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5 Easy Steps to Open an IRA

By Reagan Bonlie
2024-01-19
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How to Open an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) in 5 Simple Steps

  1. Pick where you want to open your IRA

The first thing you’ll need to do is determine the kind of financial institution you want to use to start an IRA. Banks, brokerage houses, and automated financial advisors are just some of the choices out there.

If you want a hands-off IRA, a robo-advisor may be better. Low management costs, risk-based investment options, automatic portfolio balancing, and other benefits are typical. An online dashboard can manage them effortlessly.

Brokerages may suit hands-on investors. Brokerages may offer more investments and full-service management. Look for brokers with cheap account fees and a range of commission- and fee-free investment options for the best deal. discount brokers.

Heather Welsh, Sequoia Financial Group’s wealth planning vice president, advises, “Consider the total service.” “Robo-advisors are cheap, but your comfort with technology may recommend going to your bank or financial advisor.”

  1. Choose the type of IRA you want.

You can choose from different kinds of IRA accounts. Some let you take money out tax-free when you retire, while others give you a valuable tax break now.

Traditional IRAs are open to anybody and offer many plan and investment options, but they have low contribution limits. However, the Roth IRA allows greater flexibility in retirement savings contribution and withdrawal timing, which may lower effective tax rates.

SEP IRAs offer generous contribution limitations and fast vesting for employees of small firms, their owners, and self-employed workers. The Simple IRA is easy to set up and offers either matched or guaranteed employee contributions.

  1. Open your IRA account

Your brokerage or internet account can be opened easily. The procedure will differ.

Welsh says your IRA provider or advisor will choose how you start an account. “You can DIY online. Depending on your preferences and the bank or advisor, you will get account opening forms electronically or in printed copy.”

Documents and information requested include:

  • Driver’s license or passport copy
  • Your name, phone number, address, birthday, and Social Security number
  • Beneficiaries, or who will inherit the account once you die.
  • Contribution method
  • Information about your other 401(k)s or IRAs (if you’re rolling over) or banking information (if you’re funding the account electronically)

Rollovers to regular IRAs are tax-free (until you start making withdrawals). If you roll over assets to a Roth IRA, you’ll owe taxes on the amount when you submit your annual returns.

  1. Funding your IRA

Contributions can begin once your IRA is setup. You can rollover, check, or electronically transfer funds, or link your bank account and directly send funds.

“The more you can put to your retirement accounts, the better off you’ll be in the future,” says Staton Financial Group founder and president Scott Staton.

5. Initiate monetary investments

Invest after funding your account. Stocks, bonds, and other assets are available.

“An IRA isn’t an investment or a return,” Staton argues. “Your IRA investment selections impact its return and risk.”


Your options for investings

  • Stocks: You can buy publicly listed company shares.
  • Bonds: Debt securities offer investors and governments money. They’re low-risk.
  • Index funds: Stock portfolios that try to replicate market index returns, like the S&P 500.
  • Exchange Traded Funds: Like index funds, ETFs monitor an index like the S&P 500. The stock market trades these daily.
  • Mutual funds: Multi-investment pools. Individuals can buy fund shares.

IRAs help plan retirement. Choose your IRA account type and manager carefully to maximize your returns. Consult a financial counselor or CFP if you need help. They can offer tailored financial and goal advice.

We believe in empowering our readers to make informed financial decisions, and that’s why we’re excited to partner with M1, a trusted provider of financial tools for those looking to secure their financial future. M1 offers a range of retirement accounts, including Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP IRA, to help you achieve your long-term financial goals.

Learn more about M1 and take the first step towards a brighter tomorrow.