Key Benefit
Grow your retirement account over time tax-deferred, while also possibly qualifying for yearly tax-deductions. While the money is taxed when withdrawn, often owners are in a lower tax bracket at that point in their life.

IRA Eligibility
You can set up and make contributions to a Traditional IRA if you (or your spouse, if you file jointly) have earned income.*
If both you and your spouse have compensation, each of you can set up an IRA. You cannot participate in the same IRA.
IRA Contribution Limits
The IRS sets limits for how much you can contribute to a Traditional IRA each year. See the current year’s contribution limits.
What Makes a Traditional IRA Self-Directed?
When an IRA is referred to as a self-directed account, it simply means you can use the account invest in areas outside of the traditional stocks and bonds. That’s the primary difference between a self-directed and traditional retirement account — where you put those investment dollars.
With a self-directed IRA or 401(k), you can invest in a variety of areas, including:
- Real estate
- Private debt like corporate debt offerings, notes secured by deeds of trust or mortgages
- Private equity-like stock of C-corporations, limited partnerships, LLCs and REITs
- Precious metals, including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium
- Cryptocurrency like Bitcoin
*Compensation is defined as the wages, salaries, commissions, bonus, alimony and any other amount that you receive for providing personal services. For individuals who are self-employed, sole proprietors and partners in a partnership, “earned income” is another term for compensation. Passive income such as interest, dividends and most rental income are not considered compensation for the purpose of funding an IRA.