
That adventurous future you’ve imagined — you know, building a second home, exploring a new continent or hiking the Grand Canyon — is going to cost money (and possibly more than you might think). Opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is a great way to help you save up for a comfortable retirement and all that comes with that: the once-in-a-lifetime experiences, the rainy days and everything in between.
But your IRA won’t fund itself, so consider taking these actions to help your retirement savings keep up with your future self.
Know your IRA options.
A number of different types of IRAs exist, so you’ll want to acquaint yourself with each option — and their eligibility requirements and tax advantages — to make sure you’re picking the right one for you. Keep in mind, no matter which kind of IRA you select, you need taxable income to open it.
The two most common IRAs are traditional and Roth. The main difference between the two is how they are taxed. Traditional IRAs allow you to make deposits, or contributions, that are tax-deductible. Your money is then subject to income tax when you withdraw, or take distributions, during retirement. Contributions to Roth IRAs are made with after-tax dollars, so you pay taxes now and withdrawals during retirement are tax-free.
Explore and compare your different IRA options.
If your employer offers a 401(k) plan, you may still consider opening an IRA as an additional retirement savings option for added flexibility. IRAs offer certain benefits that 401(k)s don’t — for instance, certain early withdrawals (meaning, before age 59 ½) from an IRA won’t incur the additional 10% early withdrawal tax.
Examples of qualified early distributions from IRAs include some higher education expenses and up to $10,000 for first-time homebuyers. And due to updates in the SECURE (Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement) Act, withdrawals of up to $5,000 are permitted for expenses related to childbirth and adoption for up to one year from the date of birth or legal adoption finalization. See more early distribution exceptions here.
Re-energize your balance.
Once you have opened the best IRA for your financial goals, it’s time to deposit some money in your account.
A deposit to your IRA is known as a contribution. The sooner you begin building a balance in your retirement account, the more time to grow its earning power.
You can fund most IRAs with a check or a transfer from a bank account — and that option is as simple as it sounds.
You can also put existing retirement funds into your IRA. Moving funds from any type of retirement account to an IRA is called a transfer, a rollover or a conversion. The basic difference is this: A transfer occurs between accounts of similar type (for example, moving funds from an IRA at one institution to an IRA at another); a rollover occurs between different account types (for example, moving funds from a 401(k) to a traditional or Roth IRA). A Roth conversion occurs when you move funds from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
The main thing to remember about both rollovers and transfers is that any existing retirement funds should go directly into the IRA without making any pit stops in your other accounts. That way, you avoid paying unnecessary taxes on those amounts.
Play by the Rules: IRA Contribution Guidelines
The last thing you want is to be penalized for not knowing IRS contribution rules. As previously mentioned, one hard and fast rule to remember: You must have earned income to open and contribute to any IRA. The rest of the rules governing federal limits on annual maximum contribution amounts are based on your income, age, IRA type, filing status and other factors.
Thanks to the SECURE Act, certain contribution rules have changed. One of the biggest changes? The age limit for contributions to traditional IRAs (previously 70 ½ years) no longer applies.
You can contribute to more than one IRA in the same year, but the total amount can’t exceed the annual limit set by the IRS, and contributions must be made by April 15 of the following year.
Essential IRA Contribution Guidelines
Stay on top of current IRA contribution, income and age limits, so you can take full advantage of your IRA — without being penalized for contributing too much. The most common IRA contribution guidelines for 2021 and 2022 include:
Roth IRA | Traditional IRA | |
---|---|---|
Contribution limits | $6,000 age 49 and younger; $7,000 age 50 or older | Same as Roth IRA |
Income limits | Income affects how much you can contribute. | Income does not affect how much you can contribute. |
Age limits | Contribute at any age | Contribute at any age |
If you’re contributing to a Roth IRA, see the current income limits that affect how much you can contribute.
You should also be aware of the rules that govern IRAs upon the death of the owner. That’s because changes included in the SECURE Act have affected beneficiaries as well. Prior to the SECURE Act, non-spouse beneficiaries could “stretch” required minimum distributions (RMDs) from an inherited IRA for many years, potentially allowing the money to grow tax-free over their lifetime.
Now, in most circumstances, beneficiaries must make a full payout of distributions within 10 years of the death of the account owner — which may affect how you designate beneficiaries and overall estate planning.
It’s a good idea to consult with a tax professional familiar with your situation and visit the Internal Revenue Service website for specific, up-to-date information.
Make — and stick to — a plan for regular contributions.
Whether you see your future self on a tour bus, on a humanitarian mission, or in your backyard garden, you’ll want to come up with a solid plan to help you get there.
