Yahoo Answers is shutting down on May 4th, 2021 (Eastern Time) and beginning April 20th, 2021 (Eastern Time) the Yahoo Answers website will be in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

grandma asked in Business & FinanceInvesting · 2 decades ago

What are IRAs and CDs and 401s?

Please dont be mean. Just an old lady who wants to know.

4 Answers

Relevance
  • 2 decades ago
    Favorite Answer

    IRA is Individual Retirement Account. It is a retirement account. The basic forms of IRA's are Traditional and Roth. Traditionals are tax deferred (you dont pay taxes on the money you put into it but you pay when you take it out and any gains). Roth grows tax-free but you pay taxes on the money prior to putting it in the Roth IRA.

    CD's are Certificates of Deposit. It is basically cash that is locked up for a predetermined period of time that earns interest at a higher rate than the overnight rate you get on a basic savings account.

    401's? If you mean 401k's, they are similar to Traditional IRA's but are associated with your employer (whom will usually offer matching funds up to a certain point). This is another retirement account.

  • 2 decades ago

    Iras are members of a club of both men and women with the same first name Ira.

    CD is messaging text used instead of "see the" as in CD cat or CD house.

    401s are jeans, also available as 501s

    not trying to be mean, just thought it would put a smile on your face.

    Individual Retirement Accounts are set up through a broker, available as tax deferred or self directed.

    Certificate of Deposit is a contract purchase of a giving you a defined amount of profit after a specific period of time for your deposit.

    401.k is the IRS code reference for tax deferred retirement account set up with an employer to match your contributions.

  • truth
    Lv 4
    2 decades ago

    IRA => basically moves according to market/economy how it moves. I prefer IRA for future investment which help my kids(which will happen in future :) )

    CDs => it is basically fixed rate low and steady growing no risk.

  • Q~T
    Lv 5
    2 decades ago

    Ways to help you save money. You put money in and the company will match it by a certain percent.

Still have questions? Get your answers by asking now.