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What exactly is a self-directed IRA? And why invest retirement funds in real estate and other alternative assets? Equity Trust gives you these answers and more, including a wealth of self-directed IRA information and resources below.

The Self-Directed IRA

A self-directed IRA allows you to invest in both "traditional" investments such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, as well as "non-traditional" investments, like real estate, mortgages/deeds of trust, private placements, tax liens, mobile homes and other private placements and limited partnerships. (See Self-Directed IRA Investment Opportunities at Equity Trust.)

A self-directed IRA enables you to use your investment knowledge and expertise to prepare for your future and your family's future. While some custodians claim to allow self-direction, most only make available proprietary investments such as CDs or an approved list of stocks, bonds and mutual funds. Passive custodians, like Equity Trust Company, help clients in making their own investment decisions within a wide range of acceptable investments.

The Real Estate IRA

Historically, real estate supplies many Americans with a stable investment vehicle that provides both income and appreciation. One of the greatest tools available to real estate investors is the government-sponsored retirement plan, and the tax-deferred and tax-free profits they offer.

Real estate investors can apply their investment knowledge in areas they are already successful (and comfortable) to their IRAs and other retirement plans. When you combine the advantages of an IRA with your investment expertise, you have the ability to grow investments tax-free or tax-deferred. The rate of return for real estate in your IRA, or for other specialized investments, will be based on your knowledge and expertise in these areas, not on the ups and downs of the stock market. (See Real Estate IRAs: Utilize Your Knowledge and Expertise to Prepare for Your Future to learn more.)

Additional Resources

Learn more about self-directed retirement investing at the following links:

Articles of Interest - Publications on the topic of IRA investing, real estate IRAs and more.
Government Publications - Relevant government material regarding IRAs
Letter Rulings - IRS Letter Rulings that affect IRAs.
Legislation - Government legislation pertaining to IRAs.
UBTI - (Unrelated Business Taxable Income) If your IRA owns an asset that produces unrelated business taxable income, your IRA may be subject to taxation under Section 512 of the IRC.
Links - Topically related links of interest.
IRA Calculators - Financial calculators that provide interactive calculations, dynamic graphs and fully customizable reports.

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