Roth IRA Book: An Investor's Guide [Paperback]

Gobind, Ph.D. Daryanani (Author), William V., Jr. Roth (Author), Murray Alter (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 1999

Enactment of the Roth IRA law has not only revolutionized retirement planning, it may forever change the way we save for other major life goals-- from purchasing a home, financing a college education to establishing an estate trust fund. Regardless of whether you are an individual concerned about retirement or a professional financial advisor, you will find that this book provides an invaluable guide to the mechanics and subtleties of the Roth IRA legislation.

Highlights of this book:

Quick Start overview that can be read in 15 minutes.

All rules explained in simple, non-jargon English.

Easy 5-step retirement planning method clarifies goals.

Analysis of 11 profiles (ages 25 to 85) using state-of-the-art software.

Comparison with 401(k) savings / capital gains funds.

New technology shows how partial Roth Conversions can maximize assets.

Enhancing estate plans with the Roth IRA.

Reference forms (5305, 5329) and TCA Sections 408A, 219 and 408.

Includes current legislation: Technical Corrections Act (July) 1998.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Most American families are eligible to participate in a Roth IRA savings plan, a new investment vehicle intended to encourage personal retirement savings by providing for the tax-free growth of investments. The rules for this plan were completed with the recent passage of the Technical Corrections Act of 1998. In this guide, Daryanani, who advises several major brokerage firms on the plans, uses numerous scenarios involving people of various ages to show that in most circumstances, the Roth IRA will provide a greater total return than the traditional IRA or taxable investments. Topics discussed include the optimal way to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, choices for beneficiaries and payouts, the Education IRA, and the basics of retirement planning, the last of which likely will be most useful to general readers. The analysis is technical, and throughout the author advises readers to seek the advice of tax and financial planning professionals. The book, which includes an interview with Sen. William V. Roth Jr., sponsor of the plan, will appeal to specialists and informed lay readers.AA.J. Sobczak, Covina, CA
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

The Roth IRA was among the provisions of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997, and it has come to be highly touted in the financial press. Essentially, contributions to a Roth retirement account are taxed as income, but future withdrawals will not be. Roth's various restrictions and tax advantages are quite complicated, and many investors and financial advisors alike are uncertain whether this new option will be of individual benefit. This guide will likely be the first that provides a comprehensive look at the Roth IRA. When Daryanani, a former AT&T mathematician, was forced to reevaluate his investment and retirement portfolio, he became intrigued by the Roth IRA after his broker's analysis included mention of the plan. But Daryanani found himself having to do a lot of his own research. The result is this "tutorial," which targets both financial advisors and individual investors. Included will be a brief interview with Senator William Roth and provisions of the Technical Corrections Act of 1998 (which was signed into law in July by President Clinton), designed to fine-tune current rules. David Rouse

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 258 pages
• Publisher: Digiqual Inc; 2 edition (January 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966539818
• ISBN-13: 978-0966539813
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 7.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,623,349 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Contains little more than standard journalistic accounts., November 30, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Roth IRA Book: An Investor's Guide (Paperback)

I was disappointed in the book. I reasoned that a decision involving thousands of dollars warrants a $40 book purchase. Unfortunately, there is little to be gained from this book that can't be found from a quick search of public media. Moreover, the author uses this hastily-prepared book as a platform for selling yet another product, a so-called "high-end software package" to compute "optimal" Roth conversion levels. No book or software can really deliver an "optimal" recommendation due to the many uncertainties involved. The failing of this book is that it does not help the reader intelligently consider the variables and possibilities. It's full of boosterism about the virtues of the "Roth project." It has not been spell-checked, much less edited. The level of organization and quality of writing style are exemplified by the fact that Chapter 7 (SEVEN) begins, "The Roth IRA is a new type of IRA that has been made available as of January 1, 1998. It is named after..." In sum, an opportunistic volume targeted to the millions who need help with a complex financial decision.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Well written and easy to follow, October 8, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Roth IRA Book: An Investor's Guide (Paperback)

Have reviewed several publications dealing with this topic. This book answers all of the common questions which arise and is also relatively easy to follow as a reference book. In addition, if I had trouble interpretting an answer, Dr. Daryanani's email address served me well. A reply came within 2 days! This book was recommended to me at a Fee Only Financial Planning Forum by another planner. I would be comfortable recommending it to anyone.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very readable blueprint for using the Roth IRA., August 23, 1998

By 

[e-mail] Malcolm Hall (Atlantic Highlands, NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Roth IRA Book: An Investor's Guide (Paperback)

At first glance, this book may look a bit intimidating -- like the textbook for an advanced economics course. But once you get your feet wet, you discover that it has been very cleverly organized. Through devices such as a "quick start" overview, the reader is guided through the basics of retirement planning to a clear understanding not only of how the Roth IRA can be quite beneficial, but also of how to make the key decisions necessary in starting and using a Roth plan. A particularly compelling section is found in the analysis of 11 profiles of persons aged from 25 to 85. To many people, retirement planning stops at the magic age when one ceases to work. But the author shows that the Roth IRA (because of its short 5-year minimum investment period) allows people who are retired to continue to enhance their retirement assets through tax-free growth at potentially high yields.

Other valuable materials includes a section on estate planning with the Roth IRA and the Roth Education IRA. Finally, the book contains an interview with Senator Roth that may provide a hint as to future legislative developments with the Roth IRA.

I've thumbed through some other books on the Roth IRA, but they seem primarily directed toward stressing its advantages, as opposed to providing the tools and analysis for actually using the program.