The IRS gets a little grumpy if you contribute to a Roth IRA without what it calls earned income. Usually, that means you need paid work for someone else or for your own company to make contributions to the Roth IRA. Consider setting up an automatic monthly transfer to your IRA and treating it like any other expense or bill to ensure that it occurs. If your previous employer offered you a 401 (k) plan, transferring it to an IRA will allow you to continue making contributions to your retirement savings and you'll have more control over how you invest your money.
People with traditional IRAs should start receiving the required minimum distributions when they turn 72, but there is no such requirement for Roth IRAs. If you find yourself in one of the above situations, you may be able to make a contribution to an IRA for the year in which you receive the income. Even if your income doesn't qualify you for tax-deductible contributions, that doesn't mean you can't save money on a spousal IRA. This and other key differences make Roth IRAs a better option than traditional IRAs for some retirement savers; however, Roth IRAs are not available to everyone.
It's known as a spousal IRA, but it's simply a traditional or Roth IRA in the name of the non-working spouse and to which both partners can make contributions. Using this definition of compensation, if your income is above the Roth IRA limit or is zero for a tax year, you won't be able to contribute to a Roth IRA for that year.
