An Individual Retirement Account or IRA provides tax advantages to investors saving for retirement. While employer sponsored qualified plans are often the first choice, the annual contribution limits mean that its very common to max out the contributions. This is where IRA's offer an attractive option, with tax benefits and investment options. There are a wide variety of IRA's available, each with its own advantages and each suitable under different circumstances. The IRS also has comprehensive guielines for financial organizations offering individual retirement accounts.

The articles below explain the basic types of IRA's and their differences, compare IRA's with other retirement plans and detail how best you can take advantage of the various tax benefits offered by an IRA.