Good question!
In general, you can't contribute securities to an IRA, but you can make a cash contribution from a non-IRA account. However, you can make an in-kind transfer of securities from another IRA or 401(k). For example, you can roll over a 401(k) balance into a traditional IRA when you leave a job. This allows you to continue deferring taxes on the account's earnings until you retire.
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