A Roth isn't bad. It is just often confused as being better than it really is.
When you withdraw from a Traditional pre-tax 401k in 25 years, how will it be taxed?
Using 2020 numbers / adjusting for inflation / filing taxes as married filing jointly:
The first ~$24k is taxed at 0% (standard deduction)
The next ~$20k is taxed at 10%
The next ~$60k is taxed at 12%
https://www.gocurrycracker.com/federal-income-tax-brackets/If you withdraw $80k, you'll have a marginal tax rate of 12% and pay about $6200 in total tax (effective tax rate of <8%.)
https://www.gocurrycracker.com/federal-income-tax-calculator/By contrast, today you would save 24% for pre-tax Traditional 401k contributions.
24% is more than 8% or 12% -> 100% Traditional is the mathematically superior choice
>how do you feel now about your blog on why traditional 401ks are better given the difference in tax brackets from 2015 to 2020
The tax system is still structured the same - progressive marginal tax rates that start at 0%.
>looking at tax brackets ... I feel ... they will most definitely be going up.
Would have to triple taxes on people who make <$80k/year to get to a 24% effective tax rate. Can't squeeze blood from a stone.
addendum:
If you are doing $12k in backdoor Roth and $19.5k Traditional 401k, you will already be at a 60/40 Traditional/Roth split