Is the Roth IRA your preference for an individual retirement account? Pioneered by the late Senator William Roth, the Roth is unique from any other individual retirement account because the money you grow within the IRA can be withdrawn tax-free. That is because contributions made to a Roth are not tax deductable on your income tax return. The Roth also offers the advantage of no requirement for minimum distributions at age 70 ½, making it ideal for individuals who want to leave the investments to grow as a heritage to their heirs. A Roth IRA can be self-directed, and this option for the individual retirement account allows increased flexibility and maximum control for the account owner , who will take responsibility for all account decisions: selecting both the custodian company to hold the account and deciding on the investments based on their individual philosophy and goals. In a self-directed Roth individual retirement account, non-traditional investments beyond the conventional stocks, bonds and mutual funds are available . The investor may decide to invest in more tangible assets, including businesses, real estate, or precious metals. With many investors not yet recovering from the ups and downs of the stock market, the appeal of other investment opportunities is strong . Carefully determining a custodial company with experience in non-traditional investments is the first step to success. With some standard paperwork, the account owner can roll-over an existing individual retirement account into a self-directed model, or open a new self-directed account. The investor makes the choice on all investments, and the custodian does the transaction on his behalf. Profits from the investments flow back directly into the IRA , and grow in the tax-free environment of the self-directed Roth individual retirement account. Your research on the custodians should allow you to select the right company to administer your account, and provide a clear picture of what fees will be charged for maintenance, transactions, wire transfers and other associated work done for your account. Begin building retirement savings with control and confidence, with the self-directed individual retirement account.