Types of SDIRAs

Tax-Advantaged Retirement Savings

Your options are nearly endless when it comes to how to grow your retirement portfolio. Unlike a traditional savings account, an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) is one of several retirement savings vehicles that provide tax incentives, like tax-deferred or even tax-free growth, to encourage saving for retirement.

 

Traditional IRA

A Traditional IRA gives individuals the opportunity to direct pretax income towards investments that can grow tax-deferred. Another plus is that no capital gains or dividend income is taxed until it is withdrawn. STRATA gives you access to a wide array of investment opportunities through a self-directed Traditional IRA, which makes it a great complement to a conventional Roth or Traditional IRA. Many investors choose to have multiple IRAs as a way to truly diversify their portfolios.


Traditional IRA features:

Annual tax deductible contributions are based on income level.

Withdrawals can begin at age 59½ and are mandatory by age 72 (70½ if you attained age 70½ before 2020).

The SECURE Act enabled contributions for 2020 or later regardless of age.

Funds withdrawn before age 59½ are subject to a 10% penalty unless an exception applies.

Taxes are paid on earnings when withdrawn from the IRA.

Traditional IRAs may be converted to Roth IRAs by paying income taxes (but no tax penalties) on the IRA distribution before rolling over to a Roth IRA, regardless of income limits.

Before making contributions, be sure to know the limits that apply.

IRA Annual Limits

Roth IRA

A Roth IRA gives you the opportunity to set aside after-tax income up to a specified amount each year. Earnings on the account and withdrawals are tax-free after age 59½.


Roth IRA features:

Annual contributions to a Roth IRA are not tax deductible, and eligibility depends on income level.

All earnings and principal are 100% tax-free as long as you follow the IRS rules.

Annual contributions to a Roth IRA may be made at any age (based on income) as long as you have earned income. See our IRA Annual Limits Chart below.

Mandatory withdrawal or distributions at any age is not required

Principal contributions can be withdrawn any time without penalty as long as the required five-year holding period is met.

Traditional, SIMPLE and SEP IRAs may all be converted to Roth IRAs by paying income taxes (but no tax penalties) on the IRA distribution before rolling over to a Roth IRA, regardless of income limits.

Before making contributions, be sure to know the limits that apply.

IRA Annual Limits

Traditional IRA vs. Roth IRA

Explore how self-directing an IRA enables investors the flexibility to build a powerful investment strategy. Which IRA is Right for You takes a deeper dive into IRA options available for individuals and business owners. You can also use our Roth vs Traditional IRA Calculator to see which IRA might be better for your specific situation. Below are some key differences between Traditional and Roth IRAs:

 

Traditional

  • Annual contributions are tax-deductible
  • Mandatory withdrawal by April 1 of the year following the year you reach age 72 (age 70½ if you attained age 70½ before 2020)
  • Taxes are paid on earnings when withdrawn from the IRA
  • Funds withdrawn before age 59½ are subject to a 10% penalty

Roth

  • Annual contributions are not tax-deductible
  • Mandatory withdrawal or distributions at any age is not required
  • Earnings and principal are tax-free as long as you follow the IRS rules
  • Principal contributions can be withdrawn any time without penalty as long as the required five-year holding period is met

SEP IRA

SEP is an acronym for Simplified Employee Plan and is a retirement plan that’s established by an employer. An SEP IRA permits employers to make deductible contributions which are made to a Traditional IRA.


SEP IRA features:

Employers can choose how much they want to contribute to an SEP in any given year, with a contribution limit of up to 25% of earned income.

SEPs can be opened by any type of business entity, including a sole proprietorship, a corporation or a partnership with up to 100 employees. In the case of sole proprietorships, the business owner is considered the employee for plan purposes.

With an SEP plan, each eligible employee has their own IRA account associated with the SEP.

Each year employers can choose whether or not to fund the account, depending on the business cycle that year.

If an employer makes a contribution for themselves, they must also make a contribution for all eligible employees.

Once funded, SEP contributions are 100% vested.

Before making contributions, be sure to know the limits that apply.

IRA Annual Limits

SIMPLE IRA

SIMPLE is an acronym for Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE). A SIMPLE IRA allows employers to plan for their employees’ retirement and their own.


SIMPLE IRA features:

Specifically designed for small businesses with 100 or fewer employees

If your business exceeds the 100-employee limit, you can be eligible to continue the plan for up to two years

Employees can make salary-reduced contributions and receive matching contributions from their employer

Employers are required to match the employee's contributions up to 3%

Employers may also decide to make a non-elective contribution to all eligible employees' accounts rather than making matching contributions

Once SIMPLE IRAs are funded, the account is 100% vested to the employee

Before making contributions, be sure to know the limits that apply.

IRA Annual Limits

SEP IRA vs. SIMPLE IRA

Explore how self-directing an IRA enables investors the flexibility to build a powerful investment strategy. Which IRA is Right for You takes a deeper dive into IRA options available for individuals and business owners.

Below are a few key differences between SIMPLE and SEP IRAs:

SEP IRA:

  • Best suited for smaller family-owned businesses or businesses with no employees
  • Accounts can be opened by any type of business entity
  • Employers can choose to fund or not to fund the account each year
  • Once the account is funded, it is 100% vested to the employee

SIMPLE IRA:

  • Best suited for small businesses with 100 or fewer employees
  • Accounts can only be opened by certain types of business entities
  • Employers are required to match the employee’s contributions up to 3%
  • Once the account is funded, it is 100% vested to the employee

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