Investing Tax-Free in Structured Settlements Creates Fortune for Robert Bradwish 

From administrating retirement plans to building his very own - Robert discovers the power of self directed IRAs

Thinking about retirement is not at the top of many people’s priority list. However, for Robert Bradwish, an insurance agent and financial consultant from St. Augustine, Florida it’s at the top of his list.

Robert was once immersed in retirement plans – administrating about 150 plans at a time as director of the retirement plan area for his business. Each day Robert was faced with retirement choices and learned how people were saving for their own future. Through this experience he discovered self-directed IRAs.

“One of the retirement plans [Robert administered] had some property in it and once he terminated his plan, he did not want to take a distribution on it,” explains Robert.  “I found out he opened a self-directed IRA [to hold the property] with Equity Trust Company and he was very happy with Equity Trust.”

A self-directed IRA allows investors to invest in many non-traditional assets such as real estate and private entities, in addition to stocks and bonds. Robert also had a piece of property in his company’s retirement plan. When Robert’s company terminated the retirement plan in favor of a different plan, he decided to find another retirement investment option to hold his property.

Thanks to the success one of Robert’s clients had with Equity Trust Company, Robert found the perfect investment strategy – moving his investment property to a self-directed IRA.  

Robert creates a successful deal worth $1 million tax free!

Moving his investment property to a self-directed IRA at Equity Trust was just the tip of the iceberg for Robert. After the property investment, the idea of what non-traditional assets he could invest in with his IRA expanded, and he kept his eyes open for additional opportunities.

One night Robert was at a Japanese steakhouse and that opportunity knocked on his door.

As a life insurance agent, Robert often sold annuities, which are contracts designed to provide future payments to the holder. But while talking to an acquaintance at the steakhouse, it was suggested that Robert buy annuities, instead of selling them, with his self-directed IRA.

This was during a time when the stock market was experiencing turmoil and Robert saw it as a great opportunity to escape the volatility of the stocks. The acquaintance had an opportunity for Robert to purchase an annuity with a great return.

Robert did his research on the opportunity and met with an attorney. A top rated Insurance Company issued a structured settlement to an individual that would pay out over twenty-years. But the individual wanted money immediately. Robert used his Equity Trust self-directed Traditional IRA to purchase the structured settlement for $160,073 from an individual.

It was a twist for Robert to purchase the annuity instead of selling it, but the advantages were quickly apparent.

“I have really cemented my retirement with guaranteed returns from the insurance company annuity,” says Robert. “I can sleep at night because I know the insurance company is going to pay me and that it will not go bankrupt.”

Robert’s structured settlement wasn’t a “get rich quick” deal. The repayments are over time, but for Robert it is well worth the wait.

After purchasing the settlement for $160,073 in 1997, Robert received a guaranteed lump sum payment of $100,000 in 2003. The settlement calls for him to receive additional lump sum payments of $125,000 in 2008 and $250,000 in 2013. In addition, he is to receive $3,474 each month from 2008 until 2023 guarantying a total payout of $1,100,410—not bad for an initial $160,000 investment.

The investment was made better because of the self-directed IRA tax advantages. All of the payouts are deposited in his Equity Trust self-directed IRA and the money is never taxed until Robert decides to withdraw.

Robert invests in more non-traditional assets – lottery payouts

Winning the lottery might mean buying a new car, traveling around the world or building a new house, but for Robert it means building his self-directed IRA tax-deferred for retirement. Although Robert has never won the lottery, he discovered an interesting way to make a wise investment from others that have won.

After a group of individuals won a state lottery, they formed a trust to receive annual payments. The group was receiving annual payments from the lottery, but some of the winners were looking for cash right away and not over time with annual payments. A couple of the winners wanted to buy houses right away and one wanted to open a small business without waiting for a couple of years from the annual payments.

Robert saw a great investment opportunity. He had his self directed IRA act as “lender” and one of the lottery winners was the “borrower” via Promissory Note and Security Agreement.  The “borrower” was provided a lump sum of money and the self directed IRA received annual note payments over several years. Completed with his self-directed IRA, Robert was able to create a good tax-free return on his investment.

“I have done a lot of weird, odd things like that, that are so non-traditional you don’t even think about it. You just have to find them. Finding this stuff is the most difficult thing, but you can see how I have really benefited,” Robert says.

Robert estimates he’s grown his self-directed IRA from $300,000 to over $1 million while at Equity Trust since 1997.

Robert’s advice for growing your savings to millions

Once he started, Robert knew the benefits of a self-directed IRA were unlimited. The only limit was his own creativity and he believes others can take advantage of self-directed IRA opportunities as well.

Robert’s advice focuses on the importance of research. “Do all your research and make sure you understand personally what you are doing,” says Robert. “Once you understand what you are doing, you can successfully complete deals and experience high returns.”

Plus, investors should work with strategies that only offer risk they are comfortable with.

“I basically try to do structured settlements and deals of the conservative nature that will return anywhere from 7 ½% to 12% interest because I am happy with that,” says Robert. “In my investing career I have lost a lot of money in the stock market and I don’t want to lose anymore.”

The constant frustration of the stock market and limited investment options doesn’t have to happen, according to Robert. With a self-directed IRA it is possible to invest in many non-traditional investments. Having this freedom allowed Robert to invest in almost anything from real estate to state lotteries, winning his own prize – a large return for retirement.

Want to succeed like Robert? Call 1-888-382-4727 today to open an account and begin growing your wealth..