Spouse Roth IRA

[Guest jfondell]

Hello all, I want to open an Roth IRA for my spouse however she is not working as of now due to medical illness. She has Leukemia so I have many questions regarding my situation. I am 37 and she is 36 I just opened the roth for myself this year, I am getting started way late with retirement savings so I need to try to catch up. Would it be in my interest right now to open a spousal IRA given her medical condition?

Thanks all for your help

[J Simmons]

Yes, it makes sense. If she survives the leukemia, and reaches retirement, the two of you will have more expenses than if just you survive to retirement. If she does not, then her IRA balance will help you catch up (as you put it), provided you are the one she has named as the death beneficiary on her IRA at the time of her death.