Traditional IRA
News, insights and expert analysis on traditional ira from the team at Kiplinger.
The traditional IRA is one of the best options in the retirement-savings toolbox. You can open a traditional IRA at a bank or a brokerage, and the universe of investments is wide open to you. But with that freedom comes responsibility. Traditional IRAs have a lot of rules — break one and you could face a penalty. If you'd like to know more about IRAs, start with our beginner's guide: everything you should know about traditional IRAs then work your way through our other features and guides on smart strategies to ensure you can end up with a sizable chunk of change down the road.
Latest
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The Average IRA Balance by Age and Generation
You may have a higher IRA balance than your peers at the end of 2025 if you made smart decisions all the way back in 2022. Here's how to do it again.
By Adam Shell
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How Alternatives and Self-Directed Investing Reshape the IRA
Investors are exploring self-directed IRAs where they can hold traditional and alternative investments in one account.
By Adam Bergman
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Safe or Seizable?: The IRA & Bankruptcy Protection Quiz
Quiz Depending on the type of IRA you own and/or how you inherited it, your "safe" money might actually be on the table for creditors.
By Donna LeValley
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How IRAs Impact Social Security
Do your traditional IRA distributions count as income that could lower your Social Security benefits? It depends.
By Tom Taulli
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IRA Conversion to Roth: Rules to Convert an IRA or 401(k) to a Roth IRA
An IRA conversion can give you a leg-up in retirement with tax-free income. But proceed with caution.
By Maurie Backman
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Should You Convert a Traditional IRA to a Roth After 60?
retirement You can convert an IRA to a Roth no matter how old you are. But if the conversion boosts your income, it could have tax consequences.
By Kimberly Lankford
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The $3,000 Retirement Mistake Millions Make Each Year (And How to Avoid It)
A little oversight or automation can keep money in your pocket.
By Donna Fuscaldo
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I'm retiring with $2.6 million. I'm worried about RMDs and taxes.
We asked professional wealth planners for advice.
By Maurie Backman
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IRA, SIMPLE and SEP Rules at a Glance: Contribution Limits, Income Limits and Rollover Options for 2025 and 2026
Here are IRA contribution limits, income limits and rollover rules for Roth, traditional, SIMPLE and SEP IRAs at a glance.
By Donna LeValley
