Banks, brokerage firms and investment companies all offer Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA). You can invest your IRA funds in CDs, mutual funds, stocks or other assets.
Traditional or Roth IRAs are tax-deductible investments that offer you tax savings when contributing funds, while withdrawal taxes must still be paid when withdrawing them (unless one of the exceptions apply). There are also special IRAs designed for business owners or those employing complex tax strategies.
Traditional IRA
Traditional IRAs provide individuals with an opportunity to save for retirement tax-deferred. Contributions may be tax deductible and investment earnings grow tax deferred until withdrawal (or distribution).
If you already have a workplace retirement plan such as a 401(k) or pension, an IRA is a great way to add extra investment options and bolster savings. Furthermore, it can serve as an excellent place for funds from old employers’ retirement accounts to be transferred after leaving or retiring from an employer.
Traditional IRA accounts, unlike Roth IRAs, usually incur taxes and penalties upon withdrawal prior to age 59 1/2; exceptions exist for first-time home purchases, higher education expenses and medical bills up to certain amounts. Also, anyone inheriting one may take advantage of additional tax benefits.
Roth IRA
Roth IRAs allow you to contribute using post-tax income. Your contributions grow tax free, and withdrawals in retirement (provided certain criteria are met) are also tax free. Furthermore, principal can be withdrawn without incurring taxes or penalties at any time as long as certain criteria have been fulfilled.
Your Roth IRA can be opened with any online broker, robo-advisor, or financial institution – such as an online broker, robo-advisor or financial institution – where you can invest in various assets including stocks, bonds, mutual funds and exchange-traded funds. A self-directed Roth IRA gives you even more investment choices such as real estate and cryptocurrencies; you could even use one to invest in employer sponsored retirement plans like 401(k)s and 403(b)s by consulting tax and legal professionals beforehand – although before doing so make sure all rules have been followed before proceeding further!
Rollover IRA
Changing jobs or getting ready to retire can leave you uncertain whether it is best to keep your retirement savings in an employer-sponsored plan or transfer them into an IRA, which offers greater investment options and lower fees than most employer plans.
An IRA is also tax-efficient; your contributions are tax deductible and taxes won’t be due until withdrawal time, which is especially advantageous if your income tax bracket will drop during retirement.
Rollover IRAs provide an effective means to transfer assets from an old workplace retirement plan – such as 401(k)s – into another IRA without incurring taxes or penalties. When done correctly, this transfer should not count as an outright distribution and should avoid tax or penalties.
There are two methods of rollover: direct rollover–where a financial institution transfers the money directly from an IRA custodian to its new provider–and indirect rollover, both with specific rules and requirements to avoid tax complications.
Self-directed IRA
With a self-directed IRA, you have the flexibility of investing in alternative assets such as real estate, private equity and tax liens – but keep in mind these should only supplement your regular retirement accounts. Withdrawals from self-directed IRAs must follow the same withdrawal rules as regular ones – waiting until age 59 1/2 before taking RMDs will help avoid taxes and penalties that might otherwise apply if money was taken before this age.
Self-directed IRAs offer greater investment options and flexibility than traditional IRAs, yet may come with higher fees and complex recordkeeping responsibilities. Therefore, it’s vital that you find an experienced custodian. Furthermore, certain investments – including life insurance policies and collectibles – are prohibited under IRS guidelines; it would be wise to consult a certified financial or tax professional before engaging in prohibited transactions.