Contribute to an IRA for Your Spouse

Boost retirement savings by opening and funding an account for a non-working spouse.

I recently read that, in addition to contributing to your own Roth IRA, you may be able to contribute to a Roth IRA for your spouse, regardless of whether he or she earns any income. Is this true, and are there any restrictions due to income?

It is true. A spousal IRA can be a great way for families with a stay-at-home parent to boost their retirement savings. It's also a good way to keep saving if one spouse has already retired but the other continues to work.

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Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.