If you don't know what a Roth IRA is then stop everything, print this article and read it carefully as this will certainly be the most valuable information you read this year. This next retirement account is to your net worth what light bulb was to electricity. Let me tell you about this wonderful financial invention called a Roth IRA!
The main difference between the Roth and traditional IRA is that with the Roth you pay taxes first and then make the contribution. This is absolutely fantastic if you make a lot of money in the stock market because you NEVER have to pay even a dime on the capital gains! There are a ton of other advantages to the Roth IRA. Unlike the traditional IRA you can be of any age and still contribute. You can also make a contribution to a Roth IRA at any time for a particular calendar year up until the due date of your tax return for that year. This means that if you want to make a Roth IRA contribution for 2005, you could make it anytime between January 1, 2005 and April 15, 2006. Another nice feature of the Roth IRA is that your spouse will also qualify for a contribution.
There is no tax deduction for Roth IRAs. Contributions are made with money that has already been taxed so there is no immediate tax break. Don't fool yourself into thinking that this isn't the best thing since the wheel because when Roth money is taken out, it is a tax-free distribution! This type of IRA is ideal for individuals in a lower tax bracket now, but anticipate being in a higher tax bracket at retirement. In other words, if you are in a blue-collar or white-collar middle class family and are learning and practicing good savings and investment habits than this is your retirement life saver!
It gets even better; you may make contributions at any age, even after you reach 70?. You must have your Roth account open for at least five years before you can take a penalty free distribution of earnings. Distributions of earnings without penalty can be taken after age 59?. If you are a first-time home buyer or become disabled, you can take distributions earlier. You can also withdraw the contributions at any time penalty free as long as you don't withdraw investment earnings. What many people don't know who even have Roth is that they can withdraw the contribution for the account without penalty at any time as long as you don't touch any stock profits.
If you exceed the income limits you can neither contribute to nor roll over other IRA money into a Roth account. If you opened a Roth while you were under the income limits but then later earn more, your Roth account still will earn money tax-free that you can take out later without tax implications, but no new contributions are allowed. Another absolutely incredible feature of the Roth IRA is that it is also judgment proof. If you get sued it can be very hard for the lawyers to get it from you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Dr. Scott Brown, Ph.D., a.k.a. "The Wallet Doctor", is a successful futures trader, real estate investor, and stock investor. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in finance from the University of South Carolina. His 1998 articles in Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities were prophetic in predicting an impending stock market crash. He has helped many people become profitable investors by teaching them to look out over many years to spot stocks that are low and primed for rise in the new bull market. His second article met with approval by Dr. Bob Shiller of Yale University. Dr. Shiller is the economist that Alan Greenspan most highly regards who coined the term "Irrational Exuberance." In 1998 he shouted to the world to "get out" of the stock market but now he is shouting to everyone that it is time to "get in!" The Wallet Doctor is not only sought after for investment advice and coaching in stock investing but also in futures trading and real estate investing.
Visit Dr. Brown's site at http://www.bonanzabase.com or sign up for his investment tips at http://www.bonanzabase.com
Airbnb cleaning service Arlington Heights ..Alfred Winslow Jones started hedge funds in 1949. He was... Read More
The recent criminal fiasco in the mutual fund industry is... Read More
Spread trading is a technique that can be used to... Read More
As I have said many times before in this column... Read More
You remember the story about the frog that was put... Read More
Every day I hear from the "experts" on CNBC-TV and... Read More
Do you own any mutual funds? In an IRA or... Read More
Most people think the stock market is a zero sum... Read More
Several times each month I am solicited by various market... Read More
It has often been said that there is only two... Read More
When you stand on the ocean shore and watch the... Read More
During the day I watch CNBC-TV, the stock market channel.... Read More
The thinking process of the brain relating to the... Read More
A few years back ? it seems like an eternity... Read More
Mutual fund investing is a lot like Thai cooking. Everyone... Read More
Picture one of those clubs where only the real heavyweights... Read More
Reach in your pocket and take out that big roll... Read More
If you are going to be a winner in the... Read More
Whenever I see mutual fund comparisons in the trade publications... Read More
Just about now everyone is confused as to which way... Read More
You'd have had to be living on a desert island... Read More
There can't be many traders who haven't at least considered... Read More
For the last 12 years we have seen the Japanese... Read More
When we go to the circus we see a trapeze... Read More
Recently I was invited to appear on a live CNNfn... Read More
reliable maid service Winnetka ..I have watched my cat play with a bag of... Read More
We are already in it, but you can't see it.... Read More
What is leverage?Here is a definition of leverage from an... Read More
Who are the successful investors?There are those who follow the... Read More
Money management starts with protecting your capital, realizing profits and... Read More
Robert Rodriguez likes to buy stocks at their lows. When... Read More
Options trading can increase the profits you make when trading... Read More
Mutual funds are doing more and more to discourage investors... Read More
Today's society gives special recognition to alcoholics, sexaholics, binge-aholics, shopaholics,... Read More
No, this is not a symbol for some Latin number.... Read More
IT'S REMINISCENT OF THE OLD children's tale about an old... Read More
Hello Inflation, it has been awhile, I see you on... Read More
Is really not as important as to how you invest... Read More
During the day I watch CNBC-TV, the stock market channel.... Read More
Wouldn't it be nice if you were only in the... Read More
According to Investopedia Inc. the penny stock market has seen... Read More
Economists know more about how the fragments of society work... Read More
Both the stock market and oil prices rallied recently, which... Read More
The Dow Theorycharles h. dowcharles h.... Read More
Sidney felt sick as she looked at her latest OptionsXpress... Read More
It depends on your level of understanding of the market... Read More
What account size do I need?How much money can I... Read More
Carefully thinking through your goal as a trader is of... Read More
Its dinnertime and the phone rings. It's Joe Noname with... Read More
When it comes to 401k's there is an overabundance of... Read More
Stocks & Mutual Fund |