Vanguard offers Roth IRAs which allow your earnings to grow tax-free and are also tax-free when you take distributions at retirement age. Vanguard offers a range of low-cost investments and easy account management. For most Vanguard funds, a minimum initial investment of $3,000 per fund to open a Vanguard IRA.
My parents opened a Roth IRA for me in the STAR mutual fund a while ago in Vanguard and since then, I have contributed greatly to the fund and received some benefits. The fun itself has a 3000$ minimum starting balance limit and you can contribute anything up to a certain amount per year. It is a great way to plan for retirement and there are many different funds to choose from such as Target Retirement accounts which put a great percentage of $ in stocks and gradually convert them to bonds as you approach retirement. Because of the flexibility to contribute any amount per month and the knowledge that you can take out money for your first car, home etc. helps me contribute a little each month. The customer service for Vanguard is also excellent and if you have any questions regarding your accounts or what certain terms mean, they are more than happy to help you. I think everyone should have a Roth IRA with Vanguard and plan for their retirement.
I originally opened my Roth IRA through my bank, but transferred to Vanguard after the first year, hoping to escape management fees. I'm quite happy with the range of investment options available (compared to my previous bank). Vanguard's in-house funds are also great for setting up automatic, monthly deposits without having to worry about transaction fees.
Much like Fidelity and some other IRA providers, Vanguard has some in-house, target retirement funds (e.g. 2045 or 2050), which dynamically change their allocations and risk-level as you approach retirement age (along the lines of "set it and forget it"). While none of the target retirement funds are likely to out-perform the choices of a seasoned investor, they're a great option for beginners.
Lastly, the web interface is top-notch compared to some others I've used (e.g. my bank and other employer-affiliated 401k plans).
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| 15 Year Fixed | 4.62%  |
4.67% |
| 30 Year Fixed | 5.15% | 5.15% |
| 1 Year ARM | 3.48% |
3.51% |
| 5/1 Year ARM | 3.62% |
3.68% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Line of Credit | 4.89%  |
4.88% |
| 10 Year Loan | 7.47% | 7.47% |
| 15 Year Loan | 7.61% |
7.60% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Interest Checking | 0.28% | 0.28% |
| Money Market/Savings | 0.38% | 0.38% |
| 12 Month CD | 1.13%  |
1.15% |
| 60 Month IRA CD | 2.40% |
2.41% |
| Type | Today | Week Ago |
|---|---|---|
| Cash Back Cards | 12.66% |
12.68% |
| No Annual Fee Cards | 12.08% |
11.97% |
| Reward Cards | 12.75% |
12.61% |
| Small Business Cards | 11.01% |
10.94% |
| Student Cards | 13.77% |
13.49% |
| Platinum Cards | 12.26% |
12.11% |
