Tag: Roth IRA

"Can I Contribute to an IRA, Roth IRA and a 401K if I have access to all these accounts? What are the limits and rules of doing so?" This is the kind of question I get fairly often and one that I actually had to recently sort out for myself. To determine…

It's not breaking news that you should be saving for retirement. Most employed people understand this fact, so hopefully, you are setting some cash aside for your golden years despite your day to day living expenses. The tricky part of retirement financial planning is figuring out how much you should…

I regularly receive reader questions asking me to clarify the difference between a Roth IRA and Traditional IRA plan. Both are excellent retirement investment vehicles, but based on your income and tax situation one may be a better first choice than the other. Shown below is a table with some key differences…

A Roth IRA can provide a great way to build up savings for retirement. These accounts allow funds to grow on a tax-free basis. And, provided that the account owner meets just a few requirements, all the money contributed and earned in a Roth IRA account may also be withdrawn without…

Most people have heard about Individual Retirement Account (IRA) plans which provide self-administered tax advantaged retirement saving options. For most people two types of IRA options are best - a Traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. But choosing the right option depends on a variety of factors that include, how…

After several years the IRS has raised Roth IRA contribution levels, along with the annually indexed income qualification levels that allow eligible contributions. This is good news for those looking for tax effective ways to manage their retirement savings. [See this article for the latest Roth IRA limits] Unlike 401(k) and Traditional…

[Updated for 2022] - See the latest IRA limits and changes in this article. The IRS has published the latest retirement plan limits following the release of Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) figures for next year.  This was the second consecutive year of increases to contribution limits, as shown in…

With ongoing volatility across global markets and an uncertain future in terms of taxes, regulations and government safety nets such as social security; diversification is key in managing the risk associated with your retirement savings. That's why these four risk diversification strategies across products and services make a lot of…

[2013 Update] With a deal to avert the fiscal cliff reached and legislated under the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) of 2012, a couple of significant employer sponsored retirement plan features have reappeared with some modifications. This includes the Roth 401(k) conversion and Charitable IRA contributions. You can read more…

Can you open a Roth IRA for your spouse? This question comes up a lot among married couples with just one income. After all, one of the requirements for opening and funding a Roth IRA is earned income, right? And as a general rule, if you don't have taxable earned…

If you are looking for a common and highly effective way to cut your tax bill for this year and/or the next, then consider opening a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA before the IRA contribution deadline. The following brokers have great offers for those looking to open or transfer an…

[Updated with 2013 IRS inflation adjusted tax brackets and fiscal cliff changes] Congress and the Obama administration's fiscal cliff deal (ATRA act) means that 2013 federal tax rates will remain fixed for nearly 99% of the population. Only those earning above $450,000/$400,000 (married/single) AGI will have a higher federal marginal tax rate in…

[Updated with current limits] Catch-up contributions allow people who feel that they do not have enough of a nest egg to make higher retirement plan contributions as they approach retirement. If you are over or turning 50 in a given calendar year you are eligible to make additional or catch-up contributions…