| FAQs |
 Following are some frequently asked questions about Self-directed IRAs.
1. What is a self-directed IRA?
A self-directed IRA is a retirement account that puts you in control of choosing your IRA’s investment. Unlike most retirement accounts whose investments are chosen by an account and/or fund manager, you choose what to invest in with a self-directed IRA.
This allows you to diversify your retirement portfolio’s investment and maximize returns.
2. What types of investments can I make with my self-directed IRA funds?
Exclusive, rather than inclusive, rules govern self-directed IRAs. This means that the guidelines spell out what you cannot invest in. This is actually by design because the list of what you cannot invest in is much shorter than what you can invest in.
Following are some of investments that are prohibited with a self-directed IRA: collectibles (eg, coin collections); S-Corp capital stock; and insurance contracts.
The investment possibilities with a self-directed IRA are practically unlimited. Following is small listing of what you can invest in: all forms of residential and commercial real estate, mortgages, mutual funds, stocks, private placements, notes, tax liens, trust deeds and more.
Because there are such a broad range of investment vehicles, you can structure the diversity of your portfolio any way you like.
3. Can I open a self-directed IRA online?
There are a couple of ways to open a self-directed IRA.
Fax: You can print out the forms, fill them out and then fax them in. Our fax number is 512-495-9554.
Call: Contact us at 866-928-9394 and one of our knowledgeable self directed IRA account specialists will assist you in opening your self-directed IRA.
4. Can I roll over or transfer existing retirement accounts into a self-directed IRA?
Yes, you can. You can do cash transfers, rollovers from existing retirement accounts, transfers from stock and mutual fund accounts, and transfers from brokerage accounts.
How long it takes will depend on what type of account you are transferring and/or rolling over. The process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months. Immediately upon the funds clearing in your account, you can start investing (subject to initial statutory 7 day right of rescission).
It’s that simple.
5. Self-directed IRAs seem like are an ideal way to take control over my retirement funds. Why don’t more people know about them?
Simple politics and marketing might explain this. To explain, traditional IRA suppliers control roughly 97% of the IRA market. And, like any organized lobby, they use their marketing dollars to stay front and center with consumers.
Furthermore, IRA mangers work for companies who promote certain IRA products and services. As they make their money from selling products the company promotes, it’s no wonder that self-directed IRAs have not become mainstream.
More and more Americans are taking control of their hard-earned retirement dollars. The internet makes it easy to conduct detailed research, get instant feedback, track investment vehicles and make informed investment decision.
Read more about this here. |
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866-928-9394
