This financial tool assists individuals in estimating the potential future value of a retirement savings plan offered by governmental and non-profit organizations. Specifically, it projects the growth of contributions made to a post-tax retirement account with tax-free withdrawals in retirement, based on user-provided inputs such as contribution amounts, expected rate of return, and years until retirement. For instance, a user might input a current salary, planned annual contributions, and anticipated retirement age to project the accumulated retirement savings.
Using this type of calculation offers significant advantages in retirement planning. It provides a clear picture of potential retirement income, allowing individuals to make informed decisions about contribution levels and investment strategies. Understanding projected outcomes aids in determining if current savings efforts are sufficient to meet retirement goals. This awareness can motivate increased savings or a reassessment of investment risk tolerance. These plans represent a relatively recent evolution in retirement savings options, offering an alternative to traditional, pre-tax deferred plans and mirroring some features of other popular retirement vehicles.