E*TRADE IRA Review
Points to Remember:
» If you need an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), E*TRADE wants your business.
» An IRA at E*TRADE comes with a lot of great features, one of which is limited margin.
» E*TRADE’s IRA lineup includes both personal and business accounts.
Are you looking for a tax-advantaged way to save for retirement? If so, E*TRADE is worth taking a look at.
Overview of IRAs at E*TRADE
E*TRADE, always eager to please its customers, has a long list of available account registrations; among this cornucopia is a collection of retirement accounts. Specifically, E*TRADE offers these IRAs:
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- Rollover IRA
- Inherited IRA
- Minor IRA (for children with earned income)
- Complete IRA
- SIMPLE IRA
- SEP IRA
The Complete IRA is a really unique idea from E*TRADE. The way it works is simple; after turning 59½, account holders get a debit card and checkbook. Using these withdrawal tools (and bill pay), they are free to make as many withdrawals as they wish from their retirement accounts. E*TRADE adds up all these transactions and sends out 1099-R forms during tax season; each account gets one 1099-R, no matter how many withdrawals are made during the year.
The SEP and SIMPLE accounts are designed for small businesses. Although technically post-tax contributions are now possible in these accounts, E*TRADE’s business IRAs are pre-tax only.
A retirement account at E*TRADE can be opened as a brokerage or robo account; note well that Complete and SIMPLE accounts are brokerage-only.
Besides the IRAs, E*TRADE offers the individual 401(k) plan in both pre-tax and post-tax formats; it is brokerage-only as well.
Obtainable Investments in an IRA at E*TRADE
Once the IRA is open, it will have access to a decent list of tradable instruments. We’re talking:
- U.S.-listed equities
- Option contracts
- Funds (mutual, exchange-traded, and closed-end)
- Fixed-income securities
- Annuities
E*TRADE’s collection of mutual funds includes lifecycle mutual funds, which are designed for retirement saving. The broker’s website also has a bond-ladder tool.
Managed IRAs through E*TRADE’s Core Portfolios program get a shortened list of ETFs.
Brokerage and investment-advisory IRAs are also available through E*TRADE’s parent company, Morgan Stanley; here, many more asset classes are available.
Trading Software for an IRA at E*TRADE
With a brokerage IRA, E*TRADE customers will be able to place trades using the same software that other account holders get. Thus, the E*TRADE website, mobile app, and Power software are fair game. All of these platforms have advanced tools, although beginners should have no problem using any of them.
Limited Margin for IRAs at E*TRADE
An IRA with E*TRADE can upgrade from cash to limited margin; it’s really easy to do this on the broker’s website. After logging in, hover over the Profile link in the top-right corner; in the drop-down list of links, click on Account Preferences.
Scroll down to find the section for Additional Trading Features; in this area, there is a link to add limited margin. Be aware that E*TRADE requires $25,000 in account equity to add this feature.
A limited-margin IRA at E*TRADE can trade with unsettled funds to buy more stocks and options.
The following accounts are ineligible for limited margin:
- Complete IRA
- An IRA linked to a futures account
- A robo IRA
- Minor IRA
- Roth IRA conversion
IRA Fee Schedule at E*TRADE
Once a retirement account at E*TRADE is up and running, it will be subject to the same pricing schedule that other accounts get. This means most trades will be commission-free.
E*TRADE charges no special IRA fees. There is no cost to open, maintain, or close an IRA.
For an IRA that is eligible for limited margin, interest is generally never charged because the account is not able to use an ongoing line of credit.
How to Open an E*TRADE IRA
Opening a retirement account at E*TRADE is a straightforward process. Simply head to the broker’s website and look for the purple button to open a new account; the button is in the upper-right corner.
On the next page, put a check mark in the field for Retirement Account. When you do so, you’ll get these four options:
- SEP IRA
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- Rollover IRA
For any one of those accounts, simply follow the on-screen instructions to open your new IRA.
For the other IRA options, a different route needs to be taken. For a SIMPLE IRA, for instance, click on the Trading & Investing tab in the main menu and select the Accounts link from the list of choices. On the Accounts page, scroll down and you’ll find the link to the SIMPLE application; E*TRADE uses a DocuSign e-document application for this one.
For a robo IRA, click on the Planning & Advice tab in the main menu at the top; this time, select the link for Automated Investing. Here, you can start your robo application and choose an IRA at the end of the digital questionnaire.
In addition to its website, E*TRADE offers IRA applications on its mobile app. Without logging in, look for the purple hyperlink to open an account; it’s on the home page of the app. Click on this link and select Retirement from the drop-down menu; it appears at the top of the screen.
If you want a full-service IRA, you’ll need to visit a Morgan Stanley location and open the account through a financial planner.
IRA Research and Education at E*TRADE
With your retirement account open, it’s time to start doing some research; this is true for both novices and seasoned veterans. With either a brokerage or advisory IRA, you’ll be able to do a lot of investigation on E*TRADE’s website.
To get started, click on the Planning tab in the main menu of E*TRADE’s site; in the drop-down list of selections, click on Overview.
On the Planning page, you’ll see a link to set up a meeting with a Morgan Stanley financial advisor, if you’re so inclined. A second button leads to a self-directed online retirement plan, which of course is super helpful.
Further down the Planning page is a section for Tools and Calculators. Here are some examples we found:
- Calculate conversion to Roth IRA
- Roll over your old 401(k)
- Calculate inherited IRA minimum distributions
- Choose an IRA
- See if taxes may be minimized at distribution
- Compare options for inherited IRAs
- View small business retirement plans
- Calculate 72(t) early payout
Click on the Markets & Ideas tab to get a list of various links, one of which is Tools & Calculators. On this page, we found these links:
- Roth IRA Conversion Calculator
- Inherited IRA Required Minimum Distributions Calculator
- Plan for Retirement
- IRA Selector
- Inherited IRA Guide
- Check Your Required Minimum Distribution Amount
Under the same Markets & Ideas tab, there is a Knowledge link. Click on this to pull up a bunch of educational articles, some of which are devoted to retirement prep, tax planning, and the like.
Best IRA Accounts
IRA Withdrawals and Deposits at E*TRADE
When it comes time to fund an IRA or withdraw from it, E*TRADE’s software delivers. Just log into the website and hover over the Pay & Transfer tab in the main menu. Here, there is a Retirement Transfers link; click on this link to get a page with the following tiles:
- Make a contribution
- Take a distribution
- Roll over an old 401(k)
- Convert to Roth
- Recharacterize IRA contributions
- Upgrade your IRA
An E*TRADE IRA can be funded with an ACH, wire, or check deposit.
Written by Alex Bost
Updated on 8/31/2026.
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