When you record a securities deployment — stocks, ETFs, crypto, bonds, mutual funds, or precious metals — Policy Stack asks for the account type. This article explains what that field captures and why it matters for tracking.
Where You Set It
The account type lives in Step 2 — Details of the Add Asset wizard, alongside the symbol, institution, units, cost basis, and acquired date. Step 2's header reads Type-specific details — Tell us about this asset. The label on the field is Account type.
The Six Account Types
Policy Stack records securities under one of six account types:
- Taxable brokerage — a standard non-retirement investment account. Realized gains, dividends, and interest are taxable in the year received.
- Traditional IRA — a tax-deferred individual retirement account. Contributions may be deductible; withdrawals in retirement are taxed as income.
- Roth IRA — a post-tax individual retirement account. Qualified withdrawals (including earnings) are tax-free.
- 401(k) — an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Contributions reduce current taxable income; withdrawals are taxed as income.
- HSA — a Health Savings Account paired with a high-deductible health plan. Contributions, growth, and qualified medical withdrawals are all tax-advantaged.
- Other — anything that doesn't fit cleanly above (a 403(b), 529, SEP IRA, taxable trust account, and so on). Use the field to capture the institution and add detail in notes.