Net Worth
$385KTop 42%PeakWorth
$4.2M+$182KNet Worth
$385KTop 42%PeakWorth
$4.2M+$182KFI Age
50y 1m-11moIt's not just how much you save — it's where you save it. PeakWorth models the match-first contribution stack against your tax bracket and shows why the right sequence is worth $500K+ over a career, ranked by FI-Age impact rather than rule of thumb.
Modeled value of the right account order
$500K+ per career
401(k) limit 2026
$24,000
IRA limit 2026
$7,500
Mega backdoor max
Up to $70K total 401(k) (2026)
1) 401(k) up to employer match. 2) HSA if eligible. 3) Roth IRA (or Backdoor Roth if income too high). 4) Max 401(k). 5) Mega Backdoor Roth if your plan allows. 6) 529 for kids. 7) Taxable brokerage.
Skipping the match is leaving the highest guaranteed return in personal finance on the table. Do not skip step 1.
Traditional saves taxes today at your marginal rate; Roth saves taxes in retirement at your future rate. If you expect to retire in a similar or higher bracket, Roth wins. If you expect a much lower retirement bracket, Traditional wins. Most high earners benefit from a mix.
Income too high for direct Roth IRA contributions? Backdoor Roth: contribute to Traditional IRA, convert to Roth (watch the pro-rata rule). Mega Backdoor Roth: if your 401(k) allows after-tax contributions + in-plan conversions, you can shelter $30K+/yr beyond normal limits.
PeakWorth runs each contribution dollar through the account that captures the most after-tax value first — employer match, then HSA, then Roth/Backdoor Roth, then maxed 401(k), then taxable — applying your real marginal rate and projecting tax-free vs tax-deferred growth to age 95.
Because it models the lifetime tax difference rather than a flat rule, the same savings can land $500K+ apart depending on order. PeakWorth reports the FI-Age and PeakWorth (highest projected lifetime net worth) for your stack, so 'Roth or Traditional?' is answered for your bracket, not in the abstract.
Generic articles can only go so far. PeakWorth runs every scenario against your real income, expenses, and goals — so you see the dollar-and-year impact of every decision before you make it.
If your current bracket is 22% or below, lean Roth. 32%+, lean Traditional. 24% — a mix is fine.
After-tax 401(k) contributions converted to Roth, allowing $30K+ extra Roth savings/yr if your plan allows.
Often yes — for better fund options and lower fees. But check if it blocks future Backdoor Roth (pro-rata rule).
Match first, then HSA, then Roth IRA (or Backdoor Roth), then max the 401(k), then mega backdoor if available, then taxable. PeakWorth ranks this stack for your tax bracket and shows the FI-Age difference — skipping the match alone forfeits the highest guaranteed return in personal finance.
A lot — the same contributions can differ by $500K+ over a career purely on tax treatment and asset location. PeakWorth models the lifetime tax impact of each account so you can see the dollars and the FI-Age shift, not just follow a generic list.
Calculators, true-cost pages, and audience playbooks across the PeakWorth network.
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PeakWorth is the financial decision engine for households — your Personal Financial Strategy OS, a real-time engine that calculates every decision's impact on your future. The Decision Hub, an AI advisor, and a live projection that show you exactly how each move shapes your wealth and your FI Age.
