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Our experts have helped you control your money for more than four decades. We continuously strive to provide consumers with the expert advice and tools necessary to succeed throughout life's financial process. A Roth IRA and a traditional IRA (individual retirement account) offer valuable retirement planning benefits, but they have different structures, income limits, and pros and cons. Here are some additional factors to consider when comparing a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA:.
People who are now in a relatively low tax bracket may want to consider a Roth IRA, in which you contribute money after taxes but have the opportunity to withdraw funds tax-free when you retire, when you are in a higher category. Unlike a traditional IRA, you can withdraw sums equivalent to your Roth IRA contributions without penalty or taxes at any time and for any reason, even before age 59 and a half. However, you may have other financial priorities, such as paying off high-interest debts, that are more pressing than exhausting your Roth IRA to the maximum. With a Roth IRA, you invest the money after taxes, but you can withdraw money tax-free if you're at least 59 and a half years old and have owned the account for at least five years.
If you withdraw profits (sums greater than the amount you contributed) from your Roth IRA, different rules apply. Then, when you withdraw money in the future, traditional IRAs entail tax liabilities on anything that isn't taxable (deductible contributions and investment gains), while Roth IRA withdrawals are tax-exempt. And if you're concerned about income restrictions, you can consider creating a clandestine Roth IRA, which involves some additional complications, but it may be worth it for high-income taxpayers. You can choose to do some consulting or freelance work, for which you will have to pay self-employment tax.
The traditional conversation about IRA assumes that you will be in a lower tax bracket when you retire. Roth IRAs don't include mandatory minimum distributions (RMDs), meaning you're not required to withdraw money at any age or throughout your life. While Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax dollars, traditional IRA contributions are made with pre-tax dollars. For example, you might consider opening a Roth IRA after you've reached the maximum limit on your 401 (k) contributions.
If your family has a history of longevity and you can imagine a retirement that lasts well into the 80s or 90s, the lack of requirements for a Roth IRA to withdraw money may be especially important. A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account (IRA) that allows you to contribute after-tax money to your retirement savings. With a Roth IRA, you can contribute money after taxes, but you'll have the opportunity to make tax-free withdrawals later on. While conventional wisdom suggests that gross income decreases during retirement, taxable income sometimes does not.
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