What to have ready before you apply
Account opening goes faster when the information and documents are gathered before you start. This article is the checklist — what you need on hand and why each item matters.
What you'll need
A few minutes to read through this checklist, plus access to the documents and accounts listed below.
Steps / Explanation
The Retired.com account-opening flow is a short online process — typically 10 to 15 minutes — followed by identity verification and the custodial-agreement signature. Most account holders can complete the full process in one sitting if they have the right information at hand. The checklist below covers the four categories.
Identity documents
You'll need:
Government-issued photo ID — driver's license, state-issued ID, U.S. passport, or military ID. For non-U.S. citizens, consult the Service Team for accepted forms of identification.
Social Security Number (or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number for those who don't have an SSN).
Date of birth.
Current legal address. If you've recently moved, have proof of address available (utility bill, lease, mortgage statement) in case identity verification needs additional confirmation. See "Identity verification — what to expect".
If your legal name has recently changed (marriage, divorce, court order), have documentation of the change available. Mismatches between your ID and the name on the application are the most common reason verification doesn't clear automatically.
Account-type information
Decide which account type you're opening before you start. If you're not sure, your Account Representative can walk through the options — see "Your Account Representative — who they are and how they help you". Brief reference:
Traditional IRA — pre-tax contributions, tax-deferred growth, ordinary income tax on distributions. See "Traditional IRA — overview and eligibility".
Roth IRA — after-tax contributions, tax-free qualified distributions.
SEP IRA — for self-employed individuals and small-business employers.
SIMPLE IRA — for small businesses with employees.
Solo 401(k) — for self-employed individuals with no employees.
For employer-plan rollovers, also know:
The type of source account (Traditional 401(k), Roth 401(k), 403(b), TSP, etc.). Pre-tax sources roll to a Traditional IRA without a tax event; pre-tax sources moving to a Roth IRA are taxed as a Roth conversion in the year of the move.
The plan administrator's name and contact information. The plan administrator is who you'll talk to on the sending side to initiate the rollover.
Beneficiary information
The application asks for beneficiary designations — who inherits the account if something happens to you. You can update beneficiaries at any time after opening, but having the information ready avoids interrupting the application:
Primary beneficiary or beneficiaries — name, date of birth, Social Security Number (or ITIN), relationship, percentage share. Multiple beneficiaries are common (for example, splitting the account equally among children).
Contingent beneficiaries — the people who would inherit if the primary beneficiaries are deceased before you.
If you're naming a trust or estate as a beneficiary, have the legal name of the trust and the trust's tax identification number ready. For trust beneficiaries, we recommend consulting an estate attorney before designation to ensure the trust language coordinates correctly with retirement-account distribution rules.
Funding information
You don't need to fund the account during the application itself, but knowing your funding path speeds up the post-opening process:
For a new contribution from a bank account — have your bank's routing and account numbers, or be ready to connect the bank account electronically during or after the application.
For a transfer from another IRA — have the other custodian's name, your account number there, and the account type (must match the new Retired.com account type). See "Transfers — moving funds from another IRA".
For a rollover from an employer plan — have the plan administrator's name and contact information, plus a recent plan statement showing your balance and source-account type. See "Rollovers — moving funds from a 401(k) or employer plan".
You do not need to know the exact dollar amount you'll be transferring or rolling over at the time of application — the funding event is initiated after the account is open.
Common questions
What if I don't have a Social Security Number?
If you have an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number (ITIN), you can use that. If you have neither, opening an IRA at a U.S. custodian is generally not possible — contact an Account Representative to discuss alternatives.
Do I need to verify my employment?
For most account types, no. Employment is reported as part of standard Know Your Customer (KYC) requirements but does not need third-party verification. For SEP, SIMPLE, and Solo 401(k) plans, additional documentation about the underlying business is required — your Account Representative will outline what's needed.
What if I can't decide between Traditional and Roth?
Open whichever you're more confident about, and you can adjust your strategy in the future through additional contributions or Roth conversions. We recommend consulting a tax advisor or attorney for guidance specific to your situation — the right answer depends on your current and expected future tax brackets, which is a planning question, not an account-opening question.
Do I need to bring physical documents to a Retired.com office?
No. Retired.com's account opening is fully online. Documents are uploaded electronically.
Need more support? Contact our Service team
Select "Start a Conversation" from the Chat menu or call us at 1-800-RETIRED