Data as of Oct 15, 2026A topic in Online Stock & Options Brokers.
Reviewed by Dimitry Apollonsky
AI summary
Fidelity Investments and Charles Schwab are recommended in a near-even contest for Roth conversions and required minimum distribution planning tools. Near-retirees compare both platforms closely for retirement calculators and withdrawal modeling.
planning tools for Roth conversions and required minimum distributions near retirement
retirement tools supporting Roth conversion decisions and required distributions
specialized modeling for retirement distributions and conversion tax strategies
long-term distribution calculations and retirement account withdrawal management
visual financial modeling for conversion schedules and retirement plans
ChatGPT SearchOct 7, 2026
For a near-retiree specifically focused on Roth conversions and future RMDs, I’d put Fidelity first, with Schwab a very close second.
| Brokerage | Roth-conversion planning | RMD planning | Overall for this use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fidelity Investments | Excellent | Excellent | 🥇 Best overall |
Google AI ModeSep 20, 2026
I am getting close to retirement and need a brokerage account that includes calculators or planning tools for RMDs and Roth conversions. Which ones are best for this?
ChatGPT SearchOct 15, 2026
| Excellent |
| Excellent |
| 🥈 Best alternative |
| Vanguard | Very good conceptually | Good | 🥉 Better for investors already committed to Vanguard |
| E*TRADE | Good | Fair–good | Good, but less comprehensive |
| Merrill Edge | Good | Good | Strong if you already use Bank of America/Merrill |
Fidelity has an unusually complete set of retirement-planning tools. Its toolkit includes a Roth IRA Conversion Calculator, RMD calculator, Retirement Strategies Tax Estimator, retirement-income calculator, Social Security calculator, and a Retirement Distribution Center.
The particularly useful combination is:
That's important because Roth-conversion planning isn't really just a "Roth calculator" problem. The interesting question for a near-retiree is usually:
How much should I convert each year between retirement and RMD age without unnecessarily pushing myself into a higher tax bracket or increasing Medicare-related costs?
Fidelity has more of the surrounding pieces in one ecosystem.
Schwab deserves a very close second.
Its Roth Conversion Calculator compares the estimated future value of keeping a traditional IRA versus converting it and estimates the tax cost of conversion.
Where Schwab particularly stands out is its RMD calculator. It can project RMDs 10 years and over your lifetime, incorporating assumptions about future account growth.
That's genuinely useful for conversion planning because you can ask:
"If I convert $X per year for the next five years, how much smaller might my eventual RMDs become?"
Schwab also lets customers see and manage their RMDs online and aggregate outside retirement accounts into their account view.
Vanguard has some sophisticated thinking around Roth conversions. In particular, it has developed a Break-Even Tax Rate (BETR) framework that considers current versus future tax rates, funding sources and investment horizon rather than relying on the simplistic "convert if your future tax rate will be higher" rule.
That's excellent analysis, but Vanguard's consumer-facing planning ecosystem isn't as extensive as Fidelity's for someone who wants an integrated set of retirement, withdrawal, RMD and tax tools.
If you're choosing a brokerage primarily because of Roth/RMD planning, I wouldn't choose based on trading costs or fund selection—they're all reasonably competitive.
I'd choose based on whether you can model this sequence:
Working years → retirement → Roth-conversion window → Social Security → Medicare → RMDs
And ideally incorporate:
On that broader criterion, Fidelity is my pick. Schwab is close enough that I wouldn't move an existing Schwab account merely to get Fidelity's tools.
One caveat: none of these brokerage calculators should be treated as a substitute for a tax-planning model. Merrill, for example, explicitly notes that its Roth and RMD calculators are third-party educational calculators and don't incorporate assets outside the inputs.
If you're willing to use a separate planning service rather than limiting yourself to a brokerage, the answer changes: a dedicated retirement planner such as Boldin can be considerably more powerful for multi-year Roth-conversion optimization than the calculators built into brokerages.
If you give me your age, approximate traditional IRA/401(k), Roth and taxable balances, expected Social Security, and filing status, I can also show you what a good Roth-conversion/RMD strategy would actually look like and which tool is best suited to modeling it.
When it comes to DIY, in-house brokerage tools for multi-year tax planning, Roth conversions, and Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) projections, Fidelity Investments generally stands out as the best major mainstream option.
However, major brokerages often limit deeply customized, multi-year tax bracket optimization for self-directed users, meaning many near-retirees supplement these platforms with dedicated third-party software.
A breakdown of how the top brokerages compare for near-retirees highlights these dynamics:
To help narrow down the ideal setup, could you share:
If you're getting close to retirement, I'd prioritize a brokerage that helps you do more than invest. You want tools that let you estimate required minimum distributions (RMDs), model Roth conversions, and plan withdrawals in a tax-efficient way over several years.
My first place to look would be Fidelity, with Charles Schwab as a strong alternative. Both offer retirement-planning resources, but the depth of the calculators and how much help you want from a person are important differences.
(Best overall fit)
Fidelity has a particularly strong collection of retirement calculators, including a Roth conversion calculator, an RMD calculator, a retirement income calculator, and a tax estimator for different withdrawal strategies. It also supports $0 online commissions for U.S. stock and ETF trades and has no minimum to open a standard retail brokerage account.
Explore: Retirement calculators ·
(Best for planning support)
Schwab offers calculators for Roth conversions and RMDs, plus a complimentary financial plan for clients. It is worth considering if you'd like to combine online planning tools with access to human support and in-person branches.
Explore: Financial planning tools ·
Vanguard is worth comparing if your retirement portfolio will primarily use low-cost index funds. I would verify its current Roth conversion and RMD planning capabilities before choosing it specifically for those features; I couldn't establish from the sources reviewed that its tools match Fidelity's breadth.
Explore:
The calculators are useful, but I would check whether the brokerage helps you coordinate these four things:
One important rule: an RMD generally cannot itself be converted to a Roth IRA. You must take the required distribution first; an eligible remaining balance can then be converted, with the conversion generally taxable.
The best choice depends partly on whether you want to do the planning yourself or get help from an adviser.
1. Roughly how much will you have invested for retirement?
Under $250,000
$250,000–$1 million
$1 million–$3 million
Over $3 million
2. What kind of help do you prefer?
DIY calculators and planning tools
Access to a financial adviser when needed
A professional to manage the portfolio and retirement plan
3. Which accounts do you expect to use?
Traditional IRA / Roth IRA
Regular taxable brokerage account
Both retirement and taxable accounts
Mostly a current or former employer 401(k)
4. When do you expect to retire?
Within a year
In 1–3 years
In 3–5 years
Already retired
[Find my best-fit brokerage]
Google AI ModeOct 15, 2026
Major brokerages provide robust online planning platforms, calculators, and interactive tools specifically built to model Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) and Roth conversions.
The top options featuring integrated tools for pre-retirees and retirees include:
To help narrow down which platform fits best, could you tell me:
