How to Make the Most of Your IRA in 2026

Thanks to its tax benefits, your IRA can be a powerful tool to optimize your portfolio. Investment firms often see a big influx of new contributions into individual retirement accounts in the early part of each year as investors rush to meet the April 15 deadline. If you’re one of the many investors adding new funds to your IRA, Morningstar’s director of personal finance and retirement planning Christine Benz has some ideas on how to make the most of those contributions and improve your portfolio in the process.

How to Get the Most Out of Your IRA Contributions

On this episode:

00:00:00 Welcome

00:01:16 2026 IRA Contribution Limits

00:01:45 How to Decide Between a Traditional and Roth IRA

00:03:52 Stock Investing Mistakes to Avoid With Your IRA

00:05:20 How to Invest Your IRA When You're Early in Your Career

00:08:13 How to Assess Your IRA in the Middle of Your Earning Years

00:10:23 The Advantages of Non-US Stocks and How to Diversify Your IRA

00:14:30 How to Derisk Your Portfolio as You Approach Retirement

00:16:47 Rebalancing Your IRA Without Tax Consequences

00:17:48 Is it ever too late to Contribute to Your IRA?

Watch more from Morningstar:

3 Winners and 3 Losers from Emerging-Market Funds’ Big Rally

How New Retirees Can Spend More Without Risking Their Savings

Beyond AI: Are Quantum Stocks the Next Big Thing in Tech Investing?

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Editor's note: An earlier version of this episode published with the wrong episode name and description. Both have been updated.

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