One way to make sure you’re contributing regularly is to use the power of automation. Consider setting up automatic transfers from your checking or savings account to your IRA on a schedule that works for you — maybe biweekly or once a month.
Another way to set and forget contributions is through direct deposits. Talk to your employer about depositing a portion of your paycheck directly into your IRA, so you’ll never have to worry about cash making it into your account. Plus, if you don’t see the money in your checking account, you won’t miss it when it’s time to move it to your retirement account. You’ll also need to check if your IRA has automatic transfers or payroll contribution capabilities.
Of course, in general you will only get the maximum tax benefit from making the maximum annual contribution to your IRA, but only you can determine what amount is realistic for you. One popular strategy is making regular contributions to give you your best chance at long-term success.
While it may not be top of mind 24/7, you don’t want to let your IRA fall by the wayside. Try to schedule regular retirement account check-ins (possibly quarterly) to keep an eye on your account and stay on track with your contributions. That way, you’ll have a good idea whether you need to give your funding a boost or if you’re in good standing. So, no matter what you see yourself doing in the future, you can be sure your IRA will keep up.
Don’t have an IRA yet? Check out our Ally Invest IRA plans to see if opening one makes sense for you.
If you’re an Ally Invest customer, you can find answers to top FAQs on IRA and tax topics here.
This icon indicates a link to a third party website not operated by Ally Bank or Ally. We are not responsible for the products, services or information you may find or provide there. Also, you should read and understand how that site’s privacy policy, level of security and terms and conditions may impact you.
Comment on this article
Comments
Charles J. on January 1, 2020 at 11:56am
Please update this article to include provisions of the Secure Act. For example, as of 2020, people may now contribute to a traditional IRA at any age.
Ally on January 3, 2020 at 12:10pm
Thanks for reading Charles. We’ll pass your feedback along to our team.
tofu_head on July 16, 2020 at 3:12pm
So once I finished transfering funds to my Roth IRA investing account, do I pick stocks, bonds, etc? Or do I simply transfer the money and it runs on its own?
Marty G. on August 31, 2020 at 4:20pm
You should warn ppl that it takes a day or two to fund the investment account. I'm trying to buy up split stock options for Apple & Tesla today and just tried to fund my Investment acct but the funds are still pending. :\ I'm having to use Merrill Lynch to invest instead of my preferred method thru Ally. Now my money is in limbo.
Maria E. on September 18, 2020 at 6:51am
Can I roll my 401K here to a Roth IRA? Can I invest in stocks with Roth IRA or not? Just wanting to know my options. Thanks!
Ally on September 18, 2020 at 9:09am
Hi Maria, if you’ll please give us a call at 1-855-880-2559, or chat with us online at ally.com, one of our team members will be more than happy to help answer your questions.
edline on April 29, 2021 at 4:17pm
i loved it
edline on April 29, 2021 at 4:18pm
writing about struggle that people face
Erica on May 5, 2021 at 11:40am
How do I transfer my Traditional IRA from an existing account elsewhere - over to ALLY?
Monnica P. on August 12, 2021 at 5:31am
Very Educational
DAVID S. on September 24, 2021 at 11:18am
I have a ally brokerage account. Would like to open and fund IRA account
Ally on September 24, 2021 at 11:19am
Hi David, thanks for your interest. Our team would be happy to assist if you’ll give us a call at 1-855-880-2559 or chat with us online at ally.com.
DAVID S. on September 24, 2021 at 11:36am
Looking to open and fund ira
Debra O. on December 7, 2021 at 6:52am
excellent information. Just what I needed.
Ally on December 7, 2021 at 6:53am
Thanks for reading, Debra!
Lydia on December 18, 2021 at 7:51am
Please provide more info about index funds / S&P 500.
Ally on December 18, 2021 at 7:52am
Hi Lydia, our team would be happy to help if you’ll give us a call at 1-855-880-2559.
DFWSAM on May 8, 2022 at 3:21pm
How do I contribute to a ROTH IRA? We set one up with an initial deposit but haven’t found how to contribute more, especially via the app.
Ally on May 8, 2022 at 3:22pm
Hi, our team would be happy to help if you’ll give us a call at 1-855-880-2559.
patrick on June 25, 2022 at 11:19pm
Are there fees associated with depositing money to a non-Ally Roth IRA account from an Ally Checking account?
Ally on June 25, 2022 at 11:20pm
Hi, our team would be happy to discuss this further with you if you’ll give us a call at 1-877-247-2559.