Roth or traditional IRA — which one should I open?

A traditional IRA may cut your taxes now and taxes every dollar you take out later. A Roth IRA gives you no break today, but withdrawals in retirement — including all the growth — are tax-free, and you can take your contributions back out any time without penalty. The right pick depends on your tax bracket now vs. later, whether your job already gives you a match, and how much flexibility you need. This is education, not tax advice.