There's no reason why you can't leave the Traditional IRA just as it is, to accumulate interest till you retire, and start contributing to a Roth. If both are invested the same way, there will be no difference in total return. When I first started investing, I had a mental block about splitting up money into different accounts, until it was gently pointed out to me, here on the Fool, that it didn't actually make any difference in return. Somehow I thought I would earn 'more' returns if everything was in the same account.

I would definitely apply some scrutiny to your broker if he is 'pressuring' you. The advice to open a Roth is sound, especially since you (1) can't convert your existing IRA to a Roth because your AGI is too high (2) AND you are not eligible for deductible Traditional IRA contributions, because you are eligible for your 401(k). But, reading between the lines, it sounds like there may be some commission or fee at stake for him. You *aren't* talking about investing in a load fund or anything heinous like that, are you?

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