Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) (2024)

FAQs

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)? ›

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are personal retirement savings accounts that offer tax benefits and a range of investment options. Many investors use IRAs as their common source of saving for retirement.

IRA plans also have some drawbacks, such as contribution limits and early withdrawal penalties. IRA plans also have advantages, such as tax deductions and investment strategies. It is crucial to consider contributions limits, investment choices, and withdrawals before opening an IRA account.

An individual retirement account (IRA) allows you to save money for retirement in a tax-advantaged way. Fidelity Smart Money. An IRA is an account set up at a financial institution that allows an individual to save for retirement with tax-free growth or on a tax-deferred basis.

There are no restrictions on how much you can invest in a brokerage account, and you can readily buy, sell, and trade for short-term or long-term potential gain. IRAs, on the other hand, have strict rules around when you can withdraw without penalty as well as how much you can contribute annually.

Unlike 401(k)s, which are largely accessed through workplace programs, IRAs are open to virtually anyone. Opening one is easy, and once you've done that, you can take your time funding the account and making investment selections.

IRAs offer a better investment selection.

You'll have the full suite of assets on offer at the institution: stocks, bonds, CDs, mutual funds, ETFs and more. With a 401(k) plan, you'll have only the choices available in that specific plan, often no more than a couple dozen mutual funds.

There are tax benefits, and your money has a chance to grow. Every little bit helps. If your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan—or you're self-employed—an IRA may make sense. And if you have a 401(k), an IRA can help you build your nest egg faster.

You can take distributions from your IRA (including your SEP-IRA or SIMPLE-IRA) at any time. There is no need to show a hardship to take a distribution. However, your distribution will be includible in your taxable income and it may be subject to a 10% additional tax if you're under age 59 1/2.

Why invest in an IRA ? In retirement you may need as much as 100% of your current after-tax income (take-home pay) minus any amount you are saving for retirement each year. This makes it all the more important to start saving sooner rather than later, and an IRA can help you get started.

Retirement experts often recommend the Roth IRA, but it's not always the better option, depending on your financial situation. The traditional IRA is a better choice when you're older or earning more, because you can avoid income taxes at higher rates on today's income.

How much does it cost to open an IRA? ›

While there is no fee to generate a plan, expenses charged by your investments and other fees associated with trading or transacting in your account would still apply.

You can open an IRA at financial institutions, such as banks, brokerage firms and even mutual fund companies. While some IRAs have no minimum deposits, others may require an initial investment of $500 or $1,000.

Unlike the Roth IRA, the traditional IRA has no income limits for contributing, but your ability to deduct contributions may be reduced or eliminated depending on your modified adjusted gross income (MAGI), your filing status, and whether you (or your spouse) have a workplace retirement plan.

Market fluctuations and early withdrawal penalties can cause a Roth IRA to lose money. Investing late or contributing too much can also result in potential losses. Diversification and considering time horizon can help mitigate risks in a Roth IRA.

How much can I contribute to an IRA? The annual contribution limit for 2023 is $6,500, or $7,500 if you're age 50 or older (2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 is $6,000, or $7,000 if you're age 50 or older). The annual contribution limit for 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018 is $5,500, or $6,500 if you're age 50 or older.

Depending on the type of IRA a person has, contributions can grow either tax-free or tax-deferred. This is the primary benefit of having an IRA. Money that's contributed to a traditional IRA is taxed when it's withdrawn from the account. These contributions may also be tax-deductible.