Account Comparison Calculator

Taxable vs. tax-deferred vs. tax-free

See what happens to each account if your tax bracket changes when you retire. Accumulation uses your current bracket; a retirement-bracket selector applies any federal bracket to the withdrawal years. Uses state & federal brackets, a blended “Investment Tax,” and RMDs. No inflation. All math runs in your browser; nothing is saved or transmitted.

How it works

An Investment Tax rate is built from your allocation:

Bonds → taxed at your ordinary rate (federal + state)
Equity & alternatives → taxed at long-term capital gains (federal + state)

Applied annually to taxable accounts, deferred to withdrawal for tax-deferred, and never for tax-free. Your current bracket applies while saving; the retirement-bracket selector applies to the withdrawal years.

Desired withdrawal is your net spending need; tax-deferred grosses up so the account covers its own withdrawal tax. RMDs (age 75) apply to tax-deferred only. All accounts invest the same contribution.

Inputs

Current age

Filing status

Gross income annual

State of residence

Starting balance optional

Expected return

Allocation must total 100%

Bonds

Equity

Alternatives

Contribution

Frequency

Desired withdrawal net / yr

Withdrawal start age

Required Minimum Distributions tax-deferred · age 75

For illustrative purposes only. Tax figures are 2025 estimates; state tax is approximate. Results use a simplified model, ignore inflation, and are not investment, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional.

Your tax picture

2025 estimate

Federal bracket

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Cap-gains rate

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federal LTCG

State marginal

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Investment Tax

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blended · current bracket

Total accumulated at retirement

same at every bracket

Retirement bracket

While you’re saving, your current bracket applies to every account. Pick the federal bracket you expect in retirement — it’s applied to withdrawals and to the taxable account’s drag after you retire. Your current bracket is highlighted; the chart and account detail below update to match.

Balance by age

Account detail

Accumulated at retirement

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Total invested

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Total withdrawn (net)

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Money lasts

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Age	Contribution	Pre-tax growth	Tax	Net withdrawal	Year-end balance

For illustrative purposes only. This calculator uses 2025 federal brackets and approximate 2025 state marginal rates to build a blended “Investment Tax,” applied annually to taxable accounts, at withdrawal for tax-deferred, and never for tax-free. Desired withdrawals are treated as a net spending need (tax-deferred grosses up). RMDs use the IRS Uniform Lifetime Table from age 75. Inflation is not modeled. Actual results depend on tax law, account rules, contribution limits, the character and timing of gains, and market performance, and will differ. This is not investment, tax, or legal advice — clients should consult a qualified professional.

A branded PDF summary — findings, growth chart, your inputs, and the tax assumptions.