IRA Financial Blog
Insights, strategies, and expert answers on self-directed retirement, taxes, and alternative investing.
Cattle and Livestock Investing in a Self-Directed IRA
Every few months a rancher or farmer calls me to ask whether they can put cattle in their retirement account. They can. Livestock investing in a…
Self-Directed IRA Year-End Checklist (FMV, Form 5498)
Year-end is when Self-Directed IRA owners do the housekeeping that keeps an account compliant and the reporting clean. Alternative assets don’t have…
Solana in a Self-Directed IRA
You can hold Solana in a Self-Directed IRA, either as the token itself or through a spot ETF. I’ve been helping clients buy cryptocurrency with…
How to Buy Land with an IRA
One of the most common questions I get is whether you can buy land with an IRA. You can. A Self-Directed IRA can hold raw land, residential lots,…
Risks of Alternative Assets in an IRA
Alternative assets can add real diversification to a retirement account, but they come with risks that stocks and mutual funds mostly keep out of…
The Future of Alternative Investments in Retirement Accounts: 2027 Outlook
Alternative investments in retirement accounts spent 2026 moving from the margins of retirement planning to the center of the policy conversation.…
Adding Alternative Assets to Target Date Funds
Target date funds are the most likely way private assets will reach everyday 401(k) savers. Most workers never pick individual investments. They…
Declined for a Small Business Loan? How ROBS Can Fund Your Business in 2026
Getting declined for a small business loan stings, especially when you've already put months into a business plan, a lease negotiation, or a…
Oil and Gas Investments in a Self-Directed IRA
Energy is one of the oldest alternative investments around, and plenty of retirement savers want a piece of the cash flow that comes from oil and gas…
Can a 457(b) Be Converted to a Roth?
Teachers, police officers, firefighters, and other public employees often ask me whether their 457(b) can be converted to a Roth. The short answer is…
Solo 401(k) Year-End Checklist
The Solo 401(k) is the most generous retirement plan available to self-employed people, but it's also the one where deadlines sneak up fastest. Some…
How to Raise Capital Using an IRA in 2026
When most private businesses, real estate sponsors, and fund managers think about raising money, they focus on wealthy individuals, family offices,…
