How to Set Up an Individual Retirement Account

An Individual Retirement Account, known as an IRA, is a personal savings account. It is for anyone who is earning money and reporting what he or she has earned. IRAs earn compound interest and savings on taxes until withdrawn. It doesn't take very long to open an account, so you'll want to set up an IRA to accrue money you can live off when you retire.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Choose the type of retirement account for you. You may elect a traditional IRA or a Roth IRA. A traditional IRA defers taxes until retirement. A Roth IRA offers a tax-free retirement income, since you pay taxes on it when you contribute. Other options include a SIMPLE IRA, Trust Account or group IRA, Individual Retirement Annuity, Rollover IRA, Inherited IRA and an Education IRA.

2. Find out and understand the rules of an IRA. Know the rules of contributions, distributions and the exceptions. You can start receiving distributions at age 59½ and you must start taking your distributions by April 1 after your reach 70½. You cannot make any contributions after age 70½.

3. Compare the IRA products available. Find out the commissions and brokerage fees charged. When you shop around, ask questions. You want to find out if they require a forced distribution from the IRA. If you have more than one account, you may want to take the distribution from one account only.

4. Make a deposit with an IRS-approved custodian. This includes a bank, savings and loan, mutual fund, insurance company, stockbroker or employer. You may only use cash to open an IRA account.

5. Decide what types of investments to make within your IRA account. Consider stocks, mutual finds or an index fund. Research your options. Talk to a financial professional for more ideas.

6. Keep your IRAs manageable. Organize your IRAs if you have several accounts. You need to keep track of your distribution deadlines.

7. Leave your money in a retirement account when you leave your job. Early withdrawal earns a 10 percent penalty, but you can transfer an old 401K from your last employer into an IRA or into your new employer's plan.

Tips & Warnings

• The IRS publishes the fixed dollar amount you can contribute to an IRA every year in the current tax instructions.
• With a SEP IRA, an employer can contribute to their employees IRA and it is deductible by the employer. This is a Simplified Employee Pension Individual Retirement Account for self-employed persons.
• You will need to name a beneficiary and will want to keep a beneficiary form. See if you can split your IRAs and have different beneficiaries on different accounts. See if your institutions allows your beneficiary to move an inherited IRA to another financial institution.
• Find out about your IRA custodians default provisions. You may choose to have it default to your spouse or children instead of your estate.
• In an IRA, you will not pay capital gains taxes on trades within the fund. Be aware that mutual funds charge management fees of around 1.5 percent.
• If you neglect to take money out at 70½, the IRS will take 50 percent of what you should have withdrawn.