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Open an IRA at STCU

No minimum to open a share IRA; invest up to $5,000 per year

In times of economic uncertainty, you're smart to be thinking about your future. That's when an STCU rest-assured, tax-deferred Individual Retirement Account can help.

Our IRAs are easy to open and easy to understand. No minimum to open an IRA share account; just $500 to open your IRA certificate.

Your STCU IRA will put you on the path to retirement when you make regular contributions to your account. You never lose your principal and deposits are federally insured up to $250,000.

Get rates

Contributions

If you are under 50 years of age at the end of 2012, you can contribute up to $5,000. If 50 or older, $6,000. This limit can be split between a traditional IRA and a Roth IRA. And if you participate in a 401(k) or other retirement plans at your workplace, you may still be able to make a tax-deductible contribution to an IRA.

Choose the IRA that's best for you

There are two great IRAs available from STCU, providing you with excellent choices for investing in your future. And in many cases, you will still have the option to make qualified withdrawals from your IRA to pay for college, unexpected medical, and first-home buying expenses.

Tell me about IRAs

If it helps, STCU offers the following basic information to help understand how an IRA works:

Traditional IRA

Roth IRA

Get an immediate tax deduction on your contributions. Plus, your earnings grow tax-deferred until you begin withdrawing the funds at age 59 1/2. Federal law allows most people to make an annual contribution of up to $5,000 in earned income to an IRA; up to $6,000 if you are 50 or older. You can make regular deposits to your fund throughout the year or deposit a lump sum before tax day. STCU IRAs are federally insured up to $250,000.

With a Roth IRA, your contributions are already taxed, but the earnings grow in your account tax-deferred. So at age 59 1/2, and following a five-year required investment period, your funds can be withdrawn tax-free.While building your IRA, you can make withdrawals at any time without tax penalty. Qualified withdrawals can be made for the purchase of a first home or to pay for college tuition. STCU IRAs are federally insured up to $250,000.

What's your best investment option?

Most analysts agree that if you have more than 7-8 years before you need the proceeds, the Roth IRA is a better deal. Here are two of the most popular choices:

IRA/Roth IRA Certificates	IRA/Roth IRA Savings
Minimum opening balance of $500 or more. Set your certificate terms from 6 to 60 months, locking in your base rate. When your balance reaches $2,000, $10,000, $25,000, $50,000, $100,000, $500,000 or $1,000,000 you automatically begin to earn a higher rate. Eyeing long-term goals? A high-yielding five-year certificate also is available.	No minimum contribution. Earn certificate-like yields on your IRA. Flexibility of a money market account. When your balance reaches $6,000, your dividend increases to a higher tier for the best possible yield.

Other options

Employee Pensions. IRA certificates for Simplified Employee Pension accounts also are available through STCU. Certificates are available for six months to five years, allowing the self-employed, sole proprietor, partnership, small business, and corporation to provide retirement plans for themselves and their employees.

VALIC Financial Advisors Inc.* As STCU's investment partner,  VALIC can help you open an IRA with access to mutual funds, variable annuities and other regulated investments that the credit union cannot offer. Visit the VALIC Financial Planning Center or come to STCU, where there's a VALIC advisor in every branch! 

Got an IRA invested elsewhere? Whether you're waiting for the financial markets to improve, or need a more stable place to transfer your qualified plan from a former employer, STCU can help you transfer your fund with almost no effort. With your authorization, we can do the entire transaction in one visit to an STCU branch, so you don't have to return to the former institution to move your IRA.

Contact STCU today!