Roth vs Traditional 401(k) at 45 on $100k income? (married)
Elena & Leah, 45 and 43, in Denver, CO
exampleMarried, no kids yet · $100k/yr household income
They're maxing their 401(k) in Denver and unsure whether Roth or traditional is quietly costing them.
45, married, $100k/yr. Roth or traditional 401(k)? "Always Roth" isn't always right at this income. Here's the lifetime-tax difference, modeled year by year.
The setup
Age
45
Household income
$100,000/yr
Household
Married, dual income
Liquid savings
$84,000
Retirement savings
$252,000
Investing return
7%/yr
Lean Traditional, your 19% rate drops to ~23% in retirement
19% → 23%
Rate drops 0% in retirement
Rate Now
19%
Rate Retired
23%
Best Strategy
All Trad
NW Diff
+$91k
Your current effective rate of ~19% (engine-computed) drops to ~23% in retirement. Traditional saves taxes now when your rate is highest. The All Trad strategy produces +$91k more at retirement.
| Scenario | Strategy | Retire NW | Lifetime Taxes | Retire SWR/mo | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Trad | 100% Traditional | $1,175,620 ($651k in today's dollars) | $738k | $3,919 | 20 yrs |
| Current | Current mix | $1,084,184 ($600k in today's dollars) | $603k | $3,614 | 20 yrs |
| 50/50 | 50/50 Split | $1,020,740 ($565k in today's dollars) | $598k | $3,402 | 20 yrs |
| Roth 70% | Tilt Roth (70%) | $951,410 ($527k in today's dollars) | $556k | $3,171 | 19 yrs |
| All Roth | 100% Roth | $953,164 ($528k in today's dollars) | $536k | $3,177 | 19 yrs |
Tax laws change. Roth conversions, RMDs, and state tax changes can shift the calculus. This analysis uses current rates as a starting point.
Your real number depends on your savings, debts, and city. The averages above are a starting point. Model your exact situation and get your verdict.
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Roth or traditional 401(k) for a married household earning $100k at 45?
Lean Traditional, your 19% rate drops to ~23% in retirement
Rate drops 0% in retirement
19% → 23%, modeled with Rightmont's projection engine for this exact scenario.
How was this calculated?
Rightmont runs your numbers through a year-by-year projection engine (taxes, compounding, Social Security, and your real cashflow) to model the outcome. Model your own version free in under a minute.
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For educational purposes only, not financial advice.