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S&P 500 index funds
One of the best places to begin investing your Roth IRA is with a fund based on . It’s a collection of hundreds of America’s top companies, including many of the names you know and use every day (, and , for example). Over time the index has performed well, with average annual returns of about 10 percent. With this index fund, you’ll enjoy that includes some of the world’s strongest companies, meaning you’ll have reduced risk and the potential for solid gains. It also doesn’t hurt that these funds often come with low , meaning you won’t pay a lot. Dividend stock funds
Dividend stock funds are another popular option. Companies that pay tend to be in mature industries and generate a ton of cash, allowing them to distribute the money to shareholders. The best companies increase their payouts annually for decades, turning your investment into a dividend dynamo. Plus, they tend to be less volatile than an average fund. can be particularly attractive in a Roth IRA because of their relative safety (they’re in a mature industry) and the fact that the dividends are not subject to tax. Investors can roll dividends right back into the dividend fund and keep the payouts growing year after year. Value stock funds
Value stock funds include stocks that are more value-priced than the rest of the market, helping you find the stocks that are relative bargains. That means value stocks tend to be less volatile than the rest of the market, and they tend to have good returns over time. Plus, many of these companies also pay dividends, meaning you can enjoy attractive returns plus a cash payout. Because of their (usually) lower volatility, may make an attractive addition to a Roth IRA. And of course, any dividends can be plowed right back into the value stock fund, too. Nasdaq-100 index funds
A Nasdaq-100 index fund focuses on the largest names trading on the Nasdaq exchange, which is chock full of tech firms you might use every day, including Amazon, Apple and (formerly known as Facebook). This kind of fund gives you high exposure to these top players, even more than you’d get in an S&P 500 index fund, supercharging your returns if these stocks do well. If you believe in the continued growth of tech stocks, this kind of Nasdaq fund is a great place to invest, potentially for decades. You’ll get some diversification and may be able to compound your money at attractively high rates. Of course, inside a Roth IRA you won’t pay any , either on your sales or when you make a qualified withdrawal from the account. REIT funds
Real estate investment trusts () may sound fancy, but it’s just the name for a special kind of tax-advantaged company that manages real estate investments. By law, REITs must pay out most of their income as dividends in exchange for not having to pay tax at the corporate level. That tax-advantaged structure means that they’re a preferred place for real estate investors. Perhaps unsurprisingly, are popular with investors because they pay out high dividends, and they have a strong track record of returns over time, too. Plus, inside the Roth IRA you won’t owe any taxes on those dividends, allowing you to reinvest them in more shares. It’s a double whammy of investment returns that keep many investors hooked on REITs. Target-date funds
A target-date fund is a good pick for investors who don’t want to focus on managing a portfolio. With a , you choose the year when you want to access the money, and the fund automatically moves you from riskier, high-return assets (stocks) to safer, low-return assets (bonds) as you approach your date. Deposit money and let the fund company run the show. If there’s a downside to target-date funds, it’s that they can cost more than other funds, though their expense ratio is still often reasonable. But that additional cost is for their extra management. Also, it may make sense to pick a target date that’s 5 or 10 years later than you actually want to retire, because that leaves more high-growth assets in your portfolio. By doing this, you help ensure that you won’t outlive your money, a fact that can prove very stressful in your retirement years. Small-cap stock funds
Funds that invest in small companies – those called – are an attractive place for long-term investment returns. Small-caps have the potential to grow quickly over time, and they’re often high-growth companies, but not always. Because they’re smaller and have fewer financial resources, small caps tend to be riskier, but they can make up for it with high returns. Because of their potential for growth over time, small-caps can be a good investment for a Roth IRA, letting you compound your money. You can invest in a , and enjoy the relative safety created by the fund’s well-diversified portfolio of holdings. Watch out for highly speculative investments
If you’re investing the money you need for your retirement, you want to balance the prospect for strong, long-term returns with taking reasonable risks. For example, a well-diversified portfolio of stocks is likely to outpace most investments over time. Yet in the short term, stocks can fluctuate significantly. But overall, a portfolio of stock index funds is a time-tested way to build wealth. Recently, such as Bitcoin in an IRA or . While has had a strong run in recent years, it’s an unproven and highly speculative asset. These features make it inappropriate for retirement accounts. That’s led some investing experts to caution that using a retirement account to invest in cryptocurrencies is “gambling” and “pure, unadulterated speculation.” Instead, stick to the tried-and-true methods of building wealth in your retirement accounts, because that money must be there when you need it. Bottom line
A Roth IRA is a great investment account for retirement, and investors should look to take maximum advantage of it. Find investments with a strong, long-term track record and stay clear of highly speculative investments. With potentially decades to let your Roth IRA compound, you can give yourself every chance of that’s untouchable by the taxman. Editorial Disclaimer: All investors are advised to conduct their own independent research into investment strategies before making an investment decision. In addition, investors are advised that past investment product performance is no guarantee of future price appreciation. SHARE: Bankrate senior reporter James F. Royal, Ph.D., covers investing and wealth management. His work has been cited by CNBC, the Washington Post, The New York Times and more. Brian Beers is the managing editor for the Wealth team at Bankrate. He oversees editorial coverage of banking, investing, the economy and all things money. Related Articles