Insight & Updates

If you read a lot about Self-Directed IRAs, it’s easy to get caught in a specific way of thinking: “Self-Directed IRAs vs. traditional brokerages.” You might start to believe that you have to choose between investing in alternative assets or stocks, with nothing in between. But the truth is that you can use a Self-Directed …

Income is the name of the game if you want financial independence. If you own enough income-generating assets to pay your bills in retirement, you’ve gotten there—goal achieved. But how does it work along the way? What if you own, say, a single-family rental home within a Self-Directed IRA? Can you personally access that income …

The SEP IRA isn’t too hard to understand. If you’re self-employed or own a business, it’s one of the simplest ways to put money aside for retirement. It also comes with high contribution limits, which is especially helpful if you’re trying to catch up on retirement savings. But let’s look at this at a basic …

Be honest. When you first hear about Self-Directed IRAs, your first instinct might be to get a little carried away. Investments of almost any type, wrapped in the tax protections of a retirement account, can sound too good to be true. And in some ways, it is—at least if you misunderstand how these accounts really …

If you bought gold five years ago, congratulations: price movement in 2025 and 2026 means you’re likely doing quite well. But as a Self-Directed IRA administration firm, we don’t tell you what to buy with your retirement account. Instead, we explain how to buy it and execute the transaction on your behalf. So what should …

Let’s say you’ve made the decision. You’re ready to add more alternative assets to your retirement account because you want more diversification than simply owning stock funds. That could mean access to real estate, precious metals, tax liens, and more. But then you start wondering how this is going to look in practice. What kinds …

You’ve heard of Self-Directed IRAs. The proposition is simple: holding your IRA with a Self-Directed IRA administration firm allows you to choose alternative investments that a typical brokerage might not offer. But when it comes to the specific account type you use, that’s a different question. Is a Roth IRA best for you? A Traditional …

Many investors are excited to learn they can invest in real estate within a tax-protected Self-Directed IRA. Then they realize something important: they may need a loan. And since loans typically involve personal guarantees and credit checks, that can seem complicated at first. But there is a specific type of financing that works with retirement …

Let’s face it: tax liens don’t get the attention that gold or real estate do. But that doesn’t mean they’re any worse. If you use a Self-Directed IRA, after all, you want alternative assets. And for the right investor, tax liens can actually feel surprisingly straightforward. Still, a lot of people read the word “tax” …

You know about the HSA—a Health Savings Account. Most people think about these accounts only in terms of healthcare, which makes sense. But fewer people think about them as financial tools, and that’s a shame. A Self-Directed HSA is a powerful way to set money aside for medical expenses, but it can also serve as …