Safety and Security from a Name You Can Trust

Nothing is more important than the confidence you place into those who handle your retirement funds. Equity Trust operates as a highly regulated custodian that earns trust each and every day. Find out what questions you should ask any potential self directed IRA provider, and learn the difference between a custodian vs. administrator

Equity Trust Company is:

• Highly Regulated
• Insured Adequately
• Operates in a Controlled and Audited Environment

Regulation

Internal Revenue Code

• The Internal Revenue Code sets high standards for being a qualified Custodian of IRA accounts.
• Equity Trust Company has operated as a qualified IRA custodian since 1983.
• Equity Trust accurately and completely complies with numerous complex IRS reporting and record-keeping requirements.

State Regulators

• Equity Trust Company operates as a trust company under authority granted by the state of South Dakota.
• It meets the state trust company capital requirements and complies with all the state statutes and regulations.
• South Dakota law mandates audit of the company once every 18 months. State auditors perform the examinations.

Other Regulators

• Department of Labor (DOL)
• Securities Investor Protection Corporation (SIPC)
• Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA)
• The SIPC covers trades made through MidOhio Securities.

Insurance

Deposit Insurance

• Equity Trust deposits all uninvested cash in FDIC insured accounts at United Western Bank (NASDAQ:UWBK).
• Up to $250,000 of all IRA deposits owned by the same person are insured by the FDIC.

Commercial Insurance

• Equity Trust carries its insurance with a leading national insurance company. Coverage includes:
  • Errors and Omissions
  • Directors and Officers Liability
  • Financial Institution Fidelity Bond.

Control Environment

Internal Controls

• Equity Trust Company's board of directors, officers and employees work within a well established system of internal controls. The system of internal control ensures the effectiveness and efficiency of operations and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.

Audit Committee

• The audit committee of the board of directors oversees the activities of both the company's internal and external auditors. It receives reports directly from the auditors.

Internal Auditor

• Equity Trust Company internal auditor operates with independence and reports directly to the audit committee of the board of directors.

Independent Audits: Radachi and Company, Certified Public Accountants

• Annually, Radachi and Company, Certified Public Accountants, audit the company's financial statements.
• The auditors also evaluate the company's internal control environment and assess the "tone at the top." Their findings are reported to the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors.

What's the Difference between a Custodian vs. an Administrator?

	Equity Trust Company	Administrator
Record keeping	X	X
Safekeeping	X
Holding assets	X
Check-writing ability	X
Must be FDIC insured or SIPC protected	X