How Tax Liens Can Strengthen a Self-Directed IRA Portfolio Tax liens don’t always get the best press. They’re often mentioned in the same breath as unpaid bills and delinquent properties. But for retirement investors, they can be an overlooked source of opportunity. With a Self-Directed IRA, you can buy tax lien certificates, earn interest at …

Checkbook Control IRAs: How They Give You True Investment Freedom When people first hear about “checkbook control,” it can sound almost too good to be true. Imagine having a retirement account that lets you write a check, wire funds, or swipe a debit card to make an investment—without waiting on a custodian to approve every …

Why a Self-Directed Roth IRA Can Offer Long-Term Flexibility Most people think retirement accounts lock you in. You put in the money, pick from a short list of funds, and wait decades to see what happens. A Self-Directed Roth IRA challenges that idea. It opens the door to tax-free growth—while the “Self-Directed” part gives you …

How a Self-Directed IRA LLC Works for Alternative Assets Think of an LLC like the keys to a car. Without it, you can still ride along, but you don’t control where the vehicle goes. With it, you’re in the driver’s seat. A Self-Directed IRA LLC works the same way. It gives you the control to …

Essential Facts About Private Lending in a Self-Directed IRA Think about it. Not everyone can walk into a bank and get approved for a loan. But what if your retirement dollars could step in? That’s exactly what happens with private lending in a Self-Directed IRA. Instead of relying on Wall Street, you become the lender. …

Estate Planning Benefits of a Self-Directed Roth IRA Ask the average person on the street about estate planning, and they’ll probably tell you it’s all about wills and trusts. And sure, that’s partially true. But your retirement accounts can play an important role, too, especially if you have a Self-Directed Roth IRA. Because of its …

How A Self-Directed IRA LLC Makes Investing Simpler When people first hear about a Self-Directed IRA LLC, they sometimes imagine it’s going to be complicated. It makes sense. After all, “IRA” and “LLC” are both acronyms you usually see in the fine print. But the truth is, this structure is designed to make investing easier, …

Choosing the Right Self-Directed IRA So you’ve decided to take more control of your retirement strategy? Great. That’s a big first step. A Self-Directed IRA opens the door to alternative investments. Real estate, private loans, precious metals, and more; they’re all here. It puts you in the position to decide what goes in your account. …

Building a Balanced Portfolio with Precious Metals in Your IRA Precious metals are doing well. Not only are prices up recently, but they’ve stood for centuries. That’s because gold and silver are tangible, they hold intrinsic value, and they’ve been trusted across centuries and civilizations. But the role of metals (especially in a Self-Directed IRA) …

Investing in Private Notes with a Self-Directed IRA Some investors like owning buildings. But buildings are big, they’re high-maintenance, and they can be complicated. Other investors prefer something simpler. That’s where private notes come in. Instead of buying real estate, you become the lender—collecting payments, earning interest, and letting someone else handle the property. And …

Key Ways to Use a Self-Directed SEP IRA Self-employed? Own a small business? You probably already know too much about how much responsibility sits on your shoulders. But when it comes to retirement planning, that extra control can be a good thing. That’s especially true if you’re using a Self-Directed SEP IRA. These accounts are …

Exploring Alternative Investments with a Self-Directed IRA It’s easy to think of retirement investing as a checklist. Open an IRA. Pick a few mutual funds. Cross your fingers, wait 30 years. But for a growing number of investors, that traditional model doesn’t feel quite right. They want more control and more options. That’s where a …