaves your deviceYes, no data leaves your device
Login requiredNoNo
CostFreeFree

How they differ

Under the hood, 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? uses compound growth with annual contribution and employer match fed by 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? uses compound growth in a tax exempt wrapper fed by annual contribution, current age, retirement age, return rate. The two are not substitutes; they answer adjacent questions in your workflow.

Pick 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? when your question is about 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers? and your inputs are 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. Pick Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? when the question shifts to roth ira vs traditional ira: same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? and your inputs become annual contribution, current age, retirement age, return rate. If neither matches what you need, the Investing & FIRE category hub lists every tool we have for related questions.

Which one should you use?

Choose 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? if

Your task is long horizon planning and retirement targets and you already have contribution, return, time horizon, inflation. The output you need is a future value, withdrawal amount, retirement age.

Choose Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? if

Your task is long horizon planning and retirement targets and you have contribution, return, time horizon, inflation. The output you need is a future value, withdrawal amount, retirement age.

Neither fits?

Browse the Investing & FIRE hub for related tools, or the Investing & FIRE hub for the other side.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? and Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth??

401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? is designed to answer questions about 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers? using 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return. Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? is designed for roth ira vs traditional ira: same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? using annual contribution, current age, retirement age, return rate. They are complementary tools that target different inputs and outputs.

When should I use 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers??

Use 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? when your task is projecting a 401(k) balance to retirement age and you need a future value at retirement, contributions vs growth split from 401(k) balance, contribution rate, employer match, salary, return.

When should I use Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? instead?

Use Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? when the question is roth ira balance projection with contribution limits and your inputs are annual contribution, current age, retirement age, return rate. The result is a tax free retirement balance and total contributed.

Are 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? and Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? free?

Yes. Both run entirely in your browser, require no login, and are free to use without limits. Your inputs are not transmitted to any server.

Is one more accurate than the other?

Accuracy depends on the inputs you provide, not on the tool. 401(k) vs Roth IRA: Pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax Roth IRA - which retirement account wins for US savers? uses compound growth with annual contribution and employer match and is accurate for 401(k) vs roth ira: pre-tax 401(k) vs after-tax roth ira - which retirement account wins for us savers? when its inputs are correct. Roth IRA vs Traditional IRA: Same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? uses compound growth in a tax exempt wrapper and is accurate for roth ira vs traditional ira: same $7,000 limit, opposite tax treatments - which builds more retirement wealth? under the same condition.

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