Ultimately, what makes or breaks a decision on what type of self-directed IRA is right for you will probably come down to tax structures within the account. That means it’s crucial to understand what these benefits mean, the limitations placed on them, and what that means to you. Self-directed IRAs are powerful tools that can […]
Multiple Methods for Investing in Real Estate in a Self-Directed IRA
Utilizing real estate as an investment opportunity is possible with any amount of money. It’s one of the most sustainable methods for building wealth over time. A significant number of the world’s wealthiest people have made their empires using real estate. Real estate is a relatively safe and understood vehicle that gives investors options. Here […]
Investing in Precious Metals with your Retirement Account (updated for 2021)
Should you invest in gold? Answers to this question tend to gravitate toward one extreme or the other. Many investors on one side of this discussion believe that investing in gold is a losing proposition because it does not pay any interest and dividends and it costs money to store and protect. On the other […]
What you Need to Know About REITs Before Diving in
You may or may not know that REITs (real-estate investment trusts) that invest in all sorts of commercial real estate, have been a favorite of investors for years. Why are REITs a favorite? There are a few reasons why. Get used to volatility REITs can definitely play it hot and cold, and they aren’t a […]
What Does a Small Business Owner Need to Know About SEP IRAs?
A Simplified Employee Pension Plan, or a SEP IRA, is a retirement plan specifically designed for people with self-employment income, like those who are self-employed or are small business owners. A SEP retirement plan can help you contribute funds to your retirement savings account while reducing your taxable income. Who can contribute to a SEP […]
What Is an HSA and How Does It Work?
A health savings account (HSA) is an account for you to contribute pre-taxed dollars to later pay for qualified medical expenses. By contributing to an HSA, you can pay for established medical, dental, and mental health services. It can be used to pay for deductibles, copayments, coinsurance, or a variety of other expenses. It may […]
Estate and Financial Planning Guide for Families of Children With Special Needs
Everyone, no matter how wealthy, has an estate — all of your personal belongings, money, and assets — that needs to be taken care of after you pass away. Similarly, everyone has a default estate plan outlined by their state government, but this plan likely doesn’t align with your wishes, benefit your assets, or result […]
What Are Alternative Investments?
An alternative investment is exactly what it sounds like: a financial asset that exists outside the scope of traditional investment categories such as stocks, bonds, or cash. You can still use an alternative investment to contribute to traditional investments, but unconventionally, like shorting a stock or arbitraging a stock between two different markets. From cryptocurrency […]
Control your Investments With a Checkbook IRA
Do you have an IRA or a 401K? According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, in 2013, about 45 percent of households aged 25 to 64 had balances in retirement accounts. Do those 45 percent of Americans know what their retirement accounts are invested in? Most likely not, and that doesn’t bother most […]
How to Use a Self-Directed IRA to Invest in a Real Estate Investment Trust
A real estate investment trust is a company that owns or finances real estate. A REIT will invest in rental properties (known as equity REITs), or finance the mortgages (known as mREITs), or both. If you know how a mutual fund works, REITs operate similarly. Investors pool their money to build enough capital to fund […]
As a Small Business Owner, What Are Your Retirement Plan Options?
Being self-employed gives you a certain measure of freedom, but it definitely doesn’t give you an out on skipping on something as important as saving for retirement. There’s an argument that it makes putting money away that much more critical, because unlike an employee who might have access to a 401K, you’re on your own. […]
Why Not Both? Operating a 401K and an IRA Simultaneously
If you contribute to your 401K account, you may still contribute to a Roth IRA and/or a traditional IRA, as long as you meet the IRA’s eligibility requirements. However, if you wish to contribute to a traditional IRA and take a tax deduction for that contribution, depending on your income, your contribution to your employer’s […]