Savvy investors know that saving for retirement can be a great way to build wealth, now and in the future. There are many reasons to start saving for retirement as soon as possible.

Build your future.
Your retirement will look a lot different than your parents’ retirement. If you plan to stop working at some point in the future, consider these factors.

• People are living longer
• Only 10% of us will have pensions
• We’ll probably receive less in Social Security funds than previous generations
• Future healthcare is a big (and potentially very expensive) unknown

Compounding
Your savings in an IRA can benefit from compounding, which is a powerful way for your money to grow over time. When you invest and earn interest, that interest is added to your principal amount—then, you can start earning interest on the interest. To take full advantage of compounding, consider saving for retirement as early as possible.

Potential tax benefits
Both Traditional and Roth IRAs can come with potential tax benefits. Traditional IRAs are funded with pre-tax dollars, which can lower your annual tax bill now.* On the other hand, a Roth IRA is funded with post-tax dollars—so your investment earnings can grow tax-free.**

*Withdrawing prior to age 59½, generally means you’re subject to income tax and a 10% penalty. Withdrawals after age 59½ are only subject to income tax but no penalty. Restrictions may apply depending on your income or filing status.

**Withdrawals of the money (Contributions) you put in are penalty and tax free. Prior to age 59½, withdrawals of interest and earnings are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty. All earnings are tax free at age 59½ or older, assuming your first contribution was more than 5 years prior. Income Eligibility applies.

For many people, saving for retirement can seem expensive, complicated, and hard to maintain. Stash retirement accounts were made to eliminate many of the barriers that prevent the average American from saving for their future.

Affordable investing
On Stash, you can start investing in fractional shares of stocks and funds with as little as 1¢ (or 5¢ for shares priced over $1,000). Remember, thanks to the power of compounding, even putting just a little away now is better than saving nothing at all.

Traditional or Roth IRA
We offer both Traditional and Roth IRAs on Stash. Not sure which one to choose? We can help you pick the account that best fits your needs and goals.

Automatic contributions
Automatically recurring transfers can help you stay on track—just set the dollar amount and frequency of your investments, and we’ll handle the rest. It’s a great way to keep retirement saving momentum going, without even thinking about it.

Retirement advice & education
Planning for retirement can be tricky. We’ll help you navigate with personalized retirement advice and ongoing financial education.

Investing and banking included
Your Stash account also includes access to a personal brokerage account and a no hidden fee bank account. Better manage your day-to-day spending, saving, budgeting, and investing¹—all while building a brighter financial future.

A Roth or Traditional IRA is included in Stash Growth ($3/mo) and Stash+ ($9/mo) plans. You can also open a standalone retirement account for $2 per month by contacting customer service.

Both account types have 1¢ investing minimums (5¢ for investments priced over $1,000 per share), and maximum contributions to both accounts types are capped at $6k per year ($7k if you’re age 50 or older). So what is the difference between a Roth and Traditional IRA?

Traditional vs. Roth IRAs
One of the main differences comes down to taxes and when you pay them. A Roth IRA is funded with post-tax dollars—so after age 59½, withdrawals of the money you put in (contributions) are penalty and tax free. Prior to age 59½, withdrawals from the interest and/or earnings are subject to income tax and a 10% penalty. All earnings are tax free at age 59½ or older, assuming your first contribution was more than 5 years prior. A Traditional IRA is funded with pre-tax dollars, which can lower your annual tax burden now. However, withdrawals made after age 59½ are subject to income tax (but no penalty fee). Withdrawals made prior to age 59½ are generally subject to income tax and a 10% penalty.

Should I pick a Roth or Traditional IRA?
The type of retirement account you should pick can depend on factors like your current income, your current retirement savings plan, and your projected income in the future. We’ve put together a simplified comparison chart that can help you decide which account type is right for you.

Compare Roth vs. Traditional IRAs→

For additional information on IRAs and contribution limits, you can visit the official IRS website.

How much you should save for retirement depends on many factors, including your current income and savings, your projected retirement age, and your desired future lifestyle. Our retirement calculator is a quick and easy way to see how much money you might need to retire. Just answer a few quick questions about yourself and your goals, and we’ll estimate how much you should save for your retirement and how you can get there.*

Try our retirement calculator →

* This recommendation relies entirely on the responses you’ve provided regarding your risk tolerance. Stash does not verify the completeness or accuracy of such information. Investing Involves risk, including possible loss of principal. There can be no assurance that the results of this retirement calculator will be successful. This information should not be relied upon as research, investment advice or Tax advice. This information is strictly for illustrative and educational purposes and is subject to change.

Stash offers three subscriptions plans, starting at just $1/month.^† A retirement account is included in our Stash Growth and Stash+ plans.

Stash Growth costs $3/month. It can work for people who want to build wealth over the long run and includes banking with the Stock-Back^® Card,¹ budgeting, personalized advice, and a Roth or traditional retirement account (IRA).⁴

Stash+ costs $9/month. It can work for people with kids, debit card spenders, and those who want to learn more and includes banking with the metal double Stock-Back^® Card,¹ budgeting, personalized advice, a Roth IRA or traditional IRA retirement account,⁴ custodial investment accounts for kids, and an exclusive monthly market insights report.

You can also open a standalone retirement account for $2 per month. If you’d like to do so, please contact customer service.

Compare all subscription plans →

Stash is a personal finance app that can help anyone improve their financial life.

From budgeting to saving for retirement, Stash unites banking,¹ investing, and advice in one app that helps over 5 million people reach their financial goals—all for one low monthly price.^†

This is not an endorsement or a statement of satisfaction by any Stash client and is defined by the number of clients who have e-signed.

Is Stash legit? Yes. From your investments to your cash, you can feel confident in the security of your money on Stash.

• Stash uses cutting-edge security features.
• Stash works to keep your spending safe and secure.
• Stash is a registered investment advisor with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
• Stash offers FDIC-insured bank accounts through Green Dot Bank.

While such registration does not imply a certain level of skill, it does require us to follow federal regulations that protect you, the investor. By law, we must provide investment advice that is in the best interest of our client.

Bank Account Services provided by Green Dot Bank, Member FDIC. Investment products and services provided by Stash Investments LLC, not Green Dot Bank, and are Not FDIC Insured, Not Bank Guaranteed, and May Lose Value.

Learn more about how we protect you and your assets →