First Paycheck to First Roth IRA (2026 Guide)

Got a job? You can open a Roth IRA. This 8-page guide walks college students through it in plain English: who qualifies, how much you can put in for 2026, where to open one, and what to do after so your money actually grows.

What's inside

• The 60-second version, plus why college is the best time to start (with a $75-a-month example)
• Do I qualify? What counts as earned income (part-time jobs, tips, work-study, side gigs) and what doesn't
• How much you can put in for 2026: up to $7,500 or what you earned, with examples
• Roth vs. Traditional IRA vs. a regular brokerage account, side by side
• The "escape hatch": what you can take out any time, and what stays locked
• Where to open one, what to look for, and a 15-minute step-by-step setup
• What to put inside it: target-date funds, total market and S&P 500 index funds, explained
• Mistakes students make and a student FAQ (financial aid, the Saver's Credit, being claimed as a dependent)
• My Roth IRA plan worksheet and checklist

Pairs with the free Paycheck Calculator: find out how much you could invest each month, then use this guide to decide where to put it.

Instant digital download (PDF, 8 pages). Figures current as of October 2026, from IRS sources.

Educational guide only, not tax, legal or investment advice. Written by a college student, not a licensed professional. Investing involves risk.