Roth 401(k) vs Traditional in Peak Income Years (opens in new tab)

Should you contribute to a Roth 401(k) or switch to traditional in your higher income years? Listener Julie poses a question that many high earners face: Is it smarter to pay taxes now or later—and how does that impact your early retirement strategy? Sean Mullaney unpacks the crucial question: When is the best time to pay taxes? He shares a clear framework for choosing between Roth and traditional contributions, and how to optimize for total lifetime tax efficiency.