 TITLE: What Is a Roth IRA, and Is It Right for Me? CONTENT: How to Open a Roth IRA\n----------------------\nYou can open a Roth IRA at a bank, credit union or brokerage. Investment options and fees vary widely from plan to plan, so study the options carefully. Ideally, set up automatic transfers from your checking account to the Roth IRA, perhaps once per month. It may be helpful to contribute a percentage of your income so you can scale it easily as your pay increases.\nConsider these factors when shopping for a Roth IRA:\n*   **Fees:** You can find plenty of Roth IRA plans that don't charge anything to open an account. Check the plan's management or per-trade fees too.\n*   **Degree of fund management:** Fund management options run the gamut from no-frills, do-it-yourself discount brokerages to accounts actively managed by experts (who may command high fees). Make sure the account type you choose matches your style of investing.\n*   **Minimum opening balances and fund balances:** Some Roth IRAs require a minimum opening deposit that may be larger than the amount of your regular contribution. Some mutual funds and other investment vehicles available through Roth IRAs also require minimum fund balances, or \"buy-in\" amounts. Choosing a fund with a sizable fund balance could delay any investment returns until you accumulate enough contributions to buy in.\nThese options can be confusing, but staff at institutions that offer Roth IRAs should be able to guide you through the process. END