How To Invest in a Roth IRA

There are many ways to save for retirement. One of the most flexible plans the government has created for this is the Roth IRA. Anyone can put up to $4,000 a year (if you're over 50 the amount is higher) into a Roth IRA, and the sooner you start investing in one, the better off you'll be come retirement.
 
Unlike a 401K plan that has stiff penalties if you withdraw the money before retirement age, you can take out the money you have invested (but not the interest it has earned) at any time without penalty. If the investor waits until age 59 ½, the entire amount can be withdrawn without ever paying a penny in tax to the IRS.
 
Roth IRA's are a smart investment. If you're ready to start investing in this flexible account, here's what you need to do.
 

1. Figure out where you are going to get the money. Not everyone has $4,000 sitting around waiting to invest. However, you don't need to invest the entire $4,000 at once or even invest that much each year. You can open an account with a small amount of money and then add every month.

   Many providers offer the option of directly withdrawing money from a bank account, so you can have them withdraw a set amount each time you get paid. Another option to consider is investing your tax refund as soon as you get it. Then continue to make monthly payments until you've reached the yearly investment limit.

2. Select a Roth IRA provider. There are many places you can go to open a Roth IRA.

   Banks - Many banks offer Roth IRA accounts with only minimal fees. Also, banks are usually the best place to invest if you only have a small amount of money to begin with because their minimum investment amount is usually lower than other providers. The downside to a bank is that when it comes time to choose how the money in your Roth IRA gets invested, the bank may not have as many options as other providers.

   Mutual Fund Companies - These companies allow you to open up a Roth IRA and then choose which of their mutual funds you would like to invest your money in. If you are diligent in keeping up with how the funds are performing, you can switch your money from one fund to another easily. Most people choose mutual fund companies to handle their Roth IRAs.

   Brokerage Firms - Brokerage firms offer what is called self-directed IRAs because you can choose exactly how you want the money to be invested. Basically, you choose your own investment portfolio. This option is good for those who are very savvy in the investment world.

3. Find out about any fees up front. Before choosing a provider, find out what fees are associated with your account. Some providers charge start-up fees, annual maintenance fees, fees for withdrawing your money or fees to transfer your money to another account. Compare the fees of a several providers before you choose to invest.
4. Choose a beneficiary for your account. Usually there will be a form that the provider gives you when you open your account asking for a beneficiary.  You have the opportunity to choose exactly who gets the account in the event that you die while the account is still open.