y do people invest in IRAs?

Question

both traditional and roth?

Answer 1

I do it because it lets me build up some money without worrying about taxes on the profits until I start getting the money back when I retire. I also do it because I've seen the way the government shafts seniors by delaying their funds, paying cost of living raises that are less than the numbers they are based on would indicate and then taxing them for receiving money that was taxed away from them in the first place. The government tells me they will leave this money, my IRA, alone until I start to benefit from it--I like that.

Answer 2

Saving is a good idea, and IRA's get a triple whammy on tax benefits.

First, you get to subtract the amount you put into your account from your taxable income (traditional IRA only, and I think we're up to a limit of $4000 per year).

Second, you get the "savers credit" on the back of the 1040. Yes, you can claim both. (The saver's credit also has a limit.)

Third, the interest in your account grows tax free until you're 59 1/2 years old. (This is where the Roth IRA outstrips the traditional in potential benefits.)

If you do the math, you'll find that an IRA savings is not adequate to retire on exclusively. Because of the limits, you'll can have a nice amount waiting for you, but it will never carry you through the remainder of your life:

$4000 x 30 years = $120,000

In a 3% account, you'll have about $190,300.

In order to have more, you have to risk losing it.

In a 6% account, you'll have about $316,233.
In a 8% account, you'll have about $453,133.

At high risk, you still can't have more than a half million, so it's obvious that these kinds of accounts will interest lower and middle class families only, and everyone has to have a supplemental source of income, like a house paid off and social security payments.

Answer 3

There is no benefit to a traditional IRA but if you invest in a Roth you pay tax up front on the investment but it will save you thousands when you cash out and don't have to pay taxes. What people do forget though is that when you earn 8% a year you can end up with half a million dollars or a million depending on the time period but.... that million dollars or half is not worth as much as it would be now because of inflation. I usually subtract 2.6% from the percentage to see more of an actual return value.

Answer 4

IRA stands for Individual Retirement Account. There are two types of IRAs, Traditional and Roth. Your contribution to a Traditional IRA may be deductible. This also depends on the account holder's income and participation according to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Taxes are not paid until distributions (i.e., withdrawals) are made. Distributions are taxed as ordinary income. Roth IRA contributions are not tax deductible. Distributions such as withdrawals from the account are not taxable. Which means your investments grow in an account that is tax-free!

Answer 5

musicman, i dont see why you would say a traditional ira has no advantages, you get a tax defferal on the money you put in, i still like the roth better but thats just for my situation

fidelity has an article on which is for you, check it out:
http://personal.fidelity.com/products/retirement/getstart/aboutira.shtml.cvsr

Answer 6

Because your politicians are going to spend all that Social Security money on their cousins, a couple of trips to the Bahamas, and nice cars for their cronies back in Hooterville.
(...and even if they don't touch it, it'll barely pay for groceries and a pain-pill prescription in ten/ twenty years)
NUMBAH ONE: take care of yourself ( and your family.)..GEEZ! never count on your Uncle Sam.

Answer 7

cause people do not want to work until they die they want to have a retirement fund to live on in their old age.

Answer 8

low risk and high return and also for some sense of security.