Decoder · Accounts
The umbrella name for retirement accounts you open yourself — mainly Roth and Traditional. An IRA is not an investment; it is a labeled bucket with tax rules and a yearly limit ($7,500 in 2026 if under 50). Inside the bucket you still choose what to hold: funds, or cash if you never choose — which is why so many opened IRAs sit doing nothing.
401(k), in plain words403(b), in plain wordsEmployer match, in plain words