Attending Financial Launchpad

Fill every tax-advantaged account in the right order, and catch the mistakes that cost attendings money.

2026 contribution limits

These are example numbers. Answer a few questions and every calculator fills in with yours, saved in this browser.

Contributions

Backdoor Roth pro-rata check

Your pre-tax IRA balance, Dec 31

Spouse’s pre-tax IRA balance, Dec 31

71% of your spouse’s $7,500 conversion ($5,294) would be taxable, about $1,271 in federal tax, because the IRS counts every pre-tax IRA dollar. Traditional, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs all count.

Fix before Dec 31: roll the $18,000 into a current 401(k) or 403(b) that accepts roll-ins. Don’t roll a 401(k) or 403(b) into an IRA: it creates the same problem.

403(b) / 401(k) pre-tax

Elective deferral limit

Maxed
403(b) / 401(k) pre-tax contribution
HSA · family

California and New Jersey tax HSA contributions; your state doesn’t

Maxed
HSA · family contribution
457(b)

Separate limit; governmental plans can roll over and aren’t exposed to employer creditors

Maxed
457(b) contribution
Dependent care FSA

$7,500 per household

Maxed
Dependent care FSA contribution
Backdoor Roth · you + spouse

Pre-tax IRA balances make the conversion partly taxable

Fix pro-rata
Backdoor Roth · you + spouse contribution
Mega backdoor Roth

$72,000 total limit − elective deferrals − employer contributions

Up to $47,500 Check plan
Mega backdoor Roth contribution
1099 income

Moonlighting or locums: self-employment tax, solo 401(k) room and whether the QBI deduction phases out at your income.

Portfolio allocator

Tickers are examples, not recommendations

US total stock market e.g. VTI 60%

International stock e.g. VXUS 30%

Total bond market e.g. BND 10%

Assumed return

8.2%/yr

Editable long-run assumption

Volatility

14.1%

Adjusted for how the funds move together. A simple average would say 15.3%.

$10,000 over 20 years

Range, not a promise

$10,000 over 20 years
Point	Median	10th–90th percentile low	10th–90th percentile high
Now	$10,000	$10,000	$10,000
5 yr	$14,214	$9,801	$20,613
10 yr	$20,204	$11,944	$34,177
15 yr	$28,717	$15,085	$54,670
20 yr	$40,819	$19,409	$85,847

90th: $85,847
Median: $40,819
10th: $19,409

Educational only. Returns are hypothetical and not guaranteed. PGYield is not a registered investment adviser. Confirm your plan’s after-tax and roll-in rules with your plan administrator.