If you’re seeking alternative investments such as real estate or tax liens that your current IRA custodian won’t permit, such as self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs). But before moving ahead with any such account it’s essential that you understand its rules and regulations.
SDIRAs provide an effective way of diversifying retirement portfolios by investing in traditionally off-limits alternative assets. However, the owner of an SDIRA must do his or her own due diligence on potential investment opportunities before opening one up.
What is a self-directed IRA?
Self-directed IRAs allow investors to invest in assets other than stocks, such as real estate and private equity investments. According to Syet Nishat of Wall Street Alliance Group, these investments offer diversification and control while still enjoying tax advantages of an IRA. A good custodian should support you through the process and rules so as to prevent costly mistakes being made by you during investment.
An SDIRA can also provide an easy and accessible way to take advantage of alternative investments like promissory notes, trust deeds and tax lien certificates. But before opening an SDIRA account, make sure you fully understand its risks; these assets often carry significantly more risk than conventional stocks and bonds as well as higher fees and complex recordkeeping compared with them – so if you’re uncomfortable with such risks it may be best to opt for more traditional investments instead.
Remember that even when investing in alternative assets, certain things must remain out of bounds. For instance, it’s against the law to pay yourself or anyone disqualified by law to perform maintenance work on property owned by your IRA, rent it to unqualified tenants, or live there yourself – these rules are complex and it is vitally important that you remain compliant.
Once your self-directed IRA is established, it’s time to begin investing. Funds from any retirement account – Roth, Traditional or SEP IRA for small business owners – may be used. Transferring traditional or Roth funds is a straightforward process and won’t trigger a tax event – just remember you must meet minimum distribution requirements by age 59 1/2 or incur a 10% early withdrawal penalty and income taxes on those withdrawals.
How does a self-directed IRA work?
Self-directed IRAs provide greater investment flexibility than most traditional brokerage firms do. You have more freedom in choosing the assets you invest in – such as real estate, tax liens and LLC membership interests that may not be permitted with an account held at a broker – but at the same time have access to riskier yet potentially higher-return investments such as Bitcoin or early stage private companies.
However, due to complex IRS rules related to this account type, you will need professional advice before investing in nontraditional assets such as mutual funds or ETFs. Furthermore, make sure your chosen custodian has experience managing these types of investments.
Consideration should also be given to the fact that some assets, particularly real estate and physical gold, may be less liquid than stocks, ETFs and mutual funds, meaning it might take longer for you to sell them and recover your funds when needed quickly. You will likely incur additional fees through self-directed IRAs such as management and trading fees, storage fees and insurance premiums.
Make sure you understand the rules surrounding using your retirement account to purchase property that you live in – something the IRS frowns upon as this practice, known as self-dealing, may result in fines and penalties from them. Furthermore, avoid engaging in transactions involving disqualified parties such as family members or business associates as this may incur fines and penalties as well.
Lastly, if you own a small-business and wish to use your self-directed IRA to invest in it, the Solo 401(k) might be right for you. While not ideal for most individuals, this plan could prove extremely valuable for small-business owners who can contribute both ways; whether traditional or Roth IRA contributions and Solo 401(k).
