That’s right—I’m talking about a Roth IRA.

Maybe you’ve heard about these retirement savings accounts, but you haven’t had time to discover if they’re a good option for you. I’m going to answer the most common questions about Roth IRAs and show you how this investing account can turbocharge your wealth building over time.

1. What Is a Roth IRA?

A Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is a retirement savings account that allows you to pay taxes on the money you put into it up front. The growth in your Roth IRA and any withdrawals you make after age 59 1/2 are tax-free, as long as you’ve had the account more than five years.

Because you pay taxes on the front end with a Roth IRA, you don’t owe them in retirement.

If you want to contribute to a Roth IRA, you must open and maintain it outside of your employer-sponsored retirement savings plan.

2. What Are the Benefits of a Roth IRA?

The Roth IRA has some serious benefits.

Let’s start with the tax impact. When you make contributions post-tax, that means you’ve already paid taxes on the money you set aside for retirement. That helps your retirement savings go a lot further! Here’s why:

1. The money you invest in your Roth IRA grows tax-free.
2. You won’t owe taxes when you withdraw your money in retirement.

So, if your account grows by hundreds of thousands of dollars over time, you won’t owe taxes when you withdraw that money in retirement! That’s a huge perk, especially for folks who expect to be in a higher tax bracket when they retire. Talk about a win!

Here are a few more benefits of a Roth IRA:

• You’re not required to take distributions at a certain age, unlike the traditional IRA (which requires withdrawals beginning at age 70 1/2).
• You can keep contributing to your Roth IRA if you choose to work past retirement age, as long as your income still falls within the income limits.
• You can choose beneficiaries to inherit your account, and they will be able to withdraw funds tax-free as well.

3. Roth IRA vs. Traditional IRA: How Do They Compare?

That’s a great question. The main difference between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA is how they are taxed. Take a look at a side-by-side comparison:

4. Am I Eligible for a Roth IRA?

Do you earn income? Then, yes. You’re eligible. However, you can’t contribute more than you make. So, if your 19-year-old son or daughter earned an income of $3,000 waiting tables over the summer, they can only contribute up to $3,000 to a Roth IRA. It’s also okay for you to contribute the $3,000 on their behalf.¹

Another perk: There are no age restrictions with Roth IRAs. As long as you’re earning income, you can contribute—even after age 70 1/2, unlike a traditional IRA.

5. What are the 2019 Contribution Limits?

For 2019, the total amount you can contribute to either a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA is $6,000—or $7,000 if you’re age 50 or older.²

6. Are there Income Restrictions?

You knew there had to be a catch! A Roth IRA offers some great tax benefits, but it’s not available for people with high incomes.

Income Restrictions If Single

According to the Internal Revenue Service, single tax filers must have a modified adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $122,000 to contribute the maximum amount of $6,000 ($7,000 if age 50 or older) to a Roth IRA.³

What if you make more than $122,000? If your AGI is between $122,000 and $137,000, you can still contribute, but it must be a reduced amount. Once you’re making more than $137,000 as a single filer, you aren’t eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA.⁴

Income Restrictions If Married Filing Jointly

Married couples filing jointly must have a modified AGI of less than $193,000 to be able to contribute up to the limit for a Roth IRA. After that, you may qualify to make reduced contributions if your AGI is between $193,000 and $203,000.

If you have an AGI of $203,000 or higher, you’re not eligible to make Roth IRA contributions.⁵

If your income exceeds the eligibility limits, good for you—but bad for your ability to open a Roth IRA. You won’t be able to stash your cash in a Roth IRA, but a traditional IRA might be an option. Tax benefits for traditional IRAs have different eligibility requirements, so check with your investing pro to see if it’s a good choice for you.

If you’re self-employed, here’s another option: Establish a Simplified Employee Pension (SEP) plan. Or, if you run a small company, consider a simple IRA that will allow you and your employees to save for retirement.

