Roth IRA Lifetime Calculator
Model your Roth IRA from your first contribution to your final withdrawal and see the total tax free value it can deliver over your lifetime.
Lifetime Parameters
Model your full financial timeline
Calculating...
How the Two Phase Model Works
In the accumulation phase, you contribute each year from your starting age until retirement, and the balance compounds at your working years growth rate.
In the distribution phase, the calculator turns your peak balance into equal yearly withdrawals that last until your life expectancy, while the remaining money keeps growing at a more conservative rate.
Set three ages
Starting age, retirement age, and life expectancy define both phases.
Enter your contribution
Deposits are capped at $7,000 a year, rising to $8,000 once you reach 50.
Choose two growth rates
Use a growth focused rate while working and a lower rate for retirement.
Review lifetime value
See your peak balance, total withdrawn, and how many times your contributions were multiplied.
What Is the Formula?
The first phase is compound growth with yearly deposits. The second phase uses the annuity due payment formula, because each withdrawal is taken at the start of the year.
- Ct, Contribution
- Your yearly deposit, capped at the limit for your age.
- ra, Accumulation rate
- Growth rate while you are still contributing.
- rd, Retirement rate
- Growth rate on the balance during withdrawals.
- m : Retirement years
- Life expectancy minus retirement age.
Lifetime Value by Starting Age
Starting age has the biggest effect on lifetime value. All rows assume $7,000 a year, retirement at 65, planning to age 90, 9% growth before retirement, and 5% after.
| Start age | Total contributed | Peak balance | Yearly withdrawal | Lifetime value | Multiple |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 | $280,000 | $2,578,043 | $174,208 | $4,355,202 | 15.6x |
| 30 | $245,000 | $1,645,873 | $111,218 | $2,780,446 | 11.3x |
| 35 | $210,000 | $1,040,027 | $70,279 | $1,756,963 | 8.4x |
| 40 | $175,000 | $646,268 | $43,671 | $1,091,769 | 6.2x |
| 45 | $140,000 | $390,352 | $26,378 | $659,438 | 4.7x |
| 50 | $105,000 | $224,024 | $15,138 | $378,453 | 3.6x |
Example: Starting at 25 and Planning to Age 90
This is the calculator’s default scenario, a saver who contributes steadily through a full career.
- 1Accumulation: 40 years × $7,000 = $280,000 contributed, growing to a peak of $2,578,043.
- 2Distribution: 25 years of withdrawals. W = $2,578,043 × 0.05 ÷ [(1 minus 1.05minus 25) × 1.05] = $174,208 a year.
- 3Lifetime value: 25 × $174,208 = $4,355,202, all withdrawn tax free.
FAQs
It is the total tax free money you withdraw over retirement, plus anything left at the end of your plan.
The calculator uses a level payment formula that spreads your peak balance evenly across your retirement years.
Most retirees shift toward bonds and cash to reduce risk, which usually lowers expected returns.
Yes, from age 50 it allows contributions up to $8,000, while earlier years stop at $7,000.
Planning to 90 or 95 is common because running short late in life is more costly than leaving money behind.
Yes, beneficiaries receive it income tax free, though most non spouse heirs must empty it within 10 years.
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