It never ceases to amaze me how many people don't take advantage of the generous benefits of estate planning with IRAs. Since 1954, the U.S. government has made it possible for people to open IRAs...or Individual Retirement Account in order to save money, build wealth and enjoy a break on their taxes...all at the same time. And the versatility that is built into these retirement savings plans means that an individual has a wide range of options for building a nest egg that won't crack.
Estate planning with IRAs may sound a little fancy, but anyone who earns a taxable income during the year can participate. You just have to decide which type of IRA is best suited for your personal financial situation, goals and needs. Here is a brief description of each IRA option.
Traditional IRA
In 2008, if you are under 50 years of age, you can contribute up to $5000 to a traditional IRA*. Your contributions are deducted from your taxable income for that year. Earnings made by the IRA are tax-deferred until they are withdrawn at retirement. At that time regular taxes would be due on any disbursements taken. Persons over the age of 50 can contribute up to $6000, with the same taxation rules.
Roth IRA
Contributions made to a Roth are also limited to $5000 for people under 50**. However, these contributions are made from earned income that has already been taxed. Furthermore, you are not allowed to deduct the contribution from your taxable income. The benefit from estate planning with IRAs of this type is that you would never be required to pay taxes on the profits earned with this plan. This means that when you reach retirement, you can withdraw up to the total amount of your contributions plus your earnings without having to pay taxes.
SEP IRA or Solo IRA
This is basically a Traditional IRA made available to self-employed individuals, and small business owners. For 2008, the maximum amount that can be contributed to a SEP plan is 25% of an employee's compensation, which is capped at a maximum of $230,000 (25%= $57,500). Taxation rules that apply to a Traditional IRA also apply to a SEP/Solo IRA.
SIMPLE IRA
If you want to do estate planning with IRAs through your employer, than a Simple IRA would be an option. Similar to a 401(k) plan, a Simple IRA allows both the employer and the employee to make contributions. Contributions to a Simple IRA have lower limits, but taxation rules remain the same. Employees may also be subject to meeting specific enrollment qualifications.
Self-Directed IRA
When it comes to estate planning with IRAs, a Self-Directed IRA offers you more flexibility and control over the types of investments you want to make. This is the "best of both worlds" for people who want to manage their own investment portfolio, but receive custodial assistance with record keeping, required report generation and federal regulation compliance. There are managing company's that specialize in this type of financial service. With the Self-Directed IRA you have the option of setting up either a Traditional or Roth IRA. The same funding and taxation rules apply.
Now that you know all this, what's stopping you from taking a simple step to make your money really work for you? The versatility, benefits and incentives for building a nest egg that won't crack are just too good to pass up. There are plenty of expert financial advisors you can consult to help direct you toward a plan that can meet your goals and needs. If you're interested in building wealth for retirement while saving taxes, then estate planning with IRAs is the way to go.
* Maximum contributions are subject to change from year to year.
**It is permissable to own both a Traditional and Roth IRA but the total combined contributions cannot exceed $5000 ($6000 for persons over 50).
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