As with any investment, people are worried they might lose money in the process. This article will take a deep look at Roth IRAs and whether potential investors are in danger of losing their money.
What Is a Roth IRA?
A Roth IRA is an individual retirement account in which money grows tax-free. In other words, investors pay taxes on money that goes into the account to make tax-free withdrawals in the future, as long as the withdrawals are qualified. Therefore, the Roth IRA could be a suitable choice for those who are going to pay higher taxes in retirement.
Can People Lose Money in a Roth IRA?
The short answer is yes. People can lose money in a Roth IRA. However, there’s always an element of risk when it comes to investments. That’s why people prefer to spread their investments across different types of stock. That way, they diversify their portfolio between more steady and predictable investments and high-risk ones.
How Can I Lose Money in a Roth IRA?
Roth IRA investors can lose money for several reasons, such as market volatility and withdrawal penalties. While investors can avoid some of them, others can’t be controlled, no matter how much they try. So, before investing in a Roth IRA, people need to understand the risks that might affect their bottom line.
Withdraw Penalties
When investing in a Roth IRA, the biggest mistake someone can make is withdrawing the money before retirement age. Doing that will add up to a 10% fee for the transaction. But, if the investor goes into a hardship withdrawal, they might avoid paying any penalties.
Still, the penalty depends on the context, so reading the IRA rules on Roth IRAs can help to understand better how withdrawals work. Or check with a financial consultant before making any moves with the money.
Market Volatility
Any investor’s primary concern is market fluctuations. To put it simply, if the market goes down and someone wants to withdraw at that moment, they will lose some money. When that happens, it’s best to wait as long as possible before making any withdrawals.
Another thing Roth investors can do to avoid the impact of market volatility is to diversify their Roth IRA investments. Keep in mind not all market volatility can be avoided via diversification. Why is diversification advised? Because, by investing in various markets and companies, people can potentially offset some market volatility.
It’s also important to remember that the purpose of a Roth IRA is to have tax-free money after retirement. If someone is investing for other purposes, a Roth IRA might not be the best option.
Investing Too Late
It should come as no surprise that the earlier someone invests for their retirement, the better. In fact, the key to a successful Roth IRA investment is to let it grow for decades before withdrawing. While it’s impossible to tell how much money an investor can lose or gain at a particular moment.
Therefore, people need to be patient with their Roth IRA investments. Although it is hard, especially if that money is necessary, it’s always worth having a well-funded retirement to live comfortably in the future.
Is Roth IRA a Safe Investment?
For starters, it allows people to grow tax-free money, which can help in the future. Additionally, while all types of investments are risky, with a Roth IRA, people can invest in diversified funds to potentially mitigate some market risk. It would be best to learn how much money to put in the Roth IRA monthly.
Although there’s no way to tell if an investment will be profitable, it would be wise to first check with a financial advisor team, like the Kelley Financial Group. Not only will they analyze a client’s portfolio and come up with potential investments, but they’ll also help provide strategies to provide strategies to potentially address market volatility—that's why financial advisors need to see their clients' tax returns. And, with affordable prices based on personal needs and expectations, clients have nothing to lose when requesting the help of this professional team.
A Roth IRA offers tax deferral on any earnings in the account. Qualified withdrawals of earnings from the account are tax-free. Withdrawals of earning prior to age 59 ½ or prior to the account being opened 5 years, whichever is later, may result in a 10% IRS penalty tax. Limitations and restrictions may apply.
There is no guarantee that a diversified portfolio will enhance overall returns or outperform a non-diversified portfolio. Diversification does not protect against market risk.
Content in this material is for general information only and not intended to provide specific advice or recommendations for any individual. This information is not intended to be a substitute for specific individualized tax, legal, or investment related advice. We suggest that you discuss your specific situation with a qualified tax or legal advisor.
This material was prepared for The Kelley Financial Group.