What is the best way to ensure that you don’t engage in a prohibited transaction when investing in a Self-Directed Real Estate IRA? In a word: knowledge. At American IRA, we recognize that our experience as a Self-Directed IRA firm means that we’re administrators and custodians on accounts; we don’t make decisions for you. That’s …

Ever heard that it’s a good idea to use a Self-Directed IRA? Of course, you have. Everyone seems to know that using a Self-Directed IRA will yield retirement benefits that include tax savings. But you might not be aware of all of the potential benefits that come with investing in Self-Directed IRAs until you take …

“What? You own a house within an IRA? Isn’t that against the rules?” If you’ve ever invested in real estate within a Self-Directed IRA, you might be familiar with this refrain. And it’s true: if you own your house within a Self-Directed IRA—one you use personally—then that is against the rules. But it’s perfectly in …

These days, investors who do a lot of research into retirement accounts are interested in squeezing every last drop out of the tax-advantaged accounts available to them. And that’s a good thing! It means that people are interested in using their know-how to take control over their financial destiny. However, the wide range of information …

Putting together a retirement plan seems easy on paper. But what happens when you have to make decisions as to which retirement vehicles you are going to use? Many investors first hearing about the Self-Directed Solo 401(k) plan they learn that they have to take a considerable amount of power into their own hands. That …

For many people, retirement investing means handing over some money out of a paycheck and hoping that the funds they’ve chosen will do well. And when they do want to take more control over that money, they discover that their options can feel limited. So, what can you do if you want to exercise more …

Putting money aside for retirement is a no-brainer. People know they have to save. The question isn’t whether to do it, but how to do it. For many investors, that means investing in Real Estate. Real Estate has a long tradition of holding on to its value, as well as generating extra income through the …

When you read up on Self-Directed IRAs, you might be impressed with just how many investment vehicles and assets you can own in them. There is, after all, a lot of freedom to enjoy when you direct your own IRA. But does this mean you have unlimited freedom? Of course not. To realize the tax …

While the Traditional IRA might be the oldest type of retirement account in the United States, that doesn’t mean many people know all of the ins and outs of these accounts. What exactly is a Traditional IRA, how does it work, and what does it mean when an investor uses a Self-Directed Traditional IRA? What …

You might have heard of the Roth IRA. But if you’re new to the concept of retirement investing, you might not know what makes this account type so unique from the others. That’s why it’s important to not only understand what happens when you use a Self-Directed Roth IRA, but the basic facts that separate …

Ask most people about what the typical retirement assets are, and you will probably get one of a few answers. Stocks. Bonds. Stock funds, bond funds. For many people, retirement investing is simply a way of choosing between the different variables possible within just two asset classes. But if you use a Self-Directed IRA, you …

You have done your homework. You have read up on the Self-Directed IRAs available to you. You have learned what self-directing means, and you may even have a plan for investing your money once you have a Self-Directed IRA open. But there’s still that first barrier to cross: the all-important first step. What is the …