Roth IRA's are some of the most sought after investments. But, why? What are they? Why should you invest in them? For many people, the investment world is somewhat of a mystery. We just do not know what it is all about. But, we can easily learn by taking the time to understand all the various aspects of investing. We can start here with learning about Roth IRA and how it can benefit you.

First, Roth IRA was named after the man who helped push through legislation for it. His name was William Roth. He was a United States Senator. He was known as a conservative and helped to pass other tax cuts as well in the 1980's. But, we want to know about his specific contribution to the Roth IRA.

The Roth IRA is an individual retirement account. It is used throughout the United States. This plan is meant to help individuals save money for retirement by giving them tax advantages for doing so. But, there are a number of different retirement accounts. Some of these retirement plans can be set up by the employer while others are sponsored through the individual investor. In the Roth IRA, money is taxed before it is deposited into the account. But, it accumulates tax free on its earnings until you withdraw it at retirement. The money is then taxed. But, here are a few other individual retirement accounts that you should consider as well:

 The traditional IRA is the most commonly thought of retirement account because it was one of the firsts. In this case, money is deposited without being taxed. The money accumulates through time and is still tax free on earnings. Then, when the money is later withdrawn at retirement, it is taxed.
 A Rollover IRA is basically the same as the traditional. The only difference is that in the rollover, funds or money is moved from one type of retirement plan to the rollover. This would happen when one account is closed but money is not withdrawn but moved. For example, if you have an employer based retirement plan and leave one company for the next, the money would move into a rollover account.
 A Simple IRA is quite similar to a 401K. It is a simplified employee pension plan. In this case, you will have lower contribution limits and a simpler administration of the money.

Let's get back to the Roth IRA in particular. In this type of retirement account, you get to contribute money that is “post tax” and earnings and withdrawals are then tax free. Another advantage of the Roth IRA is the fact that there are fewer penalties and restrictions on withdrawal than with the traditional IRA. Your limits, currently, on this IRA are based on age and the year:

In 2005, if you are under 49 years of age, your contributions are limited to $4,000 per year. Over 50 and you can invest up to $4500.

In 2006 and 2007, if you are under the age of 49, your contribution limit will be $4000, but if you are over 50, your limit will increase to $5000.

In 2008, limits change for both those age groups. Under age 49 will increase to $5000 while over age 50 will increase to $6000.

Anyone who is considering a Roth IRA for their retirement account is considering a very good quality investment account. It is wise, like with all other investments, to speak to a financial advisor to find the best course of action. They will help you to decide how much to put into the account. They will also help you to manage it. In a Roth IRA, there are a variety of options that you can invest in including stocks and mutual funds. It is important to consider the risk involved. It is also important to consider just where you need the money to be when you retire. A financial advisor can help you get to where you need to be without you having to worry about all the details.

All in all, a Roth IRA is an excellent choice. Its main benefits are its tax structure as well as its lower fees. You will see that they offer an excellent opportunity for almost anyone to invest for their retirement.


About the Author
Travis Lawrence

More Roth IRA information can be found at http://www.roth-ira.org