# Why Roth 401(k)s Are a Retirement Regret

> A retirement consultant regrets not contributing to Roth 401(k)s earlier, despite their tax benefits.
- Title: Why Roth 401(k)s Are a Retirement Regret · Kiplinger
- Summary: A retirement consultant regrets not contributing to Roth 401(k)s earlier, despite their tax benefits. roth 401(k), retirement, tax · reported by Kiplinger.
- Keywords: roth 401(k), retirement, tax, consultant, 401(k), tax-free growth, retirement planning, income tax, contribution, Roth, 401, Regret
- Source: Kiplinger — https://kiplinger.com/retirement/401ks/why-you-shouldnt-ignore-roth-401ks
- Published: 2026-10-26T13:00:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: roth 401(k), retirement, tax, consultant, 401(k), tax-free growth, retirement planning, income tax, contribution
## Roth 401(k) Regret
A retirement consultant regrets not contributing to Roth 401(k)s earlier, despite their tax benefits.
## Roth 401(k) Availability
95% of employers offer Roth 401(k) plans, but less than 20% of employees use them.
## Consultant's Experience
The author worked as a retirement consultant for decades and didn't contribute to Roth in their 401(k).
## Tax Regret
The consultant regrets not contributing to Roth 401(k)s, as tax-free growth could have saved significant retirement income.
## Roth vs Pretax Tax Impact
Roth contributions avoid taxes on compounding growth, while pretax contributions defer tax until retirement.
## Tax Example
A $100,000 salary with 6% 401(k) contributions and 4% employer match grows to $1.268 million by retirement.
## Roth Conversion Growth
Roth conversions increased 41% year-over-year as of Q1 2:2026, according to Fidelity.
## Tax-Free Growth Advantage
Roth contributions grow tax-free for decades, avoiding taxes on compounding growth.
## State Tax Impact
State taxes can change the retirement tax equation, especially if working in a high-tax state and retiring in a no-tax state.
## Withdrawal Differences
Pretax withdrawals require grossing up to net $10,000, while Roth withdrawals are $10,000 net.
## Roth Conversions Feel Different
Roth conversions mean writing a bigger tax check upfront, which feels less comfortable than automatic withholding.
## Roth 401(k) No RMDs
Roth 401(k)s don't require required minimum distributions (RMDs) during the owner's lifetime.
## Inherited Tax Impact
Inherited pretax accounts have bigger tax bills during the heir's highest-earning years due to RMDs.
## Current Action
If still working, consider converting to Roth 401(k) during annual enrollment this year.
## Key takeaway

A retirement consultant regrets not contributing to Roth 401(k)s earlier, as tax-free growth could have saved significant retirement income.