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Individual Retirement Account (IRA) Resource Center

In 1974, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) created individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Congress designed traditional IRAs originally to have two roles: first, to give individuals not covered by retirement plans at work a tax-advantaged savings plan, and second, to play a complementary role to the employer-sponsored retirement system by preserving rollover assets at job change or retirement. Since then, policymakers have introduced new types of IRAs and changed rules surrounding IRAs. IRAs have helped millions of US households save for retirement.

IRAs Play an Increasingly Important Role in Saving for Retirement

Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) represented 35 percent of US total retirement market at year-end 2023, compared to 24 percent two decades ago.

Background on Individual Retirement Accounts

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Research

Ten Important Facts About IRAs (pdf)

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Research

Ten Important Facts About Roth IRAs (pdf)

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Video

Focus on Funds: An End-of-Summer Checkup for Your Long-Term Savings

Now is the perfect time to ensure your long-term savings are on track with a helpful checklist from...

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Comment Letters and Statements

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Comment Letter

ICI Comment Letter on the Proposed Regulations on RMDs

September 17, 2024—ICI sent a comment letter to the IRS and Treasury, responding to the notice of...
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Comment Letter

ICI Comment Letter on the Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary

The Investment Company Institute submitted a comment to the Department of Labor (the “Department”)...
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Comment Letter

ICI Submits Additional Comments on DOL's Proposed Amendments to the QPAM Exemption

The Investment Company Institute (ICI) writes to reiterate our significant concerns with the...

Other Resources

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