Kiss that sales charge goodbye, and keep more of your money

— -- Q: I get hit with a 4.5% "sales charge" when I contribute to my Roth IRA. Am I getting ripped off?

A: With Roth IRAs, the government is doing its best to help you save for your retirement. But that doesn't mean brokers and investment companies are as concerned about your future.

Sounds to me your broker or brokerage firm is hitting you with a stiff commission that's probably not appropriate for you. There is no requirement that you pay any such fee. If you're not getting anything for that steep fee, it's up to you to stand up for yourself and move your money. That fee is eating into the benefits of the Roth IRA.

You should be able to move your money to most mutual fund companies or discount brokerage firms and not be charged a fee. Although, the broker you're leaving might hit you with a transfer fee. But after that, you should not be paying 4.5% every time you contribute to your Roth.

Vanguard Group, for instance, offers Roth IRA fee-free accounts that let you buy any of their family of mutual funds. And the annual expenses charged by Vanguard's funds are some of the lowest in the industry.

One tip: In moving the money, call Vanguard, or the company of your choice, and ask them to go get the money for you. If you withdraw money from the Roth IRA yourself, or take a check from your broker, the IRS is going to want to know the details.

Again, I don't know what you're getting for that 4.5%fee. Maybe the brokerage is giving you other services that are worth that much to you, say, terrific advice, access to a safe deposit box, special higher rates on money market funds or some other perk. But if you're not getting anything for it, move your money and retire a few years earlier than you would if you keep paying that fee.

Matt Krantz is a financial markets reporter at USA TODAY and author of Investing Online for Dummies. He answers a different reader question every weekday in his Ask Matt column at money.usatoday.com. To submit a question, e-mail Matt at mkrantz@usatoday.com. Click here to see previous Ask Matt columns.