Articles & Guides
Expert insights, strategies, and education on Self Directed IRAs.
Search all articles and guides in real time.
The Complete Guide to Self Directed IRA Real Estate Investing
Learn everything you need to know about buying rental properties, commercial real estate, and raw land with your retirement account. This comprehensive guide covers financing options, compliance rules, and strategies for maximizing returns.
Cryptocurrency in a Self Directed IRA: Complete 2026 Rules and Guide
Learn how cryptocurrency can be held inside a Self Directed IRA, including custody, platform selection, tax treatment, trading access, and compliance risks.
Can a Self Directed IRA Hold Stablecoins?
Understand how stablecoins may fit inside a Self Directed IRA, including custody, platform support, risk factors, liquidity, and compliance considerations.
What Crypto Custody Means for IRA Investors: Who Controls the Keys?
Learn what crypto custody means inside an IRA, who controls private keys, and why custody structure matters for security, compliance, and access.
Best States for IRA Real Estate Investing in 2026
Compare states for Self Directed IRA real estate investing based on taxes, landlord rules, population trends, costs, and investment structure.
How to Evaluate a Crypto IRA Platform: Due Diligence Checklist
Use this checklist to evaluate crypto IRA platforms, including custody, fees, security, trading access, asset support, and compliance considerations.
Self Directed IRA vs Taxable Brokerage Account: Where Should You Invest?
Compare Self Directed IRAs and taxable brokerage accounts based on tax treatment, liquidity, flexibility, asset control, and long-term investing goals.
Can a Self Directed IRA Invest in Real Estate Syndications?
Learn how Self Directed IRAs may invest in real estate syndications, including entity structure, passive income, due diligence, and compliance risks.
Can a Self Directed IRA Buy Foreclosures and REO Properties?
Understand how Self Directed IRAs can buy foreclosures and REO properties, including timing, funding, repairs, title issues, and prohibited transaction concerns.
Co-Investing With a Self Directed IRA: Fractional Ownership Rules
Learn how fractional ownership and co-investing with a Self Directed IRA can work, including ownership percentages, expense allocation, and related party risks.
Can an IRA Invest in Farmland? Rules, Returns, and What to Know
Learn how Self Directed IRAs may invest in farmland, including ownership rules, income potential, expenses, financing, and compliance risks.
Can a Self Directed IRA Buy a Condo or Short-Term Rental Property?
Understand how condos and short-term rentals work inside a Self Directed IRA, including income, expenses, personal use limits, and compliance concerns.
Can a Self Directed IRA Invest in Tax Liens and Tax Deeds?
Explore how tax liens and tax deeds may fit inside a Self Directed IRA, including auction rules, due diligence, title risk, and prohibited transaction issues.
Can a Self Directed IRA Buy Raw Land? Complete Rules and Strategies
Learn how Self Directed IRAs can buy raw land, including ownership rules, expense handling, prohibited transactions, and long-term planning strategies.
Can a Self Directed IRA Buy Commercial Property?
Understand how commercial property can be purchased inside a Self Directed IRA, including rental income, expenses, financing, and compliance considerations.
Can an IRA Invest in Mobile Home Parks and Manufactured Housing?
Explore how Self Directed IRAs may invest in mobile home parks and manufactured housing, including income structure, financing, and prohibited transaction issues.
Legal vs Prohibited Family Transactions in Self Directed IRAs: Real Examples
Review real examples of legal and prohibited family transactions in Self Directed IRAs, including lineal family, personal benefit, and related party issues.
Inherited IRA and Disqualified Person Issues for Beneficiaries
Understand how inherited IRA beneficiaries should think about disqualified person rules, related party issues, and prohibited transaction risks.
How to Screen for Related Party Problems Before Funding Any SDIRA Deal
Learn how to check for related party problems before funding a Self Directed IRA deal, including family, business, entity, and indirect benefit risks.
Can My Business Partner Transact With My Self Directed IRA?
Learn when business partner transactions may create SDIRA compliance issues, including disqualified person rules, indirect benefits, and control concerns.
Entities Controlled by Disqualified Persons: LLC, Corporation, and Partnership Rules
Understand how entities controlled by disqualified persons can affect Self Directed IRA transactions involving LLCs, corporations, and partnerships.
