ClearPath Optimizer provides educational projections only. It does not provide financial, tax, or investment advice. Consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions. 

Settings

Theme (Dark Mode)

A visual option that reduces eye strain in low‑light environments. The app follows your phone's light/dark mode automatically unless you manually choose a theme in your Profile.

Filing Status

Select the filing status you normally use on your federal tax return.

State

Your current state of residence. Used for state‑specific tax summaries.

Age

Your current age. Used for Social Security taxation, IRMAA, and RMD timing.

Social Security Income

Enter your annual Social Security benefit. The system automatically applies inflation (CPI) unless you turn it off.

Pension Income

Enter your annual pension amount. Check the CPI box if your pension receives annual cost‑of‑living adjustments.

Pre‑Tax Traditional Retirement Account Balance

Total of all Traditional IRA, 401(k), 403(b), and similar pre‑tax accounts.

Existing Roth Account Balance

Total of all Roth IRA and Roth 401(k) balances.

Other Annual Income

Any recurring income not listed elsewhere.

• Optional CPI inflation

• Optional end year

Annual Growth Rate

Expected long‑term growth rate for your retirement accounts. Default is 7%, but choose what feels appropriate for your portfolio.

Inflation Rate

Used for Social Security and any income/expense where CPI is selected.

Project to Age

The age through which you want projections calculated.

Delete Account

You can delete your profile data at any time. Tap "Delete Account" once to show the warning, and tap again to confirm. This removes all stored data from your device.

Note: All money fields are optional. Enter only what affects your income and taxes.

Tax Year

The year you want to model.

Dividends

Estimated annual taxable dividends. Optional end year.

Interest Income

Estimated annual taxable interest. Optional end year.

One‑Time Income Event

For gifts, contests, settlements, or other single‑year income.

Inherited IRA

Enter the total balance of any inherited Traditional IRA. Choose one of three distribution options:

• Lump Sum (Year 1)

• Lump Sum (Year 10)

• Even Distribution (10% per year for 10 years)

These options provide a quick view of potential tax impact.

Baseline Monthly Withdrawal

If you currently withdraw a fixed monthly amount from your Traditional accounts, enter it here.

Roth Conversion

Enter the amount you want to convert from Traditional to Roth. Select the final year of conversions or leave as ongoing.

Moving to Another State

Explore the tax impact of relocating. Select the year you might move.

Car Purchase

Model the impact of buying a car using Traditional account withdrawals. Choose:

• Full purchase price

• Monthly payments (with start and end years)

Vacation

Enter the cost and select the year(s) it occurs.

Expense Options 1, 2, and 3

Custom expenses you can name and schedule. Useful for medical costs, home repairs, or recurring annual events.

Results Table

Shows three columns:

• Base (no scenario applied)

• Scenario (your inputs)

• Difference (impact)

Insights Table

Social Security Taxation

Shows how far into the SS taxation range you are and how much the scenario changed it.

Roth Conversion Room

Shows how far you are into your current federal tax bracket and how much room remains before the next bracket.

IRMAA Tier

Shows your current Medicare IRMAA tier and how close you are to the next one and what age that occurs.

RMD Watch

Shows whether you've reached RMD age (73) and estimates your first RMD based on current balances.

State Tax Summary

Brief overview of state tax impact for your current state and any state selected in the scenario.

Interactive Chart

Hover to see MAGI, taxable income, bracket thresholds, IRMAA tiers, and how close you are to each.

Buttons

• Back to Scenario

• Lifetime Strategy

• Save for Comparison (name your scenario)

The top‑right menu provides access to:

• Scenario Comparison

• Standard Deduction Impact (Speculative)

• Roth Optimization Strategies

• Help

• About

• Privacy Policy

• Clear All (in red)

• Version Info

This menu contains all non‑flow pages and tools, including Roth Optimization Strategies, Scenario Comparison, and Standard Deduction Impact.

This page shows a taxable‑income view of your situation by subtracting the standard deduction from your MAGI. It is not used anywhere else in the app and does not affect IRMAA or Social Security taxation. This page is purely educational and helps you understand:

• how your taxable income compares to your MAGI

• how the standard deduction changes your tax bracket position

• how far you are from the next taxable‑income bracket

• how your scenario affects taxable income vs. MAGI

Strategy View (MAGI‑Based)

This is the view used everywhere else in the app. Shows your bracket position based on MAGI, which controls IRMAA, SS taxation, and Roth conversion strategy.

Speculative View (MAGI minus Standard Deduction)

Shows your bracket position based on taxable income. Useful for understanding how the IRS views your income after deductions.

Why "Room in Bracket" and "Next Bracket At" may match

If your taxable income is $0, both values will be identical. When taxable income rises above zero, the two numbers diverge.

Projection Notes

Includes IRS‑announced bracket changes and inflation adjustments when available.

Roth Conversion Suggestion

The system may recommend:

• minimal conversion

• optimal conversion

• or note that conversions offer limited benefit

It may also highlight when additional conversion helps heirs even if it increases your own taxes slightly.

Lifetime Tax Comparison

Shows major differences between:

• minimal conversion

• optimal conversion

• your scenario

RMD Impact (Age 73–85)

Shows projected RMDs under:

• minimal conversion

• optimal conversion

• your scenario

Year‑by‑Year Trajectory Charts

Tabs include:

• MAGI by Age

• Annual Tax Burden

• Traditional & Roth Balances

• Cumulative Taxes Paid

Each compares minimal vs. optimal vs. your scenario.
- Save for Comparison (name your scenario)

This page shows three Roth conversion amounts based on the tax boundaries that matter most: MAGI, taxable income, and IRMAA tiers. Each tier represents a different strategy level — from conservative to aggressive.

Tier 1 — Minimum Safe (MAGI‑Safe Conversion)

Purpose: The most conservative option.

Uses your MAGI — does not apply the standard deduction. Ensures you avoid any MAGI‑based jumps in tax brackets or Medicare premiums.

• You want maximum safety

• You want to avoid all IRMAA risk

• You prefer a slow, steady conversion pace

Tier 2 — Maximum Safe (Standard‑Deduction‑Adjusted Max)

Purpose: The highest conversion before you start paying federal tax.

Uses taxable income after your standard deduction. Usually much higher than Tier 1.

• You want to maximize tax‑free conversions

• You want the most efficient "safe zone" strategy

• You want to convert more without triggering tax

Tier 3 — Next‑Level Heir Strategy (IRMAA‑Safe Stretch)

Purpose: A strategic, higher conversion designed to reduce future taxes on heirs.

Intentionally enters the next tax bracket while staying IRMAA‑safe.

• You want to convert more aggressively

• You're planning for heirs

• You're comfortable paying some tax now to save more later for your heirs.

⭐ About Your Input Page Conversion Amount

The amounts shown here are calculated by ClearPath's strategy engine and do not use or override any conversion you entered on the Input page. User‑entered conversions are for record‑keeping only.

Notes

• Amounts are based on your current‑year inputs

• IRMAA and federal bracket thresholds are MAGI‑based

• Actual tax owed is based on taxable income after deductions

Includes:

• State tax summary

• Current income tax rate and SS taxation

• Metric chart

• Scenario inputs

• Results table

• Email Comparison Table (sent to your login email)

• Download CSV (exports the full comparison — including state tax, inputs, and results — as a spreadsheet file)

You may forward or print the emailed comparison as needed. The CSV download is useful for importing into Excel or Google Sheets for further analysis or record-keeping.

Some abbreviations and Acronyms explained.