When saving for retirement , you can often pick between traditional and after-tax Roth contributions — and determining the right choice may be trickier than you expect.

Traditional deferrals offer an upfront tax break , but you'll owe regular income taxes on future withdrawals. The opposite is true for Roth contributions, which happen after taxes, but the balance grows tax-free.

Many decide between traditional and Roth contributions by weighing current versus future tax brackets, but that can be a mistake, according to certified financial planner Cody Garrett, founder of Measure Twice Planners in Houston.

"People always talk in marginal rates, but lived experiences are [your] effective rates," said Garrett, who is also co-author of the new book, " Tax Planning To and Through Earl

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