Passive Investment Opportunities for Your Retirement Account

Considering the volatility of the stock market and the amount of small businesses that need funding to stay afloat, many investors want to put their money to work in opportunities they know can create a positive impact, while simultaneously growing their wealth.

Although some investors may find success in the traditional stock market, many investors often wonder, “How do I find investment opportunities outside of Wall Street?”

You have more investment options if you use a retirement account that’s considered “self-directed.” A self-directed account allows you to invest in a wide array of assets, not limiting you to traditional investments, although it’s still an option.

At Equity Trust, a lot of our clients tell us “I wanted to invest in something I could understand,” or “I was tired of seeing my account value drop every time the market fell.”

In addition to seeking investment freedom and investing in your area of expertise, many of our clients utilize strategies that provide them with passive income. Passive income investing is a strategy for individuals who want a steady stream of income either in retirement or in addition to income he/she is actively earning, which requires little to no effort to maintain.

You might be wondering, “What are some examples of passive income investments for retirement?” We’ve outlined some common passive income investing strategies to help you get started.

Finding Passive Investment Opportunities

Crowdfunding

Crowdfunding is an investing strategy in which a group of individuals, businesses, or organizations (a “crowd”), combine funds for a project or business opportunity. It’s particularly popular for entrepreneurs or startups to raise capital in order to get their business off the ground.

The TV show Shark Tank is an example of crowdfunding. In fact, according to INC.com, “Shark Tank’s Kevin O’Leary wants startups needing capital during the coronavirus pandemic to know that they have a model to turn to: equity crowdfunding.”

Crowdfunding sites provide investors with opportunities to diversify into a wider array of assets than the traditional stock market, including limited partnerships, LLCs, private debt, and more.

Many investors use crowdfunding websites to find these specific opportunities as an investing strategy. With a self-directed account, you can use your self-directed IRA, self-directed Roth IRA, or other tax-advantaged account to invest in various crowdfunding opportunities.

Real Estate Crowdfunding

Real estate crowdfunding is a common way for investors to buy into a property, without having to purchase it outright entirely with their own funds. This means as an investor, you own a portion of the property and any profits generated return proportionally to you.

Real estate crowdfunding can be a beneficial way to diversify your portfolio while deferring risk. If you’re looking to get involved with real estate investing but are looking for a more hands-off way to do so, real estate crowdfunding could be an option for you.

Similar to crowdfunding for a business, many investors use real estate crowdfunding platforms across the internet to locate potential investments. There are even groups on social media, like Facebook, that are specifically dedicated to real estate crowdfunding.

For example, Equity Trust client, Mark, used his Health Savings Account (HSA) to invest in an equity share in an apartment complex through a commercial real estate investing platform. In two years, he grew his HSA from $20,000 to $38,000, tax-free.

Read Mark’s Real Estate Crowdfunding Story

Promissory Note Investing

A promissory note is a written promise of payment from one person or organization to another. Promissory notes contain terms including how much is being borrowed and the frequency and amount of payments.