IRAs Articles
Moving Your Retirement Savings: The Basics of Rollovers
May 2025 by Tudor Pop
Understanding the rules of retirement account rollovers can help you steer clear of unnecessary taxes and penalties.
May 2025 by Tudor Pop
Understanding the rules of retirement account rollovers can help you steer clear of unnecessary taxes and penalties.
Required Minimum Distributions Explained
August 2023 by Charles Rotblut
The tax code requires distributions be taken from most retirement accounts on an annual basis, known as required minimum distributions (RMDs).
August 2023 by Charles Rotblut
The tax code requires distributions be taken from most retirement accounts on an annual basis, known as required minimum distributions (RMDs).
Auto Rollovers May Lead to Account Abandonment
May 2023 by Grace Malone
Employees whose retirement plan assets are automatically rolled over into an IRA when they leave their jobs are at greater risk of losing track of their accounts.
May 2023 by Grace Malone
Employees whose retirement plan assets are automatically rolled over into an IRA when they leave their jobs are at greater risk of losing track of their accounts.
The Rules Regarding Retirement Account Rollovers
May 2023 by Charles Rotblut
Terms and tips to help you decide whether to transfer retirement savings from one account to another.
May 2023 by Charles Rotblut
Terms and tips to help you decide whether to transfer retirement savings from one account to another.
Update Your Estate Plan for Your IRAs
October 2021 by Ed Slott
Most non-spouse beneficiaries of retirement accounts are subject to the SECURE Act’s 10-year withdrawal rule, but not all.
October 2021 by Ed Slott
Most non-spouse beneficiaries of retirement accounts are subject to the SECURE Act’s 10-year withdrawal rule, but not all.
Can a Roth IRA Conversion Save You Money?
September 2021 by Roger Young
Moving assets from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is most compelling when you pay tax on the converted amount at a relatively low rate.
September 2021 by Roger Young
Moving assets from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA is most compelling when you pay tax on the converted amount at a relatively low rate.
Online Exclusive: Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA—Differences You Should Know
September 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
The most powerful aspect of any IRA is its tax advantages; however, traditional and Roth IRAs approach tax advantages differently.
September 2021 by Matthew Bajkowski
The most powerful aspect of any IRA is its tax advantages; however, traditional and Roth IRAs approach tax advantages differently.
Challenging the Conventional Wisdom of Roth IRA Conversions
August 2021 by AAII Staff
Recent changes to IRAs have led a professor emeritus at Santa Clara University to call for adjusting the established thinking regarding Roth IRAs.
August 2021 by AAII Staff
Recent changes to IRAs have led a professor emeritus at Santa Clara University to call for adjusting the established thinking regarding Roth IRAs.
Inherited IRA Rules Before and After the SECURE Act
July 2020 by Charles Rotblut
The ability to stretch distributions over a beneficiary’s lifetime now depends on the date of death and the beneficiary’s category type.
July 2020 by Charles Rotblut
The ability to stretch distributions over a beneficiary’s lifetime now depends on the date of death and the beneficiary’s category type.
How IRAs Contribute to Retirement Savings in the U.S.
February 2020 by Anine Sus
Forty-four percent of retirees reported using traditional IRA withdrawals to pay for living expenses. In addition, 40% of retirees chose to reinvest or save some of the funds from traditional IRA withdrawals in another account.
February 2020 by Anine Sus
Forty-four percent of retirees reported using traditional IRA withdrawals to pay for living expenses. In addition, 40% of retirees chose to reinvest or save some of the funds from traditional IRA withdrawals in another account.
Roth Versus Traditional IRA
December 2019 by AAII Staff
This decision tree walks you through the key questions to answer when choosing whether to keep your retirement assets in a traditional IRA or convert to a Roth IRA.
December 2019 by AAII Staff
This decision tree walks you through the key questions to answer when choosing whether to keep your retirement assets in a traditional IRA or convert to a Roth IRA.
State Law May Protect Inherited IRA Assets From Creditors
April 2019 by AAII Staff
Whether an inherited IRA is protected from creditors may depend on the state it is held in: A U.S. bankruptcy court ruled that Idaho state law is broad enough to exempt such accounts from being seized for the purpose of paying debts.
April 2019 by AAII Staff
Whether an inherited IRA is protected from creditors may depend on the state it is held in: A U.S. bankruptcy court ruled that Idaho state law is broad enough to exempt such accounts from being seized for the purpose of paying debts.
Older Workers Investing More in IRAs
February 2019 by AAII Staff
Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) have grown in popularity among U.S. households and older, higher income Americans.
February 2019 by AAII Staff
Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) have grown in popularity among U.S. households and older, higher income Americans.
Illustrating the Value of Retirement Accounts
November 2018 by Aaron Brask
Two examples show the considerations to be taken into account when deciding between a taxable account, a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA.
November 2018 by Aaron Brask
Two examples show the considerations to be taken into account when deciding between a taxable account, a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA.
Strategies for Managing Required Minimum Distributions
October 2017 by Robert Carlson
Retirees have options when it comes to RMDs, including Roth IRA conversions, trusts, charitable donations, life insurance and emptying the IRA early.
October 2017 by Robert Carlson
Retirees have options when it comes to RMDs, including Roth IRA conversions, trusts, charitable donations, life insurance and emptying the IRA early.
IRA Rollover Chart: Rules Regarding Rollovers and Conversions
July 2016 by Charles Rotblut
A helpful chart showing what types of retirement accounts can be rolled over or converted into another type of retirement account.
July 2016 by Charles Rotblut
A helpful chart showing what types of retirement accounts can be rolled over or converted into another type of retirement account.
Converting to a Roth IRA Can Minimize RMDs
March 2015 by Judith Ward
Gradually converting traditional IRA assets into a Roth IRA can both increase lifetime wealth and reduce the total amount of taxes paid.
March 2015 by Judith Ward
Gradually converting traditional IRA assets into a Roth IRA can both increase lifetime wealth and reduce the total amount of taxes paid.
Making Effective Use of IRAs as Part of an Estate Plan
June 2014 by Daniel Sudit, Kevin G. McCandlish
Bequesting your IRA to charity, naming grandchildren as beneficiaries of your Roth IRA or having a heir disclaim an IRA inheritance can lower your estate’s tax exposure.
June 2014 by Daniel Sudit, Kevin G. McCandlish
Bequesting your IRA to charity, naming grandchildren as beneficiaries of your Roth IRA or having a heir disclaim an IRA inheritance can lower your estate’s tax exposure.
Do's and Don'ts of IRA Investing
March 2010 by Robert Carlson
Complicated and restrictive rules can lead to unintended problems. Learn which assets and transactions are allowed and which are not in an IRA.
March 2010 by Robert Carlson
Complicated and restrictive rules can lead to unintended problems. Learn which assets and transactions are allowed and which are not in an IRA.