5 Huge Roth IRA Advantages You Need to Know | The Motley Fool (2024)

5 Huge Roth IRA Advantages You Need to Know | The Motley Fool (1)
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Saving for retirement isn't easy, but I probably don't need to tell you that. We've been hearing it on a pretty consistent basis from every survey and study published by finance-based firms.

For example, according to GOBankingRates, a third of Americans have absolutely nothing in retirement savings, and another 23% have between $1 and $1,000. On the flipside, its survey showed that fewer than 1 in 5 Americans has in excess of $200,000 set aside for retirement.

A separate study conducted by the Insured Retirement Institute showed that a whopping 45% of baby boomers hadn't yet begun saving, which is very scary given that their leverage to grow their nest eggs is substantially reduced by waiting.

And if you still don't believe this data, all you have to do is look at the published personal savings rates in the U.S. from the St. Louis Federal Reserve for confirmation. As of May 2016, personal savings rates were just 5.3%. Comparatively, consumers in most developed nations save in the high single digits to mid-double digits.

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Roth IRA advantages you need to know

But arguably the greatest retirement tool available is within reach of nearly all Americans: the Roth IRA. Roth IRAs have inherent advantages that very well could help get Americans of all ages on the right track for retirement, assuming you fall under the income requirements that allow you to contribute. You can find these requirements on the IRS website, but the rough gist is that only about the top 10% of income earners will be excluded from opening or contributing to a Roth IRA -- although upper-income earners are probably more likely to have saved a decent amount toward their retirement, anyway. (You can learn much more about IRAs in general by checking out the Fool's very own IRA Center.)

For the remainder of Americans who qualify, here are the five huge Roth IRA advantages you need to know.

1. Tax-free income in retirement

The clearest advantage of choosing a Roth IRA over any other retirement tool is that any investment gains within a Roth are completely free of taxation for the life of the account. Contributions to a Roth are based on after-tax dollars, meaning you'll receive no upfront tax deductions for your contributions. By comparison, employer-sponsored 401(k)s and traditional IRAs require you to pay federal taxes once you begin making withdrawals during retirement. In return, these tax-deferred accounts allow you to invest with before-tax dollars, thus reducing your current-year tax liability.

However, the back-end benefits could be enormous with a Roth. Because of time and compounding, you could wind up saving yourself from having to pay five or six digits' worth of cumulative taxes during your retirement. Furthermore, with a Roth you'll have less chance of being hit with a Medicare premium surcharge or having your Social Security benefits taxed, since Roth IRA distributions don't count toward your income. With life expectancies lengthening, and medical costs outpacing inflation and wage growth, being able to keep more of your income in retirement is important.

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2. No minimum required distribution

Nearly as important as never having to pay tax on your Roth IRA distributions is the fact that Roth IRAs have no minimum withdrawal requirements once you reach retirement age.

For example, 401(k)s and traditional IRAs mandate that retirees begin making minimum withdrawals after age 70 1/2 (and remember, you'll pay federal income tax on these withdrawals). A Roth IRA doesn't require that you begin taking a minimum amount out at any age. In fact, if you'd like, you can allow your account to continue growing in value, thus taking the maximum advantage of the effects of time and compounding. You'll remain in complete control of the distribution schedule with a Roth.

3. No age restrictions when contributing

A Roth IRA also provides advantages over the traditional IRA when it comes to contribution flexibility. With a Roth, workers and retirees can keep making contributions as long as they'd like. This means millennials, Gen Xers, baby boomers, and even current retirees could all open a Roth and contribute to it right now if they'd like (assuming they fall under the aforementioned income limits). In 2016, contribution limits were $5,500 for those age 49 and under, and $6,500 for persons age 50 and up.

On the other hand, Americans are required to stop making contributions to a traditional IRA in the year they turn 70 1/2. There are no age limits for contributing to a 401(k), but it does require seniors to remain employed in order to keep contributing.

Because people are living longer than ever, being able to contribute into your 70s could still net you, or your heirs, considerable wealth.

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4. Access to your contributions

Additionally, Roth IRAs offer a lot of flexibility. Most retirement tools are pretty cut-and-dried when it comes to making contributions and taking distributions. If you take money before you reach the qualifying age, you'll pay a penalty. Even the Roth IRA has a penalty in place for taking unqualified distributions early.

However, Roth IRAs also have a handful of exemptions that do allow you access to your money completely tax- and penalty-free. For instance, since your contributions to a Roth are in after-tax dollars, you can withdraw the amount you've contributed at any time completely penalty-free. This obviously isn't a great idea given that you could be hampering your ability to grow your nest egg over time, but if you find yourself in a cash crunch, you always have access to the amount you've contributed to a Roth.

Other circ*mstances could also allow for penalty-free withdrawals before reaching age 59 1/2 (the qualifying age for Roth IRA withdrawals). For instance, paying back taxes, being disabled, or covering unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 10% of your adjusted gross income (or 7.5% for people turning 65 or older in the 2016 tax year) allow for a penalty-free withdrawal.

5. Long-term mindset

Finally -- and this isn't necessarily a unique component of the Roth, but is a big reason why it's such a great retirement tool -- the Roth IRA has a five-year rule in place that encourages a long-term mindset among investors. The five-year rule mandates that five tax years must pass following a contribution before a qualified distribution can be made. This rule discourages account holders from diving in and out of their investments, which over time has proven not to be as successful as buying and holding quality investments over the long term.

