What You Should Know About Roth Ira Management

By Rosella Campbell


Retirement has often been described as the single most expensive investment that a person will make in their lifetime. Making sure that you have enough money saved is crucial to maintaining your financial independence in old age. There are currently many tax advantaged vehicles available for individuals wanting to save for retirement. One such vehicle which has become popular in the past decade is the Roth IRA. Your financial advisor should be able to give you details about their roth ira management services available.

The Individual Retirement Arrangement was first established by the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. It was named after Senator William Roth of Delaware who was its main legislative sponsor. This plan is similar to the traditional IRA plans, however, there are some important differences.

You can make contributions to a Roth account even if you are participating in other qualified retirement plans such as the 401(k). If you out live your spouse, they will inherit the funds of your account. They can then combine the two accounts into a single plan without any penalties.

These plans also do not require distributions based on your age. Many other tax-deferred retirement plans, including the 401(k), require withdrawals to start by April 1 of the year after you reach seventy. If you do not need the money and want to leave it to your heirs, this plan may be an effective way to accumulate income tax-free. Also, beneficiaries who inherit these accounts will be subject to the rules of minimum distribution.

Congress has set limits on who can contribute to these plans based upon their income. An individual can contribute the maximum amount if their Modified Adjusted Gross Income is below a certain amount. Otherwise, a phasing out of the contributions that are allowed will apply. Excess contributions to the plan may be redistributed into a traditional IRA account, as long as the combined contributions do not exceed the limits for that tax year.

The government allows individuals to convert their traditional IRA funds to Roth IRA funds as long as they pay income taxes on any account balance that is converted and untaxed. Regardless of income, contributions can be made and then converted in this way. This allows a roundabout method of making contributions and avoiding the income limitations in the plan. There are no limits to the frequency with which you can make these conversions.

If you are an average working citizen, it may be unwise for you to try and manage your plan on your own. Knowing the ins and outs of how the plans work, and all the rules and regulations, take a lot of time and experience. You do not want to gamble with your retirement savings.

Speak to relatives and friends and ask them who they trust as a good financial management firm. If they already have a retirement plan with a particular firm or advisor, they should be able to tell you if they are satisfied with the performance to date, and whether they would recommend that provider to you.




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