Paying low balance fees on mutual fund in Roth IRA

[chrisb71]

This should be easy,

For my mutual funds in a Roth IRA, regarding the special fees like low balance fees ($10 a year)

Can I pay that with money outside the IRA? So that 10 bucks doesn't have to come out of my $4000 per year?

Or does it count towards the $4000 ?

 

[Whakamole]

Depends, but many will let you pay the fee with outside money. AFAIK, it does NOT count as a contribution.

Vanguard always let me do it, anyway.

 

[malakito]

If it's Vanguard you're talking about, it depends. They'll let you pay the IRA custodial fees with outside $ and it doesn't count as a contribution. Low balance fees can't be prepaid and are deducted from the value of the account (typically by selling shares and/or confiscating your dividend).

In any case, check with the IRA custodian, they'll know for sure.

malakito

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

See if anyone else in your family has an account with that investment company.

Vanguard, for example, allows family members to 'lump' the family holdings to exceed and eliminate the nuisance fees. When I got married, a phone call had them extend my 'flagship' status to my wifes roth, which took out the annual fees.

Different fund homes, different rules, different determination on what consitutes 'family'.