What this calculator estimates

This calculator projects how a supplemental retirement account balance grows over time. It models a 457(b) — including a Roth 457(b) split — as well as a Roth IRA or a Traditional IRA, compounding a starting balance plus annual contributions at an assumed annual return across the years until retirement. The projected balance it returns is an estimate for educational purposes based on the values you enter; actual returns vary and are not guaranteed.

Roth 457(b) vs Traditional 457(b)

A 457(b) is a deferred-compensation plan offered to many public employees, including Florida Retirement System members. A Traditional 457(b) takes pre-tax contributions and taxes withdrawals in retirement; a Roth 457(b) takes after-tax contributions and qualified withdrawals come out tax-free. The contribution growth math is the same for both — the difference is when the tax is paid. To model a Roth 457(b), enter the portion of your 457(b) contribution you direct to the Roth side; the calculator shows the projected Traditional and Roth balances separately while respecting the shared IRS contribution limit.

How the projection works

Each year, the calculator adds your contribution to the running balance and applies the assumed annual return to the total, compounding year over year. You can enter contributions as a flat dollar amount or as a percent of pay, and the projection caps annual contributions at the IRS elective-deferral limit for the account type. The year-by-year table breaks down the starting balance, total contributions, and the growth that comes from compounding.

What this calculator does not do

This tool projects the account balance itself. It does not apply income tax to withdrawals, so the projected balance for a Roth account and a Traditional account funded with the same dollar contributions will match here even though their after-tax value in retirement differs. The contribution strategy comparison tool weighs after-tax outcomes for a Roth-heavy versus a pre-tax-heavy mix.

Common questions

What is a Roth 457(b)?

A Roth 457(b) is the after-tax option within a 457(b) deferred-compensation plan. Contributions are made with money that has already been taxed, and qualified withdrawals in retirement — including investment growth — come out tax-free. A Traditional 457(b), by contrast, defers tax until withdrawal.

How is a Roth 457(b) different from a Roth IRA?

Both are after-tax retirement accounts, but a Roth 457(b) is an employer plan with a higher annual contribution limit and no income eligibility cap, while a Roth IRA is an individual account with a lower limit and income-based eligibility limits. This calculator can project either one.

Can this calculator model a Roth 457(b) split?

Yes. Choose the 457(b) account type and set the portion of your contribution directed to the Roth side. The calculator projects the Traditional and Roth 457(b) balances separately while applying the shared IRS contribution limit across both.

Does the projected balance account for taxes?

No. The projection estimates the account balance from contributions and compounding returns; it does not subtract income tax on withdrawals. Because of that, a Roth and a Traditional account funded with the same dollar contributions show the same projected balance here, even though their after-tax value in retirement differs.