7. Can I Set Up a Roth IRA for My Spouse Who Doesn’t Work?

Yes. If you file a joint income tax return and have a taxable income, you can both contribute to your own separate Roth IRAs. But the IRS income-eligibility limits still apply.

Let’s say 40-year-old John makes $150,000 and his wife, Kate, stays home with their kids. John and Kate can each contribute the maximum amount of $6,000 for a total of two accounts. However, if John makes $8,000 a year and contributes the max amount of $6,000 to his IRA, his nonworking spouse can only contribute $2,000 because they can’t contribute more than their earned income amount.

8. Is a Roth IRA the Same Thing as a Roth 401(k)?

No. But both accounts are taxed the same way. Adding the word Roth to the name of either savings plan means the money you contribute will be taxed up front, will grow tax-free, and can be withdrawn tax-free after age 59 1/2.

Roth 401(k) plans are sponsored by employers. If you receive an employer match on your Roth 401(k), the match is not tax-favored. That means the growth from your employer’s match will be taxed when you withdraw your funds in retirement.

You can contribute to both a Roth IRA and a Roth 401(k) at the same time. Remember, contribution limits will still apply to the Roth IRA.

9. How Do I Set Up a Roth IRA?

The best way to open a Roth IRA is with the help of an investing professional who will meet with you face-to-face. Before you meet with your investing pro, you’ll need to gather some information and fill out the application. Here’s what you should have on hand in order to open your account:

• Your driver’s license or other form of photo identification
• Your Social Security number
• Your bank’s routing number and your checking or savings account number
• Your employer’s name and address

As part of the process of opening a Roth IRA, you’ll also choose a beneficiary (or beneficiaries) who could inherit your account. You’ll need their name, Social Security number and date of birth.

Next, you can make your initial deposit and/or set up automatic contributions. You’ll be able to open your Roth IRA with a lump sum up to the annual limit. Or you may choose to deduct a specific amount from your bank account each month. You can actually do both as long as you don’t exceed the contribution limit for that year.

10. What Should My Roth IRA Be Invested In?

You can invest in almost anything through your Roth IRA, but we recommend mutual funds because they have the potential to help you build wealth over time—especially with a Roth IRA’s tax benefits.

Many mutual fund companies will allow you to start a Roth IRA with as little as $50, so there’s no need to put off opening your account until you have enough money to start investing.

11. How Do I Maintain My Roth IRA?

Once you choose the mutual funds for your Roth IRA, it’s important to stick with them for the long haul. Don’t get spooked when the market ebbs and flows. The value of your Roth IRA will rise and fall with the stock market, but over its lifetime, you should see a steady growth trend. Just continue making regular contributions and stick with it despite possible market changes.

Over 30 years, if you invest the annual max of $6,000 into a Roth IRA, it could grow to $1.3 million. The best part is, your contributions would only total $180,000, and the rest—$1.1 million—would be growth.

Those numbers can change depending on how much you invest, how long you have until retirement, and what you expect your annual return to be. You can use our investing calculator to customize those details for your own financial situation.

I’m Ready to Start! Now what?

Opening a Roth IRA is as easy as opening a checking account. The best way to get started is to contact an investing professional who can guide you through the set-up process.

If you don’t have a financial professional, reach out to a SmartVestor Pro in your area who is committed to educating and empowering you to make the best decisions possible for your retirement future.

Find your pro!

About Chris Hogan

Chris Hogan is a #1 national bestselling author, dynamic speaker, and financial expert. For more than a decade, Hogan has served at Ramsey Solutions, spreading a message of hope to audiences across the country as a financial coach and Ramsey Personality. Hogan challenges and equips people to take control of their money and reach their financial goals through national TV appearances, The Chris Hogan Show, and live events across the nation. His second book, Everyday Millionaires: How Ordinary People Built Extraordinary Wealth—and How You Can Too, is based on the largest study of net-worth millionaires ever conducted. You can follow Hogan on Twitter and Instagram at @ChrisHogan360, and online at chrishogan360.com or facebook.com/chrishogan360.

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