{"uid":"cap_ocYLUlW9iCucHYEUSK_qs","slug":"roth-vs-traditional-ira-401-k-decision-calculator-6e6babd7","name":"Roth vs Traditional IRA/401(k) Decision Calculator","description":"Should I contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA/401(k)? Decision calculator with an income-limit eligibility check, backdoor and mega-backdoor Roth eligibility, and the contribution tax math, by income, age, and filing status. For wealth and retirement agents.","url":"https://wealthpulse.theaslangroupllc.com/api/wealth/roth","method":"GET","headers":{},"bodySchema":{"type":"object","$schema":"https://json-schema.org/draft/2020-12/schema","required":["input"],"properties":{"input":{"type":"object","required":["type","method"],"properties":{"type":{"type":"string","const":"http"},"method":{"enum":["GET","HEAD","DELETE"],"type":"string"},"queryParams":{"type":"object","properties":{"age":{"type":"string","description":"required"},"lang":{"type":"string","description":"en | es | fr | de | pt"},"state":{"type":"string","description":"TX | CA | NY | FL (optional, for state tax context)"},"income":{"type":"string","description":"95000 (annual gross USD, required)"},"filing_status":{"type":"string","description":"single | married_filing_jointly (default: single)"},"employer_match":{"type":"string","description":"yes (whether your employer offers a 401k match; also accepts a percentage like 4)"}}}},"additionalProperties":false},"output":{"type":"object","required":["type"],"properties":{"type":{"type":"string"},"errors":{"type":"object","description":"Documented error responses, keyed by HTTP status code","additionalProperties":{"type":"object","required":["description"],"properties":{"example":{"type":"object"},"description":{"type":"string"}}}},"example":{"type":"object"}}}}},"responseSchema":{"type":"json","example":{"tax_math":{"which_wins":"Roth wins if your retirement tax rate is equal to or higher than today's","contribute_roth_scenario":"No deduction now, fully tax-free in retirement","contribute_traditional_scenario":"Deduct now at 22%, taxed on withdrawal in retirement"},"disclaimer":"For informational purposes only. Not tax or financial advice. Consult a tax professional before executing backdoor Roth conversions if you have existing Traditional IRA balances.","amazon_link":"https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Roth+IRA+conversion+strategy&tag=pulsenetwork7-20","amazon_search":"Roth IRA conversion strategy","backdoor_roth":{"eligible":false,"how_it_works":"Not needed — direct Roth IRA contributions are still allowed at this income","pro_rata_warning":"Applies only if you later contribute non-deductible and hold existing Traditional IRA balances"},"ira_platforms":[{"url":"https://www.fidelity.com/retirement-ira/roth-ira","best_for":"Best overall Roth IRA — lowest costs, best fund selection","platform":"Fidelity Roth IRA","description":"Most popular Roth IRA platform — zero expense ratio index funds, no minimums"}],"income_summary":{"filing_status":"single","phase_out_note":"2026 Roth IRA phase-out starts at $150,000 (single)","provided_income":"$95,000","estimated_marginal_rate":"22% federal","roth_direct_eligibility":"eligible"},"recommendation":"roth","rmd_consideration":"Roth IRAs have no RMDs during your lifetime, unlike Traditional IRAs (RMDs start at 73)","contribution_limits_2026":{"ira":"$7,000 ($8,000 if 50+)","401k_employee":"$23,500 ($31,000 if 50+)","employer_match_note":"Always capture the full employer match first regardless of Roth vs Traditional","total_401k_with_employer":"$70,000 combined limit for mega backdoor"},"recommendation_reasoning":"Current 22% bracket is likely below your retirement-year rate, so paying tax now favors Roth"}},"example":null,"exampleRequest":null,"tags":["x402"],"displayCostAmount":"0.1","displayCostAsset":"USDC","priceDynamic":false,"priceHint":null,"priceStatus":"priced","priceSource":"probe","requiresHandshake":false,"reviewCount":0,"rating":{"score":"0.00","successRate":"0.00","reviews":0,"stars":null,"state":"unrated"},"availabilityStatus":"unknown","priceObserved":null,"sessionDeposit":null,"pricing":{"kind":"static","summary":"$0.1/call","primary":{"kind":"static","protocol":"x402","network":"base","amountUsd":"0.1","per":"call","confidence":"exact"},"accepted":[{"kind":"static","protocol":"x402","network":"base","amountUsd":"0.1","per":"call","confidence":"exact"}]},"paymentMethods":[{"uid":"pm_BUcBCuuaahzsxfhzoj_EK","protocol":"x402","methodType":"crypto","chain":"base","mode":"charge","costAmount":"0.1","costPer":"request","priority":0,"asset":"0x833589fCD6eDb6E08f4c7C32D4f71b54bdA02913","unit":"request","depositMicros":null,"planRef":null}],"brandName":null,"brandSlug":null,"brandBaseUrl":null,"brandDocsUrl":null,"whatItDoes":"Determines whether a user should contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA/401(k), including income-limit eligibility, backdoor/mega-backdoor Roth options, and contribution tax math by income, age, and filing status.","exampleAgentPrompt":"I'm 38 years old, married filing jointly, and our household income is $240,000 — should we contribute to a Roth or Traditional IRA this year, and are we even eligible for a Roth, or do we need to look at backdoor options?","exampleUseCases":[{"title":"Optimizing retirement contributions for high earners","prompt":"I just got a promotion and my income jumped to $280,000 as a single filer — I want to maximize my retirement savings this year but I'm worried I might be over the Roth limit now, so should I go Traditional 401k instead, or is backdoor Roth still an option for me?"},{"title":"Planning mega-backdoor Roth strategy","prompt":"My employer's 401k plan allows mega-backdoor conversions and I've got some extra cash to invest this year — I'm 52 and make about $320,000 married filing jointly, so what's my best move to get money into a Roth, and how much can I actually contribute when you include the mega-backdoor option?"},{"title":"Catch-up contributions for near-retirement years","prompt":"I'm turning 50 next month, my spouse and I file jointly with a combined income of $195,000, and we want to catch up on retirement savings before we retire in ten years — should we be maxing out Roth or Traditional, and how much extra can we put in now that we're eligible for catch-up contributions?"}],"resultDescription":"Returns a recommendation on whether the user should use Roth or Traditional contributions, their income-limit eligibility status, whether they qualify for backdoor or mega-backdoor Roth strategies, applicable contribution limits (including catch-up if age 50+), and a breakdown of the tax math comparing the two approaches given their income and filing status.","failureModes":["Missing required income parameter — returns 400 with validation error","Invalid or unsupported filing status value — returns 400","Age outside valid range — returns 400 with explanation","Ambiguous contribution type (IRA vs 401k not specified) — may return generic result or prompt clarification","Payment not processed — returns 402 Payment Required"],"whenToPreferThis":"Choose this endpoint when a user needs a definitive Roth vs Traditional recommendation tailored to their specific income, age, and filing status, especially when backdoor or mega-backdoor Roth eligibility needs to be checked. Prefer this over generic tax calculators when retirement account strategy and contribution-limit math are the primary need.","instructions":null,"reviewSummary":null,"reviewSummaryHighlights":null,"reviewSummaryConcerns":null,"reviewSummaryGeneratedAt":null,"activationCount":0,"lastUsedAt":null,"lastSuccessfullyRanAt":null,"lastHealthCheckAt":"2026-09-13T18:42:22.423Z","isFirstParty":false}