Roth Conversion Ladder Calculator: Pay Less Tax on Your Retirement Withdrawals
Model a Roth conversion schedule and compare simplified projected outcomes with a no-conversion path.
A Roth conversion ladder moves pre-tax retirement money into a Roth IRA over several tax years. Each taxable conversion has its own five-tax-year clock for the early-distribution additional tax. Conversions create taxable income, and RMD starting age depends on birth year. This calculator is a simplified projection, not a tax-return calculation or recommendation.
Your Inputs
Uses verified 2026 federal tax law. Future law changes are not projected.
Birth year (optional precision)
Calculator Results
Difference in today's dollars: $359,486
Simplified model: both paths include after-tax RMD cash and assume it is invested at your selected return. The conversion path also includes the opportunity cost of paying conversion taxes from outside funds.
Modeled RMD starting age: 75
Projected Household Wealth at Plan Age
Modeled difference: $1,575,951
Stay in
Traditional IRA
Convert
to Roth IRA
Difference in today's dollars: $359,486
Net After-Tax Value at Age 95
Difference in today's dollars: $359,486
This comparison includes remaining retirement accounts, invested after-tax RMD cash, and the future value of outside funds used to pay conversion tax. It assumes the same return for retirement accounts and reinvested cash and does not model a full tax return.
Conversion Timeline
| Year | Age | Conversion Amount | Tax Paid | Unlocks in Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2036 | 55 | $52,621 | $11,577 | 2041 |
| 2037 | 56 | $56,305 | $12,387 | 2042 |
| 2038 | 57 | $60,246 | $13,254 | 2043 |
| 2039 | 58 | $64,463 | $14,182 | 2044 |
| 2040 | 59 | $68,976 | $15,175 | 2045 |
| 2041 | 60 | $73,804 | $16,237 | 2046 |
| 2042 | 61 | $78,970 | $17,373 | 2047 |
| 2043 | 62 | $84,498 | $18,590 | 2048 |
| 2044 | 63 | $90,413 | $19,891 | 2049 |
| 2045 | 64 | $96,742 | $21,283 | 2050 |
Balance Over Time
💡 Tap or hover on the chart for details
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Federal law checked Sep 20, 2026 · Covers 2026 rules · Next review Nov 30, 2026