Choose a Roth IRA provider (brokerage, bank, or robo-advisor)
Check eligibility to contribute to a Roth IRA based on your income and filing status
Gather required information (government ID, Social Security number, contact details)
Decide how you want to fund the account (bank transfer, wire, check, rollover, or payroll deduction if available)
Open the account online or by completing the provider’s application
Complete the account setup (owner type, beneficiary designation, account features)
Select your investments (target-date fund, index funds/ETFs, mutual funds, or stocks) or keep cash in the core position initially
Review and confirm contribution settings (contribution year, amount, and funding source)
Submit the application and funding request
Verify the account is active and that contributions have posted
Set up ongoing contributions if desired (automatic recurring contributions)
Keep records of contributions and any conversions/rollovers, if applicable