Clear Money Guide
Guide and tool overview
See the questions covered here, then open the interactive utility.
Updated: August 4, 2026
← Back to the Retirement Planning Hub
Set a contribution percent you can keep all year, choose Roth vs Traditional with the 2-minute rule, and follow a simple order of operations. Revisit after raises or tax changes.
Pick your contribution %
Order of operations (most people)
- Grab your employer match. Don’t leave free money unclaimed.
- HSA (if eligible) — treat it like a “stealth IRA.”
- 401(k) to your target % (choose Roth vs Traditional below).
- IRA (Roth or Traditional). If income is too high for Roth, research backdoor mechanics carefully.
- Taxable brokerage after tax-advantaged space is filled.
Notes vary by household; this is education, not advice.
The order you fund accounts changes what you actually keep.
If 401(k) choices could change taxes, cash flow, equity compensation, or retirement timing, compare the planning scope and advisor fee in annual dollars before you act.
Before you start, what actually happens. The form is run by Kapitalwise, our advisor-matching partner. Kapitalwise sends your details to advisers who pay for the introduction, so expect calls and texts. Clear Money Guide is paid when you submit the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. The matching service is free to you and there is no obligation to hire anyone.
The Kapitalwise form opens here. You stay on this page.
What happens when you press the button
It requests contact details and phone verification by text. Nothing loads and nothing reaches Kapitalwise until you press the button. Submitting the form does not guarantee an adviser or a match.
Roth vs Traditional: 2-minute refresher
Compare your current marginal tax rate to your expected retirement rate. Higher now → usually Traditional. Lower now → usually Roth. Similar → consider a split. Run the quick rule here: Roth vs Traditional (2-minute rule).
- Choose Traditional if you need near-term paycheck relief or your current rate is clearly higher.
- Choose Roth if your current rate is clearly lower or you expect higher income later.
- Split if rates are similar and you want future flexibility.
Smart plan settings
- Auto-increase +1% each year until you hit your target savings rate.
- Rebalance annually or use your plan’s auto-rebalance feature.
- Investment choice: a simple target-date fund or a three-fund mix (US total, Intl total, bonds) is fine.
- Avoid front-running the limit: pace contributions across the year so your plan still pays the match each period.
Special cases
- New job mid-year: Check year-to-date contributions across employers to avoid overfunding.
- 50+ catch-up: Your plan may allow a separate catch-up election; enable if you qualify.
- After-tax (mega-backdoor) options: Some plans allow after-tax contributions plus in-plan Roth rollover or in-service distribution. Confirm rules with your plan before using.
- Equity comp years (RSUs/bonuses): If income spikes this year, Traditional can help blunt taxes. See RSU taxes: sell-to-cover vs net shares.
What to do next
- Use the planner above to set a percent you can keep all year.
- Decide Roth vs Traditional and update your plan portal.
- Turn on auto-increase and auto-rebalance; review in Q4.
Education only; not tax or investment advice.