Roth Conversion Ladder Calculator: Pay Less Tax on Your Retirement Withdrawals
See exactly how much converting your Traditional IRA to a Roth ladder saves you versus paying RMD taxes later.
A Roth Conversion Ladder lets you move money from a Traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth IRA and withdraw it penalty-free after five years. Converting during lower-income years locks in a favorable tax rate and sidesteps mandatory withdrawals starting at age 73. This calculator compares your marginal tax rate today against your projected RMD tax burden to show whether the strategy pays off for your situation.
Your Inputs
Calculator Results
Current value of future savings (real value): $160,958
Lifetime Tax Comparison
You save $912,487 in lifetime taxes
Tax if you stay in
Traditional IRA
Tax if you convert
to Roth IRA
Worth about $160,958 in today's dollars
Net After-Tax Value at Age 95
Current value of future savings (real value): $1,348,461
This compares the estimated after-tax value of your accounts at age 95 under each strategy. "With Roth Conversions" includes your Roth balance (tax-free) plus remaining Traditional IRA value after projected RMDs. "Staying in Traditional" reflects your full IRA balance after decades of mandatory RMD withdrawals, discounted for final taxes.
Conversion Timeline
| Year | Age | Conversion Amount | Tax Paid | Unlocks in Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2036 | 55 | $58,468 | $12,863 | 2041 |
| 2037 | 56 | $62,561 | $13,763 | 2042 |
| 2038 | 57 | $66,940 | $14,727 | 2043 |
| 2039 | 58 | $71,626 | $15,758 | 2044 |
| 2040 | 59 | $76,640 | $16,861 | 2045 |
| 2041 | 60 | $82,005 | $18,041 | 2046 |
| 2042 | 61 | $87,745 | $19,304 | 2047 |
| 2043 | 62 | $93,887 | $20,655 | 2048 |
| 2044 | 63 | $100,459 | $22,101 | 2049 |
| 2045 | 64 | $107,491 | $23,648 | 2050 |
Balance Over Time
💡 Tap or hover on the chart for details
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