Saving for the future is one of the most talked about things in the country. It is also the simplest way to secure your future. For a long time we have been told to invest as soon as possible in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). The alternatives that are perplexing people is whether or not to invest in the traditional IRA or even the Roth IRA. If you are facing this dilemma you can read on to see all of the pros and cons for each retirement plan.Exactly what Traditional IRA? It is simply a tax deferred retirement savings vehicle. A number of the monies may be taxed yearly depending on your individual circumstance, but it is mostly with different pretax payment into a retirement piggy bank. The main advantage to the traditional IRA is that it can put you into a lower income tax bracket. The account allows your money to continue to gain interest without having to be taxed. There are no income limits on that can start an IRA account. Another advantage of the traditional IRA is that at age 591/2 you will be able to withdraw some of the funds provided you meet certain criteria. These withdrawals will likely be taxed at that time. This one is actually a plus and a minus, you'll be required to withdraw a certain amount annually after you reach 70 whether you need to or not.What is the Roth IRA? This can be a tax-exempt retirement account, it is different from the Traditional Ira in that it's got some income limitations. As an illustration if you are filing taxes as being a single you cannot have a Roth if you make over 95,000 per year. Married people are limited to 150,000 per year. One good thing is that the distributions are tax-free. Again the minimum age for withdrawing funds is 591/2 then when the money is taken out it is not taxed. The earning however will likely be taxed. There isn't a minimum distribution for that Roth IRA which makes it more flexible that this traditional IRA. To label one better than the other would be an injustice to each and every of them. The pros and cons are compelling for both. Another thing that is for sure if you can afford it you'll be able to participate in both without penalty. In this way you get the best of both opportunities. Individuals who don't have access to the 401K programs that include employment can use the Roth.