Author : Xavier Johnson
Yes, I know you want to have a lot of money at some point in the future. You want to be financially independent so you can have the freedom to go do the things that are most important to you. Well, guess what? You can have that kind of lifestyle. But, the fact that you don't have a plan in place to make sure you reach that goal is your stumbling block to obtaining this financial future. So, let me help you get started by sharing with you one powerful tool you can use to get the money you want so you'll end up living the lifestyle you desire.Please understand that what I am going to share with you may sound great, but it may not be the appropriate thing for you to do. There are a number of ways for you to get the money you want. You need to consult with a financial professional to determine if what I'm sharing with you is appropriate for your situation. With that being said, let's go forward.Let me share with you what I believe to be one of the best opportunities there is to having a lot of money and enjoying it tax free. It's called the Roth Individual Retirement Account (or Roth IRA). The account is easy to get and is loaded with numerous benefits that protect your interests. Your bank probably offers this kind of account. But, make sure the bank is offering a complete solution that addresses critical issues such as debt, insurance, emergency funds, and investments. If the bank does not, then you are better served by going to a financial professional who does. So, what's so good about a Roth IRA? Well, let me share with you the numerous benefits.If you have fixed investments in your Roth IRA, then your investment gains will compound over time. Compounding is a process that allows your money to make more money at an accelerated rate. It automatically reinvests your gains back into the assets that generated those gains in the first place. Given enough time this process will repeat itself several times, resulting in a lot of money. Albert Einstein said that compounding is the most powerful force in the universe. So, why not use the lessons of a brilliant man to supercharge your financial future?An amazing feature of the Roth IRA is that as long as the account is at least 5 years old you get to withdraw all that money tax-free when you turn 59½. Imagine getting paid $5,000 per month and not having to pay taxes on it. Don't you think you could eat out a little more? In addition, once the Roth IRA is five years old, the IRS permits tax-free and penalty-free withdrawals of investment gains to pay for expenses related to disability, death, and a first time home purchase. (Withdrawals of investment gains for a home purchase are limited to $10,000.) So, when either a first-time home purchase comes your way, or when keeping the effects of a disability at bay, your best friend could be your Roth IRA. (Hey, I guess I'm a poet, and didn't know it!)I think the best feature of the Roth IRA is how sensitive it is to your needs. If you have an unexpected expense that comes up, there's no problem! You can at any time withdraw up to the amount of your contributions without incurring taxes or penalties. For example, let's say there's $14,000 in your Roth IRA, but, you've only put $9,000 in it over the last 3 years. Well, you can withdraw that $9,000 less any sales charges at any time for any reason without incurring taxes or penalties. This is because your annual Roth IRA contributions are nondeductible, and this feature gives you the flexibility you need to weather the financial challenges that come your way.Furthermore, with a Roth IRA you get to choose who gets the money in your account when you die. This means you can pass the money down to your children. When your kids are old enough to withdraw funds from the account, they'll be able to do so tax-free. This is a great way to ensure your financial legacy gets passed down to your heirs.Okay, so let's say you like the Roth IRA, and you want to get one. Well, the next step is to determine if you are eligible to make contributions into one. Yes, there has been a catch all along. But, before you start pouting, let me share with you what the eligibility requirements are. In general, if you are single with an adjusted gross income (AGI) of less than $110,000, or if you are married with a combined AGI of less than $160,000, then you are eligible to make at least partial contributions into a Roth IRA each year. Here is the breakdown of eligibility:SingleFull Contribution if AGI is $95,000 or less
Partial Contribution if AGI is between $95,001 and $110,000Married (Filing Jointly)
Full Contribution if AGI is $150,000 or less
Partial Contribution if AGI is $150,000 and $160,000Maximum Contribution Limit
2005 to 2007 $4,000
2008 $5,000Future years will be indexed for inflation.The eligibility requirements make it relatively easy to qualify for making contributions to a Roth IRA, because most people don't make such large amounts of money. But, even though you are eligible to contribute to a Roth IRA, that doesn't mean it's the right choice for you. There are other considerations you need to make. You need to decide what your overall investment objectives are, assess your current situation, and determine what your time frame for retirement is. As an example, let's say your situation is one in which you already contribute to a 401(k) or a 403(b) retirement plan at your job, and either the company you work for doesn't match your contributions, or your company has reached its limit in its matching contributions. Under this circumstance it is appropriate for you to consider contributing additional money to a Roth IRA instead of the 401(k) or 403(b). You'll get greater flexibility. The money you withdraw at 59½ or older will be tax-free. And you'll enjoy even more money at retirement. The decision to open a Roth IRA totally depends upon the unique factors to your situation. That's why it's so important for you to consult with your financial professional NOW before making the decision.If you have a habit of putting things off until later, then let met tell you something: your habit of putting things off till later is lethal to the kind of lifestyle you desire. It will literally steal your dreams out from under you. Let me illustrate. Let's say you're 30 years old, and you plan to retire at 63. And let's say that you want an income of $4,500 per month, tax-free at retirement. Your financial professional reviews your case and says you need to contribute $215 per month into a ROTH IRA right NOW in order for you to achieve your goal. But, for some reason you waited until you were 34 to follow this advice. Here's what has happened to you: In order for you at 34 years of age to get an income of $4,500 per month at retirement, you now have to contribute $330 per month into a ROTH IRA, AND you have to wait until you are 66 years old to have that kind of money rolling in. At 34 years of age, retiring at 63 would only bring in $3,900 per month. Ouch! You do not want to make this kind of mistake, and this is why you need to determine right NOW if a Roth IRA is appropriate for you.Even though I've stressed the importance of consulting with professionals to determine what's appropriate for your situation, there's something you should know. You may come across financial planners and advisors who won't work with you unless you already have a lot of money. If this happens, don't fret because there are other professionals who will work with almost anyone, even if you're on a very modest income. So, you just have to ask around. Besides, financial independence doesn't just come walking up to you. You've got to diligently seek and carefully plan for it.Now, listen to me my friends. Don't let the time you took to read this article end up being a complete waste of your time. If you do nothing, it will have been a waste of time. And if you do nothing, you'll have a very sad retirement.
Copyright © 2006. All rights reserved.Get a licensed financial professional to show you how to get the lifestyle you desire. Just register at Xavier's website at www.plan2wealth.com and take advantage of this FREE service. It's private, confidential, and there's no obligation. Time slots are always limited, so register NOW!
Category : Finance:Wealth-Building
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