We talk about a lot of different topics here at American IRA. You can find information about what you can invest in with a Self-Directed IRA. We talk about the different types of Self-Directed IRA accounts you can open. But we don’t always back up and tell you a more central reason you should sift through this information: why you should care. Why do Self-Directed IRAs matter, and how will they be integral to your life and retirement journey? Here are a few thought, as explored by our own Sean McKay. Self-Directed IRAs Let You Invest Protected Money with Contribution Limits The simple reason t ..read more

Before Your Self-Directed IRA: Self-Directed Traditional IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs… the list goes on. By the time you learn all of the options you have at your disposal, it’s easy to feel like your head is spinning. But one of the key decisions to make as you consider your Self-Directed retirement journey is simple: which type of Self-Directed IRA account is right for you? It’s a lot to think about. That’s why we’ve compiled a list of questions you’ll want to consider before you open your account with a Self-Directed IRA administration firm like American IRA. Let’s explore some of those questi ..read more

When you think about issuing a loan from your retirement funds, you might think it sounds like something only someone with a huge army of accountants can achieve. But you can do it simply via Private IRA Lending. Using a Self-Directed IRA for private notes is a perfectly valid investment as long as you stick to the rules and regulations of how Self-Directed IRAs work. However, today’s post will go a step beyond that, asking: what kinds of options are available to you, once you decide that private IRA lending is the route you want to go? Here are some options to consider. Mortgages and Trust De ..read more

The world is increasingly online. That means many aspects of our lives—from our most intimate personal details to our financial details—are also online. If you want a Self-Directed IRA, it’s likely because you want to secure a solid financial future for yourself and your family. But you can’t do that unless you can be confident in the security of the account itself. Here at American IRA, we have a few ideas on how to maintain security with your account because we’ve been helping people like you. Here’s how we’d approach securing your Self-Directed IRA so you can invest with confidence. America ..read more

Are you considering a Self-Directed IRA for your retirement savings? You’re making a wise choice by exploring the right ideas. While traditional approaches to IRAs offer valuable tax benefits and retirement savings opportunities, a Self-Directed Traditional IRA—which is a specific type of account—takes it a step further. Using a Self-Directed Traditional IRA gives you increased control and flexibility over your investments. Let’s delve into some of the key benefits of a Self-Directed Traditional IRA. Maximizing Tax Deductions Through a Self-Directed IRA One of the primary advantages of a Self ..read more

Did you know that you can hold private company stock within a retirement account? It may not be what everyone has in the IRA, but for those investors who are able to spot great opportunities early, it can be transformative. Using a Self-Directed IRA, you can open yourself up to all sorts of alternative asset classes—and few can be as exciting as a private company. Private company investing can offer potentially high returns for those willing to take on a degree of risk. In this post, we’ll dive into how private company investing works with a Self-Directed IRA. We’ll also talk about the benefit ..read more

You never know how the financial world is going to change. For people who expect big risks, spreading out their own risk across multiple asset classes is the wises path forward. It’s a strategy known as diversification. But rather than ask how to diversify, more investors should probably ask: what’s the best tool for achieving diversification? While traditional retirement accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs can offer  some level of diversification, they often limit your investment options to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. However, with a Self-Directed IRA, you have the flexibility to invest ..read more

A lot of investors don’t know how much potential their accounts have. While you might think about occasionally investing a little bit of money into a Roth IRA, for example, many traditional brokerages don’t offer you a lot of options for maximizing that money. But if you invest in a Self-Directed IRA and use real estate in that IRA—which we sometimes refer to as having a “Real Estate IRA”—you’d be amazed at what you can accomplish within a retirement portfolio. Let’s explore. Unlocking Different Opportunities in Real Estate IRAs When you invest in stocks, you probably hope the stocks go up. Th ..read more

You might have heard of the Self-Directed IRA and all that it can do for your retirement. It can open up all sorts of avenues for investment—from real estate to precious metals. And it can give you more freedom and control beyond the typical stocks and bonds. Whether you’re interested in real estate, precious metals, private equity, or other alternative investments, a Self-Directed IRA can be a powerful tool for diversifying your portfolio and potentially enhancing your returns. But one question remains: How do you start a Self-Directed IRA if you’ve never been part of this world before? Over ..read more

Education savings is already hard. Not only are tuitions going up, but with recent inflation, it seems like every dollar has to stretch further and further just for the average investor to make ends meet. One potential solution for investors is the Self-Directed Coverdell Education Savings Account—a way for investors to not only put money away for education savings, but to receive tax-protected benefits when they do so. And while this kind of account can be a great idea, it’s also worth nothing that there are some strict rules for how they work. By adequately planning your habits to fit within ..read more