The Morningstar Guide to IRA Investing

You may be adding to a Traditional IRA, a Roth IRA, or even an employer-sponsored IRA ahead of the April 18 deadline for tax-year 2015, and looking for investment ideas. Or you might be trying to determine if you should convert some or all of your Traditional IRA assets into a Roth IRA. Or maybe you're just looking to get a handle on how your IRA assets and your taxable accounts look together, as one portfolio.

No matter what your IRA challenge, we've pulled together some useful articles and videos--along with some of our tools--to help.

Articles & Videos Last-Minute IRA Contributors: 10 Mistakes to Avoid Escape analysis paralysis when it comes to selecting the right IRA and getting the money invested. 20 IRA Mistakes to Avoid From contributions to conversions to distributions, don't fall into these traps.

IRA Tips for 2016 Know what you're eligible for, take advantage of workarounds and recharacterization, and--above all--don't wait until the last minute, says retirement expert Ed Slott.

Benz: My Favorite Funds for IRAs Whether you're nearing retirement or still accumulating, these Morningstar analyst-approved holdings are great candidates for tax-sheltered accounts.

Are Nondeductible IRAs Suitable for the Long Haul? Mulling the pros and cons of this retirement-savings vehicle if the 'backdoor' Roth goes bye-bye. 'Backdoor' Roth IRA May Be Closing for Investors Those who are interested in this maneuver should be aware of the stumbling blocks and understand that its days are probably numbered. Should You Tax-Loss Harvest in Your IRA? Conversions and recharacterizations, rather than tax-loss selling, are the better strategy for most.

Helpful Morningstar Tools

This calculator can help you determine your contribution limit for a Roth or Traditional IRA, compare various scenarios to determine what type of IRA is best for you, and find out whether it makes sense to convert from a Traditional to a Roth IRA.

Use this mutual fund screener to uncover the best of breed (funds with a Morningstar Analyst Rating of Gold, Silver, or Bronze) in any investment category.

Looking to invest in stocks in your IRA? Use this screen to find the most undervalued stocks, then customize the results to fit your own criteria.

Get a bird's eye view of how your investment accounts look as one portfolio with our portfolio tools. Our Instant X-Ray function shows your portfolio's overall asset allocation, investment-style breakdown, fees, and more. Premium Members can use our robust Portfolio Manager to track their portfolios over time and gain access to Morningstar Research on their individual holdings.