If you need to get your retirement on track, arguably the smartest thing you can do is open a Roth IRA.

Sean Williamshas no material interest in any companies mentioned in this article. You can follow him on CAPS under the screen nameTMFUltraLong, and check him out on Twitter, where he goes by the handle@TMFUltraLong.

The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Motley Fool has adisclosure policy.

5 Huge Roth IRA Advantages You Need to Know | The Motley Fool (2024)

FAQs

5 Huge Roth IRA Advantages You Need to Know | The Motley Fool? ›

The primary benefit of a Roth IRA is that your contributions and the earnings on those contributions can grow tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free after age 59½, assuming the account has been open for at least five years.

What is the biggest advantage of the Roth IRA? ›

The primary benefit of a Roth IRA is that your contributions and the earnings on those contributions can grow tax-free and be withdrawn tax-free after age 59½, assuming the account has been open for at least five years.

Why do rich people use Roth IRA? ›

Roth IRA and Tax-Free Retirement Income

They will benefit from decades of tax free, compounded growth that will result in a tax free income during the retirement years.

What is the greatest benefit of choosing to invest in a Roth IRA? ›

Tax-free investment growth and withdrawals

The money grows tax-deferred, but when you pull money out of a traditional IRA in retirement, you owe income taxes. With the Roth, once you're 59½ and have held your Roth IRA for at least five years, you won't have to pay taxes on qualified withdrawals.

What is the rich man's Roth IRA? ›

The Rich Person Roth offers an alternative for those seeking tax advantages in retirement planning. Unlike Roth IRAs, the Rich Person Roth has no contribution limits, allowing individuals to plan for essentially unlimited amounts.

How can I maximize my Roth IRA benefits? ›

The first thing you can do to help maximize your Roth IRA growth is to set up regular contributions. In 2024, you can contribute $7,000 to your Roth IRA. You can set up automatic contributions of $583.33 per month to max out your contributions by the end of the year.

How much will a Roth IRA grow in 10 years? ›

Let's say you open a Roth IRA and contribute the maximum amount each year. If the base contribution limit remains at $7,000 per year, you'd amass over $100,000 (assuming a 8.77% annual growth rate) after 10 years. After 30 years, you would accumulate over $900,000.

How does Peter Thiel have 5 billion in Roth IRA? ›

According to ProPublica, Thiel was able to build a $2,000 Roth into a $5 billion tax-free kitty because he used the money in the account from the sale of eBay shares to buy shares of other startups at low prices.

Why is a Roth IRA more attractive to most people? ›

Roth IRAs are best for lower earning years, or if your tax rate will remain the same or increase in retirement. With a traditional IRA, you pay less in taxes every year that you contribute. But generally, you'll have to pay taxes on the money you withdraw in retirement.

What is the downside to a Roth IRA? ›

Roth individual retirement accounts (IRAs) offer several key benefits, including tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals in retirement, and no required minimum distributions (RMDs). One key disadvantage: Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax money, meaning there's no tax deduction in the years you contribute.

At what point is a Roth IRA not worth it? ›

The tax argument for contributing to a Roth can easily turn upside down if you happen to be in your peak earning years. If you're now in one of the higher tax brackets, your tax rate in retirement may have nowhere to go but down.

How to invest smartly in a Roth IRA? ›

One of the simplest ways to do this is to invest in a few core index funds. Ideally, a strong portfolio will contain a single U.S. stock index fund, which provides broad exposure to U.S. economic growth, and a single U.S. bond index fund, which provides exposure to relatively safer income-generating assets.

Do billionaires use Roth IRAs? ›

I know you're shocked to be reading that the tax code is being exploited by some gazillionaire to avoid paying their fair share. But let's look at how a Roth IRA has turned into the go-to vehicle for sheltering billionaires' billions in appreciation.

What is the richest Roth? ›

Among the billionaires who have exploited the rules for Roth IRAs is Peter Thiel, one of Paypal' s founders, whose account was worth $5 billion as of 2019 after a value of under $2,000 in 1999, according to the ProPublica report.

What is the biggest advantage of the Roth IRA quizlet? ›

The main advantage lies in the tax-free treatment of distributions for the owner and the beneficiary. No deduction is available for contributions to a Roth IRA - all contributions are made with after tax dollars.

What are the pros and cons of a Roth IRA? ›

Roth individual retirement accounts (IRAs) offer several key benefits, including tax-free growth, tax-free withdrawals in retirement, and no required minimum distributions (RMDs). One key disadvantage: Roth IRA contributions are made with after-tax money, meaning there's no tax deduction in the years you contribute.

What is the main advantage of a Roth IRA versus a traditional IRA? ›

With a Roth IRA, you contribute after-tax dollars, your money grows tax-free, and you can generally make tax- and penalty-free withdrawals after age 59½. With a Traditional IRA, you contribute pre- or after-tax dollars, your money grows tax-deferred, and withdrawals are taxed as current income after age 59½.

Who is a Roth IRA best for? ›

This means you pay taxes on the money before it goes into the account. This tax-free status makes Roth IRAs particularly appealing for investors who expect to be in a higher tax bracket during retirement or want to maximize tax-free income in retirement.

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