IRA Calculator Suite Traditional Roth Backdoor Roth RM...
IRA Calculator Suite
Traditional IRA Calculator
Current Age
Retirement Age
Current Balance ($)
Annual Contribution ($)
Expected Annual Return (%)
Contributions may be tax-deductible; taxes paid on withdrawal.
Roth IRA Calculator
Current Age
Retirement Age
Current Balance ($)
Annual Contribution ($)
Expected Annual Return (%)
Contributions are after-tax; qualified withdrawals are tax-free.
Backdoor Roth IRA Calculator
Annual Contribution ($)
Pro-Rata Basis % (if applicable)
Expected Annual Return (%)
Years to Grow
Contribute to Traditional IRA, then convert to Roth. Watch pro-rata rules!
Required Minimum Distribution (RMD)
Account Balance ($)
Age at End of Year
RMD starts at age 73 (SECURE Act 2.0). Use Uniform Lifetime Table.
Retirement Withdrawal Planner
Retirement Portfolio ($)
Annual Withdrawal ($)
Expected Return (%)
Inflation Rate (%)
See how long your money lasts with inflation-adjusted withdrawals.
Results
Visualization
The Ultimate IRA Calculator Suite: Master Your Retirement Planning
Understanding Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are among the most powerful tools available for building long-term wealth and achieving financial independence in retirement. With tax advantages that can significantly accelerate compound growth, IRAs come in several forms—each suited to different income levels, tax situations, and retirement goals. This comprehensive IRA Calculator Suite empowers you to model, compare, and optimize your retirement strategy across five critical dimensions: Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Backdoor Roth, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs), and sustainable withdrawal planning.
Traditional vs. Roth IRA: The Core Decision
The choice between a Traditional and Roth IRA hinges on your current and expected future tax brackets. A Traditional IRA offers potential tax deductions today, allowing your investments to grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. In contrast, a Roth IRA uses after-tax contributions but provides completely tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement—provided you meet IRS qualifications (account open ≥5 years and age ≥59½). If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket during retirement, the Roth often wins. If you’re in a high bracket now and expect to drop later, the Traditional IRA may be more advantageous.
The Backdoor Roth IRA: A High-Income Workaround
For high earners above IRS income limits ($161,000–$171,000 for single filers in 2025; $240,000–$250,000 for married filing jointly), direct Roth contributions are phased out. Enter the Backdoor Roth IRA: a two-step process where you contribute to a non-deductible Traditional IRA and immediately convert it to a Roth. While legal, this strategy triggers the pro-rata rule if you have other pre-tax IRA balances, potentially making part of the conversion taxable. Our calculator helps you estimate outcomes while accounting for this complexity.
Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs): Mandatory Withdrawals
Under the SECURE Act 2.0, RMDs from Traditional IRAs now begin at age 73 (for those born 1951–1959) or age 75 (for those born 1960+). Roth IRAs are exempt from RMDs during the owner’s lifetime—a major advantage. Failing to take your RMD results in a steep 25% penalty (reduced to 10% if corrected promptly). Our RMD calculator uses the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table to estimate your annual obligation based on your account balance and age.
Sustainable Withdrawal Strategies in Retirement
How much can you safely withdraw from your IRA each year without running out of money? The famous 4% Rule suggests withdrawing 4% of your portfolio in the first year of retirement, then adjusting annually for inflation. While useful as a starting point, this rule doesn’t account for market volatility, sequence-of-returns risk, or changing personal circumstances. Our Withdrawal Planner simulates portfolio longevity under customizable return and inflation assumptions, helping you stress-test your retirement income plan.
Maximizing IRA Contributions and Catch-Up Rules
For 2025, the annual IRA contribution limit is $7,000 (or $8,000 if you’re 50 or older). You can split this amount between Traditional and Roth IRAs, but the total cannot exceed the limit. Importantly, you can contribute to an IRA even if you participate in a workplace 401(k)—though deductibility for Traditional IRAs may be limited based on income and coverage.
Tax Efficiency and Estate Planning Considerations
Roth IRAs offer significant estate planning benefits: since there are no RMDs, assets can continue growing tax-free for heirs. Beneficiaries of inherited Roth IRAs must generally withdraw funds within 10 years (under the SECURE Act), but those distributions remain tax-free. Traditional IRAs, by contrast, force taxable distributions to beneficiaries. For those prioritizing legacy, the Roth’s tax-free nature often makes it the superior vehicle.
Integrating IRAs into a Holistic Financial Plan
An IRA should never exist in isolation. It works best as part of a diversified retirement strategy that includes employer-sponsored plans (401(k), 403(b)), taxable brokerage accounts, Social Security, pensions, and real estate. Use this calculator suite to model different scenarios—e.g., “What if I max out my Roth for 20 years?” or “How much will my Traditional IRA RMD be at 75?”—and integrate those insights into your broader financial roadmap.
Conclusion: Take Control of Your Retirement Future
Whether you're just starting your career or nearing retirement, understanding how your IRA grows, when you must take distributions, and how to withdraw sustainably is essential. This IRA Calculator Suite gives you the analytical power to make confident, data-driven decisions—so you can retire on your terms, with clarity and peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
A: For 2025, the IRA contribution limit is $7,000 (or $8,000 if age 50+). This applies to the total across all IRAs (Traditional + Roth combined).
A: Yes! However, your ability to deduct Traditional IRA contributions may be reduced or eliminated if you’re covered by a workplace plan and your income exceeds certain thresholds.
A: The IRS requires you to consider all your IRA balances (pre-tax and after-tax) when converting. If you have $90k pre-tax and $10k after-tax, 90% of any conversion is taxable—even if you only convert the after-tax portion.
A: Under the SECURE Act 2.0, RMDs begin at age 73 for those born between 1951–1959, and age 75 for those born in 1960 or later. Roth IRAs are exempt from RMDs during the owner’s lifetime.
A: The 4% Rule is a guideline, not a guarantee. In low-return or high-inflation environments, a lower initial withdrawal (e.g., 3–3.5%) may be safer. Our calculator lets you test different scenarios.
A: Yes, but you must take your RMD for the year first. The conversion amount is added to your taxable income, which could push you into a higher tax bracket or affect Medicare premiums.
A: Qualified withdrawals (after age 59½ and 5-year holding period) are tax-free. Non-qualified withdrawals of earnings may incur income tax and a 10% penalty. Contributions can always be withdrawn tax- and penalty-free.