Common Disqualified Person Mistakes That Cost IRA Investors Everything
Review common disqualified person mistakes that can create prohibited transactions and potentially damage an entire Self Directed IRA.
Paying Expenses Correctly From an IRA LLC: Rules and Common Errors
Learn how IRA LLC expenses should be paid, what records to keep, and which common payment mistakes can create compliance problems.
Audit Risk and IRS Scrutiny of Checkbook Control IRAs
Understand where audit risk can arise with checkbook control IRAs, including recordkeeping gaps, personal benefit issues, and prohibited transaction concerns.
How to Exit a Checkbook Control IRA Structure Correctly
Learn the key steps for winding down or exiting a checkbook control IRA structure while keeping ownership, records, and transfers clean.
Who Is a Disqualified Person in a Self Directed IRA? Complete IRC 4975 Guide
Understand who counts as a disqualified person under IRA rules, why IRC 4975 matters, and how these relationships affect SDIRA transactions.
Parents, Children, Spouses, and Lineal Family in SDIRA Rules
Learn how lineal family rules apply to Self Directed IRAs, including spouses, parents, children, grandparents, and grandchildren.
Are Siblings Disqualified Persons Under IRA Rules?
Understand how sibling relationships are treated under IRA prohibited transaction rules and where caution is still needed in SDIRA deals.
How to Form an IRA LLC: Step-by-Step Setup, Banking, and First Transactions
Learn the main steps for forming an IRA LLC, opening the bank account, funding it properly, and handling early transactions with compliance in mind.
IRA LLC Banking Rules and Recordkeeping Requirements
Understand IRA LLC bank account rules, clean recordkeeping practices, expense tracking, and documentation habits that support compliance.
Prohibited Transaction Risks With Checkbook Control IRAs
Review the most important prohibited transaction risks in checkbook control IRAs, including personal benefit, disqualified persons, and expense mistakes.
Checkbook Control IRA: Complete Rules, Benefits, and Compliance Guide 2026
Learn how checkbook control IRA structures work, when investors use them, and what compliance rules matter before taking direct control.
When Checkbook Control Makes Sense and When It Does Not
Understand when checkbook control may help with speed and flexibility, and when the added compliance burden may not be worth it.
Checkbook Control vs Custodian Managed Deals: Which Is Right for You?
Compare checkbook control and custodian managed SDIRA deals based on speed, oversight, paperwork, cost, and compliance responsibility.
What Self Directed IRA Custodians Do and Do Not Do: Complete Breakdown
Understand the role of SDIRA custodians, what they handle, what they do not review, and where investor responsibility begins.
How to Open a Self Directed IRA Account: Step-by-Step Guide
Follow the main steps for opening a Self Directed IRA account, choosing a custodian, funding the account, and preparing for investments.
How to Transfer an Existing IRA Into a Self Directed IRA
Learn how IRA transfers into a Self Directed IRA work, what paperwork is usually involved, and how to avoid common transfer delays.
How Long Self Directed IRA Transactions Really Take and How to Speed Them Up
Understand realistic SDIRA transaction timelines, common processing delays, and practical steps that may help move deals forward faster.
When and How to Switch Self Directed IRA Custodians
Learn when switching SDIRA custodians may make sense, how transfers work, and what to review before moving an account.
Red Flags in Self Directed IRA Providers: Warning Signs to Watch
Watch for provider warning signs involving unclear fees, weak communication, limited asset support, poor processing, and compliance gaps.
How to Compare Self Directed IRA Custodians: Complete 2026 Guide
Compare Self Directed IRA custodians by fees, asset support, service quality, experience, and account features before opening an account.
Self Directed IRA Custodian Fees Explained: What You Actually Pay
Understand common SDIRA custodian fees, including setup fees, annual fees, asset fees, transaction fees, and account closing costs.
Questions to Ask Before Opening a Self Directed IRA Account
Use these questions to evaluate custodians, fees, permitted assets, processing times, compliance support, and account setup before opening an SDIRA.
Refinancing IRA-Owned Real Estate: Rules, Timing, and UDFI Implications
Learn when refinancing IRA-owned property may be possible, timing considerations, and how leverage can affect UDFI exposure.
