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 DataJun 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 IRAMar 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 IRAMar 8, 2016
- IRA Rollovers Serve Investors WellApr 12, 2013
Other Resources
- IRS Publication 560, Retirement Plans for Small Business
- IRS Information on Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs)
- FINRA: 401(k) Rollovers

Copyright © 2021 by the Investment Company Institute