Now is the Time to Invest for Your Retirement!

Yes, it's the time we've all been waiting for?tax season! We know you've gotten a jump start and filed early this year, right? Of course not, but rather than dreading this part of the year, we should all look to it as a point for new opportunities. Many readers don't realize that even though the New Year has come, they can invest money as if it were still 2004! That's correct, it's not too late. You can invest funds into your retirement account until April 15th, 2005 and have it count as if the contribution were made in 2004! Investors typically choose to take advantage of this through an Individual Retirement Account.

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are excellent plans to build retirement savings. Depending on the type of IRA that you choose, contributions can be tax deductible and grow tax deferred or even tax free. There are three types of retirement accounts that are commonly used to accomplish your retirement goals; the Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, and SEP-IRA. To make things even better, the IRS recently announced new maximums for qualified plans for contributions counting in 2005 as an added incentive to invest for your retirement.

The Traditional IRA- In 2004, the annual contribution limit was set at $3,000. However, this was raised to $4,000 for contributions that are counted in 2005. Contributions are fully tax deductible if you do not participate in an employer retirement plan. Single tax-payers who participate in an employer retirement plan must earn a gross income of no more than $50,000 to earn a full deduction. Investments grow tax deferred with earnings taxed only at withdrawal.

The Roth IRA- Annual contribution maximums are the same for both Traditional and Roth IRAs. Contributions to the Roth IRA are not tax deductible. However, contributions and earnings can be withdrawn free of tax and investors are not required to take minimum distributions after age 70 ½ as they would be under a Traditional IRA. Single investors must earn no more than $95,000 annually to be eligible for a full contribution.

The SEP-IRA- This plan is available to self employed individuals who normally do not fall into the low income category. These self employed individuals can contribute 20% of net income or $42,000, whichever is less. Similar to the Traditional IRA, contributions are tax deferred. However, the SEP-IRA allows participants to invest larger quantities toward retirement.

There is no better time than the present to begin planning for a financial stable retirement. To learn more about these opportunities or to begin investing for your retirement, contact scott@valueview.net and be sure to visit http://www.valueview.net

Scott Pearson is an investment advisor, writer, editor, instructor, and business leader. As President and Chief Investment Officer of Value View Financial Corp., he offers investment management services to a wide variety of clients. His own newsletter, Investor's Value View, is distributed worldwide and provides general money tips and investment advice to readers both internationally, and in the U.S.

http://www.valueview.net

---

Do You Need A Financial Planner?

No matter how much money you make, it pays to... Read More

Advice for International Investors on How to Safeguard Their Profits

What are the risks?Today, investors are increasingly turning to global... Read More

Find Your Investing Soulmate on the Jersey Turnpike

As a followup to a previous column, "Irreconcilable Differences," I... Read More

Rules of Simple IRA Your Business Needs to Know

A Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees plan, better known... Read More

The Perfect Mutual Fund

The Perfect Mutual Fund is the one you build yourself!The... Read More

Why You Need To Buy and Sell Gold Coins (Part 1)

The Value of Gold in a Era of Paper Assets,... Read More

The Difference Between Investing and Trading

Investing and Trading are not the same thing. The returns... Read More

Looking For a Safe Investment? Try a Certificate of Deposit

If you are looking for a safe investment and you... Read More

Time is Money and We Are Running Out of Both!

One of the fundamental principles of finance is the concept... Read More

Now is the Time to Invest for Your Retirement!

Yes, it's the time we've all been waiting for?tax season!... Read More

Dont Catch a Falling Knife

One of the most common mistakes made by inexperienced investors... Read More

It?s Never too Early to Start Investing!

Remember the old saying, "never too late to start"? Well,... Read More

Keeping It Interesting

Some lines from a movie never leave your mind; I... Read More

Makin The Sauce

Let's face it, you're on a roll. After getting down... Read More

How to Terror-Proof Your Money

"To drift is to be in hell, to be in... Read More

The Power of Small Numbers: Trading Success is Based on Consistency, Not Home Runs

Online trading is so seductive - just sit, click, and... Read More

Numismatics are for Collectors, Not Investors

As a precious metals investor, you may heard much about... Read More

Hedge Fund 101 - Make Money with Hedge Funds

Investors are always looking for the best investments that will... Read More

Franchise Opportunity Sellers Beware; franchise buyers lie on forms?

It seems completely absurd that franchise buyers lie about their... Read More

Critical Options Investing Tip When Trading Naked Calls and Puts

An option is a derivative trading product that is best... Read More

Holy Grail Investments

Every year I go to the Money Show in Orlando,... Read More

Selecting Rules for Investing and Trading

There are three important differences between investing and trading. Overlooking... Read More

Investing for Retirement - Not an All or Nothing Play

In 1519, Hernando Cortes, beached on the shores of unexplored... Read More

Can Using Sales Leaseback Method of Investment Property Acquisition Reduce Risk?

Sales Leaseback compared to traditional property investmentCan a Sales Leaseback... Read More

High Volatility Investments

Penny stocks and options are high volatility investments that attract... Read More

Profitability And Stock Turn Rate

The inventory of the typical store represents the largest single... Read More

Stock Market Retirement Investment Plan

For a successful retirement investment plan to work in the... Read More

Have Analysts Gotten Honest?

It caught my attention when I heard an analyst on... Read More

The Myth of the Earnings Yield

AbstractA very slim minority of firms distribute dividends. This truism... Read More

Trading Systems

A trading system consists of a set of rules for... Read More

How Do I Start Investing Online and What Are Some Basic Tips?

If you are new to investing online, don't put your... Read More

Chinas Inscrutable Currency Strategy

Purpose: Expose Opportunities for Smart InvestorsThe move by China's central... Read More

Investing In Sons Business Could Cause A Real Family Feud

Q: My youngest son wants to borrow $5,000 to start... Read More