Investing in an IRA at the last minute. Good idea?

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According to the New York Times, investing in an I.R.A. just before you file your taxes is better than not investing at all, but may not make as much sense as using the money to pay your bills. 

Questions:

  1. What does the article recommend rather than follow the procrastinator strategy or lack of strategy?
  2. What is the amount of difference if you invest in January each year versus April the following year over a 10-year period?
  3. How much less is the procrastinator worth over a 30-year period even if they contribute the same amount as the person that routinely invests at the beginning of the year prior to filing taxes?
  4. In a word, what is the reason for this difference?

Source:

Sommer, J. (2023). Why Investing at the Last Moment Can Hurt Your Returns, February 25 (Retrievable online at https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/25/business/investing-taxes-ira-401k-penalty.html)