Does a growth calculator know Roth rules?

No. It compounds whatever contribution amounts you enter.

What if MAGI phases me out?

The limit worksheet may return a reduced or zero direct Roth amount. Other strategies need professional advice.

Why mention inflation?

A large nominal balance may buy less later. Optional inflation views keep purchasing power visible.

Retirement & Roth IRA Basics: Two Different Questions

“How much might I have?” and “How much may I contribute to a Roth IRA this year?” are different questions. Growth worksheets compound balances under rates you enter. Contribution worksheets apply IRS statutory limits and MAGI phase-outs for a tax year. Mixing them produces confident nonsense. This guide keeps the jobs separate.

Growth Projections Are Scenario Math

A retirement projection asks what happens if savings, monthly contributions, years, and a hypothetical return play out. It ignores fees, taxes, sequence risk, Social Security, and market paths. Treat the ending balance as a labeled scenario, not a promise.

Not investment or tax advice

Neither worksheet selects investments, verifies MAGI adjustments, or replaces IRS Publication 590-A or a qualified professional.

Growth vs Contribution Worksheets

Question	Retirement projection	Roth IRA limit worksheet
Core output	Future balance	Annual contribution ceiling
Key inputs	Savings, contribution, years, return	Filing status, MAGI, age, compensation
Authority	Your assumptions	IRS year-specific limits
Failure mode	Optimistic returns	Wrong MAGI or tax year

2026 Roth IRA Limits in Plain Language

For 2026, the IRS raised the IRA contribution limit to $7,500, with a $1,100 catch-up at age 50+, for a $8,600 combined ceiling. Direct Roth eligibility phases out across published MAGI ranges that differ by filing status. A worksheet that encodes those figures still cannot invent your MAGI for you.

Keep the Workflow Honest

Estimate the annual contribution room

Use filing status, MAGI, age, and compensation on the Roth worksheet.

Translate room into a monthly habit

Only after you know the annual ceiling.

Project growth separately

Feed planned contributions into the retirement projection with cautious returns.

Re-check each tax year

Limits and phase-outs inflate; do not reuse 2026 numbers blindly later.

Project a Nest Egg Scenario

Savings, monthly contributions, years, and assumed return:

Open Retirement Calculator

Check a 2026 Roth Contribution Cap

MAGI phase-out and compensation ceiling:

Open Roth IRA Calculator

Bottom Line

Use Roth limit math for this year’s contribution ceiling. Use retirement projection math for long-horizon scenarios. Cite IRS and Investor.gov materials when you need authority—not marketing claims.