In 1974, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) created individual retirement accounts (IRAs). Congress designed traditional IRAs originally to have two roles: first, to give individuals not covered by retirement plans at work a tax-advantaged savings plan, and second, to play a complementary role to the employer-sponsored retirement system by preserving rollover assets at job change or retirement. Since then, policymakers have introduced new types of IRAs and changed rules surrounding IRAs. IRAs have helped millions of US households save for retirement.
IRAs Play an Increasingly Important Role in Saving for Retirement
Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) represented 35 percent of US total retirement market at the end of the third quarter 2021, compared to 23 percent two decades ago.
Background on Individual Retirement Accounts
Video
Focus on Funds: An End-of-Summer Checkup for Your Long-Term Savings
Now is the perfect time to ensure your long-term savings are on track with a helpful checklist from...
Research
Ten Important Facts About IRAs (pdf)
Video
Focus on Funds: Boost Your Family’s Savings with a Spousal Individual Retirement Account
A lesser-known tax code provision can help nonworking spouses build savings in an individual...
More
Focus on Funds: Maximize Your Tax Savings with Individual Retirement Accounts
Focus on Funds Maximize Your Tax Savings with Individual Retirement Accounts There’s still time to...
Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs): FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions About Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) What are IRAs? In 1974, the...
Focus on Funds: 45 Years of Savings Success with Individual Retirement Accounts
Focus on Funds 45 Years of Savings Success with Individual Retirement Accounts It’s been 45 years...
Ten Important Facts About Roth IRAs (pdf)
The Individual Retirement Account at Age 30: A Retrospective (pdf)
Research and Statistics
Supplemental Tables: The Role of IRAs in US Households’ Saving for Retirement, 2020 (xls)
Quarterly Retirement Market Data
ICI Survey Shows Most Traditional IRA–Owning Households Have Planned Retirement Strategy
ICI Survey Shows Most Traditional IRA–Owning Households Have Planned Retirement Strategy Washington...
IRA Investors
Comment Letters and Statements
Comment Letter
ICI Comment Letter on the Definition of an Investment Advice Fiduciary
The Investment Company Institute submitted a comment to the Department of Labor (the “Department”)...
Comment Letter
Recommendations for 2016-2017 Treasury/IRS Priority Guidance Plan―Retirement Plan Items (pdf)
Comment Letter
ICI Comments to IRS on Simple IRA Plan Information Collection Request (pdf)
Other Resources
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