IRAs let you build your portfolio while enjoying tax advantages. However, if you pick the wrong IRA, you can end up losing money in the long run due to fees and limited investing options. Then, you have to go through the cumbersome process of moving your funds from one IRA to another.
Picking a solid IRA the first time allows you to focus on building wealth and living your life instead of dealing with unnecessary hurdles. Here’s what you should look for when comparing IRAs — including types of IRAs that could wreck your savings.
Keep It Simple
You don’t have to go with new financial institutions or ones that offer complex products. Kyle Chapman, licensed fiduciary at Asset Preservation Wealth & Tax, offers a quick summary of which IRAs are the most competitive.
“Stick to the big names like Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard,” Chapman said.
The largest brokerage firms usually provide the best financial products and the lowest prices. They also tend to have easy setups and reliable customer support. You will save a lot of time in your research by going with one of these three giants and potentially a lot of money as well.
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Red Flags When Comparing IRAs
While the three brokerage leaders offer some of the best products, their IRAs may not offer a suitable level of customization for each customer. Comparing IRAs can still be advantageous if you want a more nuanced experience, such as the ability to trade crypto and private market positions.
Investors who want to explore additional options should avoid key red flags and narrow their search. John Jones, certified financial planner (CFP), enrolled agent (EA) and investment advisor representative at Heritage Financial, laid out some of the telltale signs of IRAs that can hurt your finances.
“When evaluating an IRA, investors should consider fees, investment flexibility and access to additional resources. The lack thereof can, in essence, be a red flag in my opinion. Fees are only a problem in the absence of value and excessively high fees for the value provided relative to similar products can be a red flag,” Jones said.
Jones also advocated for IRAs that give investors more asset choices. Too many assets can result in higher fees, but you don’t want to feel restricted, either.
“Another item is investment flexibility, just meaning how free the investor is to implement their capital most applicable to their financial situation. The products available within an IRA vary widely from CDs, stocks, bonds, mutual funds, ETFs, options contracts, bitcoin ETFs, gold, annuities and much more. There are some custodial tradeoffs in product availability, but nonetheless, having a lack of products can raise concern,” Jones said.
What Makes a Good IRA?
After listing the red flags of a bad IRA, Jones highlighted some of the things to look for when you search for an IRA. He focused on reasonable fees and long-term financial goals.
“I like to consider practical fees and investment flexibility as provisions I look for in a decent IRA. Transparency is important to determine how fees and investment options are factored into one’s greater financial plan. Further, considering how the service quality and integration of the IRA into the individual’s larger financial plan are important. For example, knowing the IRA custodian allows the flexibility to perform Roth conversions or qualified charitable distributions, which are important for long-term, holistic financial planning.”
Charles Schwab, Fidelity and Vanguard will check off most investors’ boxes. However, it is worth exploring more IRAs to find the best deals or ones that let you invest in alternative assets. Just make sure the fees are reasonable and the IRA aligns with your long-term financial goals.
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This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com: These Types of IRAs Could Wreck Your Retirement Savings by 2030, Experts Warn
