RatonBob,

Thanks for the info.  Is there any way for me to liquidate my American Funds IRA and take the money and start a new IRA somewhere else without a penalty?  Does this constitute a Roth to Roth Rollover?

The govt would just have to make sure I use the money from the IRA and use it to open another IRA, I suppose.  I would provide any documentation necessary to make this happen.