I believe IRA (in the context I mean it) stands for Individual Retirement Account. It's a way to put aside money now that you can pull out of the account later, tax free (since the money you put in has already been taxed). You can't pull the money out of the account until you turn 59 (i think), but in the meantime, you're allowed to use it to buy stock or mutual funds or myriad other similar investments. Hopefully, all of this will mean that I can retire a rich man someday, and devote all my time to my new copy of Bryce 12, and maybe doing a lot more sailing than I get to do now :)