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Insight & Updates

Stay informed with the latest insights, industry trends, and expert perspectives on self-directed retirement investing.

Four Steps to Starting a Self-Directed IRA

A Self-Directed IRA gives investors the flexibility to build a retirement portfolio beyond traditional stocks and mutual funds, opening the door to a broader range of investment opportunities. While many investors want to move quickly once they discover those possibilities, getting started doesn’t have to be complicated. By breaking the process into four simple steps, …

Can You Invest Self-Directed IRA Money in Private Companies?

A Self-Directed IRA can give investors access to private company investments, offering opportunities beyond the traditional stock market while preserving the tax advantages of a retirement account. Some of the most significant wealth creation stories begin long before a company ever reaches the public markets. Many well-known businesses spent years as private companies before becoming …

Self-Directed IRA in Five Steps

Opening a Self-Directed IRA may sound complicated at first. After all, many investors have never used one before. But the process is often more straightforward than people expect. This type of retirement account allows you to invest retirement funds in a broader range of assets than many traditional retirement accounts. Depending on the account and …

Are Self-Directed IRAs the Key to Financial Freedom?

Self-Directed IRAs give investors the opportunity to take greater control of their retirement strategy while expanding their investment options beyond traditional stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. At American IRA, we often highlight Self-Directed IRAs as a flexible retirement solution because they offer the same basic tax advantages as other IRAs while allowing eligible investors to …

Different Types of Real Estate Assets in a Self-Directed IRA

A Self-Directed IRA can hold certain types of real estate, giving investors the opportunity to diversify their retirement portfolios beyond traditional stocks and bonds. However, investing in real estate through a Self-Directed IRA is not the same as placing your personal home into a retirement account. You cannot hold your primary residence—or any property you …

Can Self-Directed IRA Investors Catch up on Retirement Investing?

A Self-Directed IRA can be a valuable tool for investors who want more control over their retirement strategy, especially if they want to strengthen their retirement savings later in life. Retirement planning is a lifelong journey. However, many investors eventually wonder whether they can catch up after starting later than they originally planned. A Self-Directed …

Can Investors Build Wealth with Self-Directed IRA Private Notes?

Can Investors Build Wealth with Self-Directed IRA Private Notes? For many investors, retirement investing often follows a familiar formula: stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. Those investments can play an important role in building long-term wealth, but they’re not the only options available. A Self-Directed IRA allows investors to diversify beyond traditional assets and explore …

Are Self-Directed IRAs Better Than Using Traditional Brokers?

Self-Directed IRAs give investors an alternative to the traditional brokerage approach to retirement investing. For many people, retirement investing means working with a brokerage firm and choosing from a menu of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and ETFs. That’s a familiar approach, and for many investors, it works well. However, it’s not the only option. A …

Questions to Ask Before Opening a Self-Directed CESA

If you’re looking for ways to save for a child’s education, you’ve probably noticed one thing: education costs can add up quickly. Whether you’re planning for private school, college, or other qualified educational expenses, finding a tax-advantaged way to save can make a meaningful difference over time. One option some families explore is a Self-Directed …

Can a Precious Metals IRA Help Save For Retirement?

A Precious Metals IRA can help retirement investors diversify their portfolios during changing economic conditions. Economic headlines can be difficult to interpret. Interest rates rise and fall. Housing markets shift. Inflation concerns come and go. Even professional economists often disagree about where the economy is headed next. As a result, many retirement investors focus less …