Is a Roth IRA Account Right For Me?
ByIRA’s (Individual Retirement Accounts) come in different kinds each with its own unique benefits and defects. I am currently contributing to a Roth IRA. Here’s a few reasons why.
The Tax Payer Relief Act created the Roth IRA in 1997 in order to take it easy on the social security system and to help people plan for their retirement in personal investment rather than relying solely on their employer’s 401k program. They encourage the people by allowing certain financial benefits if these IRA accounts are used for retirement planning. What are some of these benefits?
Well, the funds contributed to a Roth IRA cannot be deducted from your income for taxes. That’s bad right? Not really. You will eventually have to pay taxes on the money you make anyway, so try thinking of this. The max out for both a Roth IRA and a regular IRA in 2008 is $5000 annually (for income below $100,000 annually). So if you maxed both out, the $5000 in the traditional IRA is actually only worth around $4,000 after taxes whereas the Roth IRA would have a full $5000 in it that taxes can’t touch.
Once funds have been contributed to the Roth IRA, after five years you are permitted to withdraw any contributions made penalty and tax free. With a traditional IRA you are penalized for any funds withdrawals before age 59 1/2. And regardless of when you pull out the funds you will pay taxes on 100% of it.
I like the Roth because I am young and occasionally have emergency needs (ie. new car, new roof). Since you are allowed to withdraw funds after 5 years, you can use it for any of these emergencies you may fall into. I am planning for retirement, and if ever the need arises I have the funds to cover emergencies too. Nice huh?
A regular IRA allows for a few withdrawals free of penalties too, but they are very strict to circumstances and purpose. For example: you are allowed up to $10k of the funds to put on a home. But the home buyer has to be either the spouse of the IRA holder, the child, or the owner themselves. So it can’t be a gift or anything like that. Plus the buyer must not have owned a home for 2 years prior.
I chose to use the Roth IRA for the benefits it offers me. If you want to really find the best one for you, talk to a financial consultant and ask all the questions you can. Make the right choice because it means your future.