Here is another topic: The (main) differences between an IRA (pay taxes later) and a ROTH (pay taxes now). In particular, the amount of money you end up with after, say, 6 years is: IRA: $ * i1 * i2 * i3 * i4 * i5 * i6 * t6 ROTH: $ * t0 * i1 * i2 * i3 * i4 * i5 * i6 $ = amount you set aside tk = (1 - marginal tax rate in year k) ik = (1 + interest rate in year k) Since multiplication is commutative, the choices don't look that different unless t0 != t6. However, there are a number of rule differences. In particular, with a ROTH IRA, your limit (is it $3000) bound $, while in a ROTH, you initially deposit the after tax money ($ * t0). So your initial investment $ is typically higher than $3000. I.e., you are allowed to invest more in a ROTH than a regular IRA. If anyone has listened to the money shows, they all seem to pretend this is much harder than it is. David