
Individual retirement accounts
Features & benefits
Compare IRA features and benefits
Thrivent Credit Union offers both Traditional and Roth IRAs – each with its own benefits. Choose the one that gives you the best advantage in saving toward your goals.
Traditional IRA Advantages1
Contributions — As long as you've earned income, you may contribute to an IRA. You may also contribute for a nonwage-earning spouse. For 2022, you can contribute up to $6,000, for 2023 the annual contribution limit has increased to $6,500. If you are age 50 or over by the end of the year, you can contribute an additional $1,000.
Tax Benefits — You may be able to fully deduct your contributions on your tax returns (limits may apply if you or your spouse participates in an employer-sponsored plan). Any earnings are tax-deferred, and you pay the taxes at the time of withdrawal.
Distributions — Though all withdrawals will be subject to ordinary income tax, you may withdraw money at any time. However, if you withdraw money before you reach age 59½, you may also incur an IRS 10% early distribution penalty unless an exception applies2.
Some exceptions include:
Tax Benefits — You may be able to fully deduct your contributions on your tax returns (limits may apply if you or your spouse participates in an employer-sponsored plan). Any earnings are tax-deferred, and you pay the taxes at the time of withdrawal.
Distributions — Though all withdrawals will be subject to ordinary income tax, you may withdraw money at any time. However, if you withdraw money before you reach age 59½, you may also incur an IRS 10% early distribution penalty unless an exception applies2.
Some exceptions include:
- First home purchase ($10,000 lifetime limit).
- Higher education expenses.
- Series of payments based on life expectancy (Substantially Equal Periodic Payments).
- Eligible unreimbursed medical costs.
- Total and permanent disability.
- Payment of account assets upon your death.
- Medical insurance premiums while unemployed.
- IRS levy.
- Birth or adoption of a child
- For an individual who attains age 72 after December 31, 2022, and age 73 before January 1, 2033, the age for starting RMD is age 73.
- For an individual who attains age 74 after December 31, 2032, the applicable age is 75.
Roth IRA Advantages1
Contributions — Anyone who meets the guidelines for modified adjusted gross income may contribute to a Roth at any age. For 2023 you can contribute up to $6,500, which increased from the 2022 annual contribution limit of $6,000.
In order to invest in a Roth IRA you must meet certain income guidelines. In 2023, your adjusted gross income (AGI) must be:
Distributions — Distributions of your contributions are always tax-free and can occur at any time. Distributions of earnings would not be tax-free until your Roth IRA is at least five years old and you meet one of the following qualifying2 reasons:
In order to invest in a Roth IRA you must meet certain income guidelines. In 2023, your adjusted gross income (AGI) must be:
- If you are single - Less than $138,000 for the full contribution; $138,000 to $152,999.99 for a reduced amount. These limits increased from $129,000 and $143,999.99 for 2022.
- If you are married and file jointly - Less than $218,000 for the full contribution; $218,000 to $227,999.99 for a reduced amount. These limits increased from $204,000 and $213,999.99 for 2022.
- You can make contributions even after age 73 if you have earned income and meet the income guidelines.
Distributions — Distributions of your contributions are always tax-free and can occur at any time. Distributions of earnings would not be tax-free until your Roth IRA is at least five years old and you meet one of the following qualifying2 reasons:
- Attainment of age 59½.
- First home purchase ($10,000 lifetime limit).
- Death or disability.
Traditional IRA Advantages1
Contributions — As long as you've earned income, you may contribute to an IRA. You may also contribute for a nonwage-earning spouse. For 2022, you can contribute up to $6,000, for 2023 the annual contribution limit has increased to $6,500. If you are age 50 or over by the end of the year, you can contribute an additional $1,000.
Tax Benefits — You may be able to fully deduct your contributions on your tax returns (limits may apply if you or your spouse participates in an employer-sponsored plan). Any earnings are tax-deferred, and you pay the taxes at the time of withdrawal.
Distributions — Though all withdrawals will be subject to ordinary income tax, you may withdraw money at any time. However, if you withdraw money before you reach age 59½, you may also incur an IRS 10% early distribution penalty unless an exception applies2.
Some exceptions include:
Tax Benefits — You may be able to fully deduct your contributions on your tax returns (limits may apply if you or your spouse participates in an employer-sponsored plan). Any earnings are tax-deferred, and you pay the taxes at the time of withdrawal.
Distributions — Though all withdrawals will be subject to ordinary income tax, you may withdraw money at any time. However, if you withdraw money before you reach age 59½, you may also incur an IRS 10% early distribution penalty unless an exception applies2.
Some exceptions include:
- First home purchase ($10,000 lifetime limit).
- Higher education expenses.
- Series of payments based on life expectancy (Substantially Equal Periodic Payments).
- Eligible unreimbursed medical costs.
- Total and permanent disability.
- Payment of account assets upon your death.
- Medical insurance premiums while unemployed.
- IRS levy.
- Birth or adoption of a child
- For an individual who attains age 72 after December 31, 2022, and age 73 before January 1, 2033, the age for starting RMD is age 73.
- For an individual who attains age 74 after December 31, 2032, the applicable age is 75.
Roth IRA Advantages1
Contributions — Anyone who meets the guidelines for modified adjusted gross income may contribute to a Roth at any age. For 2023 you can contribute up to $6,500, which increased from the 2022 annual contribution limit of $6,000.
In order to invest in a Roth IRA you must meet certain income guidelines. In 2023, your adjusted gross income (AGI) must be:
Distributions — Distributions of your contributions are always tax-free and can occur at any time. Distributions of earnings would not be tax-free until your Roth IRA is at least five years old and you meet one of the following qualifying2 reasons:
In order to invest in a Roth IRA you must meet certain income guidelines. In 2023, your adjusted gross income (AGI) must be:
- If you are single - Less than $138,000 for the full contribution; $138,000 to $152,999.99 for a reduced amount. These limits increased from $129,000 and $143,999.99 for 2022.
- If you are married and file jointly - Less than $218,000 for the full contribution; $218,000 to $227,999.99 for a reduced amount. These limits increased from $204,000 and $213,999.99 for 2022.
- You can make contributions even after age 73 if you have earned income and meet the income guidelines.
Distributions — Distributions of your contributions are always tax-free and can occur at any time. Distributions of earnings would not be tax-free until your Roth IRA is at least five years old and you meet one of the following qualifying2 reasons:
- Attainment of age 59½.
- First home purchase ($10,000 lifetime limit).
- Death or disability.

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1 This information is not intended and should not be construed as legal, investment or tax advice. Please consult your attorney, tax advisor or other appropriate professional for such advice, including advice regarding the benefits of an IRA, the deductibility of contributions and advice on how this information applies to your individual circumstances. Thrivent Credit Union cannot and does not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this information or its applicability to your individual circumstances and does not bear any liability as a result of your reliance on this information.
2 Thrivent Credit Union does not determine whether a distribution qualifies for the exception. It is up to the individual to prove to the IRS that the exception applies.
2 Thrivent Credit Union does not determine whether a distribution qualifies for the exception. It is up to the individual to prove to the IRS that the exception applies.