A Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) is a retirement account that allows you to invest in a wider range of assets beyond traditional stocks and mutual funds. With a Self-Directed IRA, you have full control over your investments and can diversify into real estate, private equity, cryptocurrency, tax liens, precious metals, and more—all while maintaining the tax advantages of a traditional or Roth IRA.
Unlike standard IRAs offered by banks or brokerage firms, a self-directed retirement account requires a specialized IRA custodian to hold your assets and ensure IRS compliance. However, you make all investment decisions, giving you the flexibility to grow your retirement savings on your terms.
IRA Financial is a trusted Self-Directed IRA custodian with industry-leading expertise, no hidden fees, and direct access to retirement specialists.
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Ability to invest in alternative assets.
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100% Self-Directed IRA solutions.
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A Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) lets you take charge of your retirement investments. Open an account easily and start diversifying on your terms.
Grow your wealth faster with tax-deferred or tax-free investment gains, allowing your money to compound over time without immediate tax burdens.
Move beyond stocks and bonds to invest in alternative assets like real estate, cryptocurrency, private equity, precious metals, and more, expanding your opportunities for growth.
Take advantage of high-growth investments that regular IRAs don’t allow, potentially maximizing long-term returns.
Choose where and how to invest without relying on traditional brokerage firms, giving you full authority over your portfolio.
Act quickly on investment opportunities with streamlined execution, reducing delays that can impact returns.
An IRA custodian handles administrative tasks and facilitates transactions while you maintain full decision-making power.
Structure investments to reduce liability risks and safeguard your wealth for long-term financial security.
Many Self-Directed IRA custodians charge asset-based fees that grow as your portfolio increases, cutting into your returns. With our flat fee structure, you pay a predictable, fixed cost—no hidden fees, no percentage-based charges, just full transparency.
| IRA Financial | Other Providers | |
|---|---|---|
| Flat Annual Fee | Yes | No |
| $0 Account & Transaction Fees | Yes | No |
| $0 Admin & Processing Fees | Yes | No |
| Expert-Guided Investments | Yes | No |
| Guaranteed IRS Audit Protection | Yes | Yes |
| Annual Tax Consulting | Yes | No |
| Annual Reporting & Filing Service | Yes | No |
Schedule a free consultation with a member of our team to explore how opening a self-directed retirement account can unlock your ability to invest tax-free in a variety of alternative assets.
At IRA Financial, you can diversify your portfolio by investing in a wide range of alternative assets beyond traditional stocks and bonds. These include:
Residential, commercial, raw land, and rental properties.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, and other digital assets.
Gold, silver, and other IRS-approved metals.
Acquire property liens for potential returns.
Invest in startups, private companies, and venture capital.
Invest in a non-public company through the sale of securities.
Answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about Self-Directed IRAs.
A Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) is a retirement account that allows you to invest in a wider range of assets beyond traditional stocks and mutual funds. With a Self-Directed IRA, you have full control over your investments and can diversify into real estate, private equity, cryptocurrency, tax liens, precious metals, and more—all while maintaining the tax advantages of a traditional or Roth IRA.
Unlike standard IRAs offered by banks or brokerage firms, a self-directed retirement account requires a specialized IRA custodian to hold your assets and ensure IRS compliance. However, you make all investment decisions, giving you the flexibility to grow your retirement savings on your terms.
For 2025, you can contribute up to $7,000 plus an additional $1,000 catch-up contribution if you are age 50 or older. IRA contributions can be made in pretax, after-tax and Roth
Yes, you can have as many as you want. However, the annual IRA contribution limit applies to every plan you have in the aggregate.
When it comes to making investments with a Self-Directed IRA, the IRS generally does not tell you what you can invest in, only what you cannot invest in. The types of investments that are not permitted to be made using retirement funds is outlined in Internal Revenue Code Section 408 and 4975. These rules are generally known as the “Prohibited Transaction” rules. Other than life insurance, collectibles, and transactions that involve or directly or indirectly benefit the IRA holder or a “disqualified person,” one can use their IRA to make the investments.
A disqualified person is anyone prohibited from engaging in certain transactions with your Self-Directed IRA under IRS rules. This includes you (the IRA owner), your spouse, your parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and their spouses, and any entity where you or a disqualified person own 50% or more.Your Self-Directed IRA cannot buy, sell, loan money to, or otherwise transact with disqualified persons, as doing so would trigger prohibited transaction rules, potentially leading to taxes and penalties. Understanding these restrictions is crucial to keeping your retirement account compliant.
You can withdraw funds from your Self-Directed Traditional IRA at any time, but if you’re under 59 ½, you’ll face a 10% early withdrawal penalty plus income taxes. After 59 ½, you’ll only pay taxes on withdrawals.
For a Self-Directed Roth IRA, you can withdraw your contributions at any time tax- and penalty-free. However, to withdraw earnings without penalties or taxes, your account must be open for at least five years, and you must be 59 ½ or older. If you’re looking to access your retirement funds early without penalties, strategies like a Solo 401(k) loan may be worth exploring.
A required minimum distribution (RMD) is the amount you must withdraw from your traditional IRA once you turn 73. The amount is generally about 3% of the total account balance.
With a Self-Directed IRA, you can move funds through transfers or rollovers, depending on the type of account change:
There are two ways to move funds:
Administrators usually handle the day-to-day management of the Self-Directed IRA, which can include tasks like setting up investments and assisting with record-keeping.
Custodians are responsible for holding and safeguarding your assets while ensuring compliance with IRS regulations. This includes providing account statements, processing contributions, and facilitating distributions when needed.
Facilitators typically help with specific investment opportunities like real estate, cryptocurrency, or private equity, often providing more hands-on guidance.
Take control of your retirement by investing in alternative assets like real estate, cryptocurrency, businesses, and more. Start creating wealth today by opening an account.
