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Home Individual Retirement Account 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.

Background on Individual Retirement Accounts
  • Focus on Funds: An End-of-Summer Checkup for Your Long-Term Savings
    Aug 28, 2020
  • Ten Important Facts About IRAs (pdf)
    May 15, 2020
  • Focus on Funds: Boost Your Family’s Savings with a Spousal Individual Retirement Account
    May 8, 2020
  • Focus on Funds: Maximize Your Tax Savings with Individual Retirement Accounts
    Apr 3, 2020
  • Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs): FAQs
    Apr 1, 2020
  • Focus on Funds: 45 Years of Savings Success with Individual Retirement Accounts
    Dec 20, 2019
  • Ten Important Facts About Roth IRAs (pdf)
    Oct 29, 2018
  • The Individual Retirement Account at Age 30: A Retrospective (pdf)
    Feb 11, 2005
Research and Statistics
  • The Role of IRAs in US Households’ Saving for Retirement, 2020 (pdf)
    Jan 12, 2021
  • Quarterly Retirement Market Data
    Jun 17, 2020
  • The Role of IRAs in US Households’ Saving for Retirement, 2019 (pdf)
    Dec 11, 2019
  • ICI Survey Shows Most Traditional IRA–Owning Households Have Planned Retirement Strategy
    Dec 11, 2019
  • The IRA Investor Profile: Traditional IRA Investors’ Activity, 2007–2016 (pdf)
    Sep 18, 2018
  • The IRA Investor Profile: Roth IRA Investors’ Activity, 2007–2016 (pdf)
    Sep 18, 2018
  • The IRA Investor Profile
  • IRA Investor Research
Recent Comment Letters and Statements
  • A Spousal IRA May Be the Best Gift You Can Give Your Non-Working Husband or Wife
    Feb 6, 2020
  • Invest in Your Future Through an IRA
    Mar 13, 2018
  • Focus on Funds: Tax Time Can Be a Great Time to Open an IRA
    Mar 9, 2018
  • Three Reasons Why You Should Consider an IRA
    Mar 8, 2016
  • IRA Rollovers Serve Investors Well
    Apr 12, 2013
Other Resources
  • IRS Publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business
  • IRS Information on Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
  • FINRA: 401(k) Rollovers
Note: ICI does not necessarily endorse or agree with the views or information presented on the third-party websites linked to above.

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