- How Do Mega Backdoor Roths Work?
A mega backdoor Roth is a unique 401(k) rollover strategy that’s designed for people whose incomes would ordinarily keep them from saving in a Roth Individual Retirement Account. The advantage of using a Roth IRA to save for retirement is… read more…
- Can an Inherited IRA Be Rolled Over?
If you inherit an individual retirement account (IRA) from a spouse, you can treat it like your own IRA or roll it over into a traditional IRA you already have. If you are the beneficiary of an IRA inherited from… read more…
- What Is an Average Roth IRA Return?
A Roth IRA is a smart way to grow your savings for the future. These investment accounts offer tax-free income when you retire. Of course, any return you see on a Roth IRA account depends on the investments you put… read more…
- Roth IRA Distributions: Qualified vs. Non-Qualified
There are two basic types of distributions you can take from your Roth IRA: qualified and non-qualified. The basic difference is this: qualified distributions generally take place after the owner is 59.5, or when they have a permanent disability or… read more…
- Should You Have Multiple IRAs? What to Know
Individual retirement accounts can offer a tax-advantaged way to save and grow your money for your later years. A traditional IRA offers the benefit of tax-deductible contributions, while a Roth IRA allows for tax-free withdrawals in retirement. When deciding which type of… read more…
- How to Name a Trust as Beneficiary of an IRA
Naming a trust as the beneficiary of your individual retirement account (IRA) is not terribly difficult – once you’ve established your trust, you simply list it as the beneficiary in the paperwork or online portal for your IRA. That said, it is a big decision, so you’ll want to make sure you know everything about… read more…
- 403(b) vs. Roth IRA: Which Retirement Plan Is Right for You?
There are many different ways to save for retirement. Roth IRAs and 403(b)s are among the more popular account types. The former has strong after-tax perks and is available to most savers below certain income limits, while the latter is… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Using a Roth IRA to Pay for College
When you need money to pay for college expenses, tapping your Roth IRA is one option you might consider. While a Roth IRA is designed to help you save for retirement on a tax-advantaged basis, it’s possible to use money… read more…
- IRA Contribution Deadlines and Thresholds for 2025 and 2026
Curious how long you have to contribute to your IRA each year? As a general rule, you have until tax day to make IRA contributions for the prior year. In 2026, that means you can contribute toward your 2025 tax year limit of $7,000 until April 15. And as of Jan. 1, 2026, you can… read more…
- How to Make Penalty-Free IRA Withdrawals
Unexpected expenses may compel you to tap your individual retirement account ahead of schedule. And with most plans, the government will impose a 10% penalty if you withdraw funds before you reach age 59 1/2. Many people work with financial… read more…
- What Is a Self-Directed Roth IRA?
A Roth IRA affords some key tax benefits for savers, chiefly the ability to make 100% tax-free withdrawals in retirement. Typically, the scope of investments available through an IRA is determined by the company that holds your accounts. A self-directed Roth… read more…
- How to Find a Custodian for a Self-Directed IRA
Want to invest the assets in your individual retirement account (IRA) in private placement securities, real estate or even crypto? You can, but you’ll need to find a custodian for what’s known as a self-directed IRA. These custodians, which tend… read more…
- How Direct IRA Transfers Work
If you want to move your individual retirement account (IRA) balance from one provider to another, simply call the current provider and request a “trustee-to-trustee” transfer. This moves money directly from one financial institution to another, and it won’t trigger… read more…
- Should You Use Your Roth IRA to Buy Your First Home?
The IRS allows you to withdraw contributions from your Roth IRA penalty-free to buy your first home, plus up to $10,000 of earnings. But most financial advisors would recommend tapping into your retirement savings only as a last resort. Luckily,… read more…
- IRA Withdrawal Rules
When you’re ready to take withdrawals from your IRA, you’ll find there are plenty of rules to follow. Failure to stick to these guidelines could have serious ramifications. The most notable among these is a 10% penalty tax on IRA withdrawals made before age 59 ½. Beware, though, as traditional and Roth IRAs have two distinct… read more…
- What Is a Gold IRA?
A gold IRA is one way to save for retirement. As its name suggests, instead of stocks or bonds, it holds gold in the form of bars, coins and bullion. It can also hold other precious metals like platinum and silver.… read more…
- What to Do If You Miss Your RMD Deadline
If you miss the required minimum distribution (RMD) for your retirement account, you’ll essentially have two choices: pay a substantial fine or apply for a waiver. Either way, you’ll have a bit of paperwork to fill out, and of course… read more…
- The Benefits of Traditional and Roth IRAs
If you’re thinking about opening a traditional individual retirement account (IRA) or Roth IRA, you have some major tax benefits to look forward too. However, these aren’t one-size-fits-all accounts. This article will explain the benefits and disadvantages of traditional IRAs… read more…
- IRA Hardship Withdrawal: How to Avoid Penalties
Under normal circumstances, you cannot withdraw money from your traditional individual retirement account (IRA) without facing a penalty tax until you reach age 59.5. You can, however, avoid this sanction if you make an IRA hardship withdrawal. The IRS typically… read more…
- How Does an IRA Loan Work?
If you’re like many people with an individual retirement account, the money in your IRA likely represents one of your largest assets. And if you find yourself in a tight financial spot, you may want to be able to borrow… read more…
- How to Open a Roth IRA for Your Kid
Opening a Roth IRA for kids is easier than you may think. You can open one at several brokerage firms and banks. And you can manage the investments on behalf of your child. In this article, we’ll explore the benefits… read more…
- Traditional IRA: Tax Rules, Limits and More
With a traditional individual retirement account (IRA), you contribute tax-deductible dollars to an investment account, where they grow tax-deferred. How much you can contribute per tax year is set by Congress. For 2023, it’s $6,500, plus a catch-up $1,000 for… read more…
- Where to Open a Roth IRA in 2025
The best Roth IRAs offer a range of funds, low fees and digital tools to help you plan for retirement. We gathered data on the entire Roth IRA universe and narrowed them down to the best eight. They can suit a… read more…
- Simple IRA vs. SEP-IRA
Most people have heard of traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Both are vehicles for saving money for your retirement, separated only by their tax treatment. There are two other types of individual retirement accounts, though, that aren’t as common: the… read more…
- SEP IRA vs. Roth IRA: What You Should Know
If you’re self-employed, you may be weighing the pros and cons of SEP IRAs and Roth IRAs. Both are tax-advantaged savings vehicles that provide particular benefits. But before we explore those and compare them, it’s necessary to unpack who can… read more…