Types of Investing Account

An investor can open brokerage account to house the investment funds in multiple ways

The main brokerage account types are Cash, Retirement, Margin and Options (I use Type 1 and 2)

Type 1: Cash Account             (Used as Savings Account)

Type 2: Retirement Account (IRAs, 401k, HSA)

Type 3: Margin Account   (Loan using owned stocks)

Type 4: Options Account (Contract to buy/sell)

Retirement Brokerage Accounts

(Limited Liquidity: penalty free withdraws only at retirement age defined by IRS)

Traditional = Pre-tax

KEY: TAX DEFERRED

+ Pre-tax contribution to account

+ Tax will be owed at time of withdraw

-  Penalty if accessing funds before eligible

Roth = After-tax 

KEY: GROWS TAX FREE

+ Paid tax before contributing

+ Roth accounts grows tax free

-  Penalty if accessing funds before eligible

Health Savings Account

KEY: TRIPLE TAX ADVANTAGE

+ Tax free HSA checking interest income

+ Contributions reduce taxable income

+ Tax free gains with qualified withdraws

+ No withdraw timing restriction