Interest Rates and True Cost of IRA Non-Recourse Loans
Understand rates, points, fees, reserves, and total borrowing costs when comparing IRA non-recourse loan options.
Non-Recourse Loan Mistakes IRA Investors Make and How to Avoid Them
Avoid common financing mistakes involving reserves, timing, underwriting, liquidity, and closing preparation for IRA real estate deals.
Non-Recourse Loan Underwriting for IRA Investors: What Lenders Require
Learn what lenders evaluate when underwriting non-recourse loans for IRA investors, including property strength, income, reserves, and borrower structure.
Down Payment and Reserve Requirements for IRA-Financed Property
Understand typical down payment expectations, reserve requirements, liquidity planning, and cash flow considerations for IRA-financed real estate.
Non-Recourse Loan Closing Checklist for Self Directed IRAs
Use this checklist to prepare for a non-recourse loan closing inside a Self Directed IRA, from custodian paperwork to funding and title details.
Non-Recourse Loan Rules for Self Directed IRAs: Complete 2026 Guide
Learn the key non-recourse loan rules for Self Directed IRA real estate, including lender requirements, compliance limits, and tax considerations.
How Non-Recourse Loans Work in IRA Real Estate
Understand how non-recourse financing works when an IRA buys real estate, including borrower structure, collateral, and cash flow planning.
Best Uses for Non-Recourse Financing in a Self Directed IRA
Explore when non-recourse financing may make sense for SDIRA investors and how leverage can affect risk, returns, and tax exposure.
Depreciation and Deductions for Leveraged IRA Property
Understand how depreciation, deductions, and leveraged real estate expenses interact with IRA tax reporting.
State Tax Issues for Self Directed IRA Investments
Learn how state tax rules may affect Self Directed IRA investments, including real estate and operating entities.
How to Work With a CPA on SDIRA Tax Reporting
Prepare better records, ask the right questions, and coordinate with a CPA on Self Directed IRA tax reporting.
The Complete Beginner’s Guide to Self Directed IRAs
Everything you need to know before opening your first SDIRA, from account types to choosing a custodian.
Checkbook Control IRA
Learn how checkbook control structures work, when investors use them, and where compliance risk increases.
Choosing a Self Directed IRA Custodian
Compare fees, services, responsiveness, and features before choosing a custodian for alternative assets.
IRA Contribution Limits
Understand annual contribution rules, eligibility limits, and how account type affects retirement planning.
Cryptocurrency in an IRA
How crypto IRA investing works, what custody means, and the compliance issues investors should understand.
Form 990-T for Self Directed IRAs
Understand filing rules, deadlines, and mistakes to avoid when an IRA has taxable income exposure.
Precious Metals IRA Guide
Learn how gold and silver work inside retirement accounts, including approved metals and storage rules.
Private Equity in Your IRA
How to evaluate private company and startup opportunities using retirement funds while managing risk.
Private Lending with an IRA
Explore note investing, lending structures, due diligence, and compliance rules for retirement-account lenders.
Prohibited Transactions
Avoid costly mistakes by understanding self-dealing, disqualified persons, and high-risk SDIRA transactions.
How to Buy Rental Property with Your IRA
A step-by-step walkthrough of purchasing, financing, and managing rental property inside a Self Directed IRA.
Roth vs Traditional Self Directed IRA
Compare tax treatment, contribution rules, and distribution planning to choose the right account type.
What Is UBIT in a Self Directed IRA?
Learn when unrelated business income tax applies, what can trigger it, and how investors prepare.
UBIT vs UDFI for IRA Investors
Compare these two key tax concepts and understand how leverage changes the IRA tax picture.
Understanding UDFI
What debt-financed income means for leveraged IRA real estate and how investors think through the tax effect.
LLC Operating Business Inside an IRA Rules
Learn how ownership, active income, and compliance issues affect IRA investments in operating companies.
K-1 Income Inside a Self Directed IRA
Understand partnership reporting, IRA treatment, and how K-1 income can affect tax planning.
Estimated Taxes for IRA UBIT
Quarterly payments, filing timing, and liquidity planning for IRAs with taxable business income.