IRA types, comparisons, and foundational knowledge
Jennifer Walsh · October 23, 2026
I am not a financial advisor or tax professional. Everything here is educational content based on my own experience managing my accounts and on publicly available rules and published rate disclosures — not personalized financial advice. Rates change constantly; always confirm current numbers on the brokerage’s own rate page before acting. One of the most … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · October 23, 2026
I am not a financial advisor or tax professional. Everything here is educational content based on my own experience managing my accounts and on publicly available IRS rules — not personalized financial advice. Always confirm details on irs.gov or with a qualified tax professional before making decisions. There is a word doing double duty in … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · October 23, 2026
I am not a financial advisor or tax professional. Everything here is educational content based on my own experience managing my accounts and on publicly available fee disclosures — not personalized financial advice. Fee schedules change; confirm current figures on the brokerage’s own fee schedule before acting. “IRA custodial fee” is one of those phrases … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · October 23, 2026
I am not a financial advisor or tax professional. Everything here is educational content based on my own experience managing my accounts and on publicly available IRS and Federal Student Aid rules — not personalized financial advice. Confirm details on irs.gov and studentaid.gov, or with a qualified tax professional, before making decisions for your family. … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · July 15, 2026
Parents ask a version of this question constantly in the personal finance communities I follow: “If we contribute $X a year to our kid’s Roth IRA, what will that actually be worth by the time they retire?” It’s a fair question — the numbers involved are large enough, and the time horizon long enough, that … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · July 15, 2026
Most of what’s written about Schwab and Roth IRAs on this site is aimed at parents opening a custodial account for a minor. This review is different — it’s for adults opening their own Roth IRA at Schwab, whether that’s a first-time investor, someone consolidating accounts, or a parent who just helped their kid open … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · July 15, 2026
“Should we just put the money in a high-yield savings account instead?” I get this question from parents who’ve done some homework, noticed savings APYs above 4%, and started wondering whether a custodial Roth IRA is worth the extra paperwork. It’s a reasonable question — and the honest answer is that these two accounts aren’t … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · July 4, 2026
You opened a custodial Roth IRA when your child was young, contributed faithfully for years, and now there’s a milestone approaching: their 18th birthday. Parents ask me some version of this question constantly — “what actually happens to the account when my kid turns 18? Does the money just… become theirs?” The short answer: the … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · June 28, 2026
Single filers: You can contribute the full $7,000 if your MAGI (Modified Adjusted Gross Income) is below $150,000. The ability to contribute phases out between $150,000 and $165,000. Above $165,000, you cannot contribute directly at all. Married filing jointly: Full contribution below $236,000, phases out between $236,000 and $246,000, no direct contribution above $246,000. The … Read more
Jennifer Walsh · June 18, 2026
One of the most common questions I get is some version of this: “My kid earns money doing things around the house — can I pay them for that and then contribute to a Roth IRA for them?” It’s a genuinely important question, because the Roth IRA is an extraordinary wealth-building vehicle for young people, … Read more