Investor Insights Blog|How Self-Directed IRAs Can Help Your CPA Practice
Self-Directed IRA Concepts
As a CPA, you’re dedicated to the financial health of your clients. Be it an individual or a business, you want to see them make sound financial decisions that benefit them not only today but, in the future, as well.
However, many CPAs are not utilizing an important retirement tool that can support their clients — leveraging the flexibility of a self-directed IRA.
Here are a few need-to-know basics about self-directed accounts and how they can help your clients and your practice.
A self-directed IRA or other self-directed account provides investors additional control over their retirement plan and its options. Self-directed accounts are available in several formats, including HSA and CESA, Roth or traditional IRA, SEP or SIMPLE, and they are generally administered by firms specializing in self-directed accounts.
However, while the firm administers the plan, the investor is responsible for all decisions related to the plan’s health and growth. This includes the investment types utilized to power the account.
Video: More Information for CPAs
This model provides both tax-free and tax-deferred solutions that can offer flexibility over other retirement plan options, and investors can use their self-directed account to invest in things like:
Real estate
This includes commercial and residential properties. You can also invest in real estate debt financing.
Business investments
This can include private stock or partnerships and joint ventures.
Precious metals
This is provided the metals are held offsite and not in the IRA holder’s possession, and that they meet the fineness requirements. Read more about the requirements here.
Other options to match a person’s passion, knowledge, or skill set
Hedge funds, royalties, equipment, leases, commodities, and commercial notes and paper are all potential investment options as well. More information can be found in IRS Publication 590.
Now that we’ve talked briefly about how a self-directed IRA operates, let’s look at how a self-directed account could impact your business.
It’s a matter of advice and options.
While clients will still be responsible for their own investments under the self-directed IRA model, you should expect they will come to you in search of advice. Clients may have questions surrounding which nontraditional investments will be allowed by the IRS or how the rollover of their 401(k) or IRA could affect their taxes.
For example, a real estate selection or business entity located in a client’s account could face Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT).
This leaves an expert CPA in the best position to offer evaluation and guidance on the tax impact of an investor’s portfolio.
As a CPA, enhancing your education surrounding self-directed accounts will allow you to better service clients interested in pursuing this retirement investment avenue and allow you the ability to better guide their strategy and grow your portfolio.
Here are a few ways you can provide value and improve investor loyalty:
Video: Understanding UBIT
As we said earlier, self-directed IRAs and other accounts are administered by neutral third-party firms. If you’re looking to grow your portfolio through the offering of self-directed accounts, Equity Trust can help your business by offering this administration.
As a directed custodian, Equity Trust enables you and your clients to invest their IRAs in a wide array of assets, including the difficult-to-value assets we discussed above. So, contact us today to learn more about how a partnership with Equity Trust can expand your offerings portfolio and benefit your clients.
How is Equity Trust regulated?
Are there any retirement accounts that are excluded from UBIT?
Can my IRA invest in a newly formed entity that will invest in real estate?
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© 2026 Equity Trust®. All rights reserved.
Equity Trust Company is a directed custodian and does not provide tax, legal or investment advice. Any information communicated by Equity Trust Company is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax, legal or investment advice. Whenever making an investment decision, please consult with your tax attorney or financial professional. Equity Institutional services institutional clients of Equity Trust Company. Brokerage Services Available Through ETC Brokerage Services, Member SIPC, and FINRA. *Founded in 1974 | Self-Directed IRA Custodian since 1983. The predecessor business to Equity Trust Company was established in 1974 and the IRS approved as a custodian in 1983. **Assets under custody and administration as of 06/30/2026.
Terms of UsePrivacy PolicySite Map
© 2026 Equity Trust®. All rights reserved.
Equity Trust Company is a directed custodian and does not provide tax, legal or investment advice. Any information communicated by Equity Trust Company is for educational purposes only, and should not be construed as tax, legal or investment advice. Whenever making an investment decision, please consult with your tax attorney or financial professional. Equity Institutional services institutional clients of Equity Trust Company. Brokerage Services Available Through ETC Brokerage Services, Member SIPC, and FINRA. *Founded in 1974 | Self-Directed IRA Custodian since 1983. The predecessor business to Equity Trust Company was established in 1974 and the IRS approved as a custodian in 1983. **Assets under custody and administration as of 06/30/2026.
You are leaving trustetc.com to enter the ETC Brokerage Services (Member FINRA/SIPC) website (etcbrokerage.com), the registered broker-dealer affiliate of Equity Trust Company. ETC Brokerage Services provides access to brokerage and investment products which ARE NOT FDIC insured. ETC Brokerage does not provide investment advice or recommendations as to any investment. All investments are selected and made solely by self-directed account owners.
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