Clear Money Guide
Guide and tool overview
See the questions covered here, then open the interactive utility.
Paycheck Impact: Roth vs Pre-Tax 401(k)
Enter your pay, tax rates, and a contribution. We’ll show the change to take-home for Roth vs Pre-Tax, plus the true cost per $1,000 contributed and an equivalent contribution for the same take-home impact.
Inputs
Tax settings
Optional employer match (info-only)
We show a simple estimated annual match. It doesn’t affect the paycheck math.
Notes will appear here…
Use the paycheck estimate in your contribution plan
Use this to choose a contribution you can sustain. See a contribution plan in 401(k) Contribution Strategy and review long-run tradeoffs in Roth vs Traditional IRA.
What to do next
Figures verified against IRS Topic no. 751 (2026 Social Security and Medicare withholding rates and wage base) and 26 U.S.C. §§ 3101 and 3121(v) on September 30, 2026.
Editorial standards: see our Editorial Policy.
Compare your next step
Not ready to talk to anyone? Browse our guides.Optional next step
Explore an adviser match
Compare the services and the full fee before deciding whether to hire anyone.
- No fee to request a match
- No obligation to hire
Expect questions about your situation, your name, email and phone, and phone verification by text. A match is not guaranteed.
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. This is free to you and there is no obligation to hire anyone.
Opens here. Nothing loads and nothing reaches Kapitalwise until you press the button.
How our partner relationships workCompare an adviser match before you decide
Ask about the full fee, what it covers and how the adviser is paid. A match is an introduction, not a recommendation from Clear Money Guide.
- Free matching service
- No obligation to hire
The matching service is run by WiserAdvisor, an independent advisor-matching company. It opens on their site, asks for your ZIP code and a few questions, and matches you with 2 to 3 vetted advisors. It is free to you. WiserAdvisor states the service is built for portfolios of $250,000 and above. By submitting, you consent to emails, phone calls and text messages from WiserAdvisor and up to three advisors, so expect to be contacted. Advisers pay for the introduction. Clear Money Guide is paid when you complete the form, whether or not you ever hire anyone. There is no obligation to hire anyone.
Continue to WiserAdvisorOpens on WiserAdvisor’s site in a new tab.
Source: WiserAdvisor’s service descriptionWhere each type shows up on your W-2: code D, code AA, Box 12 vs Box 1 and Box 3.