Yes. Many investors choose to supplement their employer sponsored retirement plans with IRAs. Some of the common reasons investors also open IRAs include:

• Tax deduction – If you qualify, contributions to Traditional IRAs may be deductable from your taxable income. To see if you qualify, click here.
  
• More investment options – IRAs allow investors to add mutual funds of their own choosing for their retirement savings.
• 401(k) Consolidation – Traditional IRAs give investors a place to consolidate their retirement plans from former employers. Plans include 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457 plans.
• Maxed out 401(k) – For those that have contributed the maximum amount permitted into their employer retirement plans, IRAs allow for further tax-sheltered retirement savings.

Yes. While contributions to both Traditional and Roth IRAs must be made from earned income, there is an exception if you are married and your spouse has earned income. In this case, your spouse can contribute to an IRA on your behalf. Keep in mind, all other IRA qualifications will still apply.

Yes. If a minor has earned income, you can establish a Custodial IRA. However, keep in mind all standard IRA qualifications will still apply. To open your minor’s account, please call a Shareholder Services Representative at 800-292-7435 (option 1) for additional assistance.

It’s easy to start investing with Ariel Investments. However, before opening your account, be sure to:

• Determine which type of IRA you would like to open—Traditional, Roth or SEP. To review features of each account, view our comparison chart.
• Carefully review the prospectuses for each of our no-load mutual funds.

Once you are ready, visit our Open an Account page.

To invest with Ariel Investments, you must be a U.S. citizen or resident alien, and you must reside in the United States and its territories or have a U.S. Military address. Shares of our mutual funds are offered for sale in the United States and its territories only.

To complete an application, please have the following information available:

• Social Security Number (SSN) or Tax Identification Number (TIN)
• Full Name and Date of Birth
• Residential Address or U.S. Military Address

Additional information you may need:

• For opening an IRA: the address and SSN of your beneficiary
• If opening an account on our website: your bank routing and account number as well as a valid email address

The minimum initial investment for Investor Class shares is $1,000. The minimum initial investment for Institutional Class (Class I) shares is $1 million. The minimum subsequent investment amount is $100.

Please make checks payable to Ariel Investment Trust. Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash, cashier’s checks, travelers checks, money orders, credit cards, credit card checks, third-party checks (except for properly endorsed IRA rollover checks), starter checks or business checks for deposit in individual accounts. We can only accept purchases in U.S. dollars drawn on U.S. banks.

Please call us at 800-292-7435 for instructions on how to invest via wire.

Building wealth takes time and discipline, but it does not require a lot of money. In fact, even small amounts invested regularly can make a big difference over the long-term. Ariel’s Automatic Investment Program makes it easy to stay committed to your long-term goals. Here’s how it works:

1. Keeping in mind IRA contribution limits, decide how much you want to save per month (minimum of $50 each month, per fund you select)
2. Choose among Ariel Fund, Ariel Appreciation Fund, Ariel Focus Fund and Ariel Discovery Fund
3. Tell us if the money will come from your bank account or paycheck

It's that simple! The amount you choose will be automatically deducted each month and deposited into your Ariel account.

To get started, complete our Banking Instructions and Automatic Investment Form or Payroll Direct Deposit Form.

Unfortunately, we cannot accept cash, cashier’s checks, travelers checks, money orders, credit cards, credit card checks, third-party checks (except for properly endorsed IRA rollover checks), starter checks or business checks for deposit in individual accounts. We can only accept purchases in U.S. dollars drawn on U.S. banks.

If you have left your former employer or retired, and wish to rollover your retirement plan to Ariel, you will first need a Traditional IRA account at Ariel Investments. To open an account, please complete our IRA Application and include a copy of your recent statement from the retirement plan. Both documents should be sent to:

Ariel Investment Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701

Once we receive your application, we will open your account and provide you the account number. You can then contact the administrator of your retirement plan and notify them of your intent to rollover the account. They will provide further instructions and may request additional information to complete your request.

To transfer an IRA at another investment firm into your existing Ariel Investments IRA, please complete an IRA Transfer Form. If you do not have an existing Ariel Investments IRA, please also complete an IRA Application. Be sure to include a copy of a recent statement from your current IRA administrator with your transfer form. All documents should be sent to:

Ariel Investment Trust
c/o U.S. Bancorp Fund Services, LLC
P.O. Box 701
Milwaukee, WI 53201-0701

You may also want to contact your current IRA Custodian to see if they require additional forms to finalize the transfer.