Why would I want to open an IRA?

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I'm fairly certain if I put my investment into a mutual fund or some other stock/bond account, I don't have to pay taxes until I withdraw (capital gains at 15% of the money earned) so compounding isn't an issue. It seems like with a traditional IRA my earnings are taxed at my income tax rate.


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You don't get it. The money you put into your IRA is PRE-TAX dollars.