IRA Financial’s Unified Platform combines stock and ETF trading, alternative asset investing, and cryptocurrency access inside a single retirement account. This guide explains how each component works, how they connect, and what the account setup and investment process looks like from start to finish.

The Two Sides of the Platform

The Unified Platform operates on two integrated rails: a traditional trading infrastructure powered by Interactive Brokers and a self-directed alternative asset infrastructure that IRA Financial has operated for sixteen years.

Neither component is new on its own. What is new is the integration. Before the Unified Platform, an investor who wanted both stock trading capability and alternative asset access needed two separate accounts at two separate institutions. The Unified Platform makes both available within the same account, under the same custodian, with one annual flat fee.

The Traditional Rail: Stock and ETF Trading Through Interactive Brokers

For the publicly traded portion of a retirement portfolio, the platform provides institutional-grade trading capability through Interactive Brokers, one of the world’s largest electronic trading platforms with operations across more than 150 market centers globally.

Through this integration, IRA Financial account holders can:

• Trade US-listed stocks and ETFs with zero commissions
• Access real-time market data and execution
• Hold positions in publicly traded securities alongside alternative assets in the same account
• Rebalance between traditional and alternative holdings within the same account interface

All other trades beyond US-listed stocks and ETFs are subject to IBKR Lite pricing. The integration does not require a separate Interactive Brokers account. Trading happens directly through the IRA Financial platform, with all assets held under the IRA’s custodial structure.

The Alternative Asset Rail: Self-Directed Investing Without Custodian Delays

For the alternative asset portion of the portfolio, the platform operates the same way IRA Financial’s self-directed accounts have always worked, with full checkbook control available through the Solo 401(k) structure and the Checkbook IRA structure.

Real estate: The IRA or Solo 401(k) can purchase real property directly, invest in real estate syndications, or originate hard money loans secured by real property. All expenses related to IRA-owned property must be paid from the account, and all income must flow back to the account. IRA Financial’s in-house team handles the documentation and processing required for each transaction.

Private equity and venture capital: The account can invest as a limited partner in private funds, participate in direct private placements, or hold equity in private companies, subject to the prohibited transaction rules under IRC Section 4975.

Private lending: The account can originate promissory notes and act as a private lender to individuals or businesses. Interest income flows back to the account tax-deferred or tax-free depending on account type.

Precious metals: Physical gold and silver can be held through IRS-approved depositories. IRA Financial coordinates the purchase, delivery to depository, and annual valuation required for Form 5498 reporting.

For investors using checkbook control through a Solo 401(k) or Checkbook IRA LLC, alternative asset investments can be executed directly from the account’s dedicated bank account without custodian processing delays. For custodian-directed alternative investments, IRA Financial processes transactions typically within standard business timelines.

Cryptocurrency on the Platform

Cryptocurrency is accessible directly through the IRA Financial platform with 24/7 trading capability. Account holders can buy, sell, and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a range of other digital assets.

Crypto assets are held with institutional-grade security, with the majority of digital assets stored in cold storage. The platform provides real-time pricing and execution, not end-of-day settlement like many competing providers.

Gains from cryptocurrency held inside the IRA grow tax-deferred in a traditional account or tax-free in a Roth account. There are no capital gains tax events on trades executed inside the account. IRA Financial’s tax team handles annual fair market value reporting on Form 5498 and any Form 990-T obligations that arise from specific crypto strategies. For a detailed breakdown of crypto IRA tax reporting, see IRA Financial’s guide to Crypto IRA Tax Reporting.

Account Setup: How to Get Started

Setting up an account on the Unified Platform involves four steps.

Step 1: Open the account. An IRA or Solo 401(k) is established through IRA Financial’s online application. The account type, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, or Solo 401(k), is selected based on the investor’s employment situation, income, and tax strategy.

Step 2: Fund the account. The account is funded through a direct transfer from an existing IRA, a direct rollover from a 401(k) or other employer-sponsored plan, or a new contribution up to applicable annual limits. IRA Financial handles the transfer and rollover process directly, coordinating with the outgoing custodian.

Step 3: Set up stock trading access. Once funded, the Interactive Brokers integration is activated within the account, enabling real-time stock and ETF trading.

Step 4: Make investments. Traditional and alternative investments can be initiated through the platform. For checkbook control accounts, the account’s dedicated bank account provides direct investment authority for alternative assets.

The typical setup timeline from application to investment-ready account is two to three weeks, depending on the source of funds and the complexity of any rollover documentation required.

IRS Reporting and Compliance

One of the primary operational advantages of the Unified Platform is consolidated IRS reporting. All assets held in the account, stocks, ETFs, real estate, private equity, crypto, and precious metals, are reported under a single Form 5498 filed by IRA Financial annually.

The flat annual fee includes:

• Annual Form 5498 filing with fair market value determinations for all alternative assets
• Form 1099-R preparation for any distributions
• Form 5500-EZ filing for Solo 401(k) accounts once plan assets exceed $250,000
• Annual consulting on contribution limits, prohibited transaction compliance, and account structure

For clients who want additional compliance coverage, IRA Financial’s Annual Compliance Service is available for $299 per year, with the first year free for existing clients. This add-on includes preparation and filing of Form 1065 for IRA LLC partnership returns, Form 990-T for UBIT-related income, unlimited year-round access to SDIRA tax professionals, expedited support, and transaction review when custodian documentation is required. The service carries an estimated annual value of over $1,500.

Fee Structure Summary

Stock and ETF trading: $0 commissions on US-listed stocks and ETFs. All other trades subject to IBKR Lite pricing.

Read more: IRA Financial Fee Schedule

Conclusion

The Unified Platform consolidates what previously required two or three separate custodial relationships into a single account with one annual fee and one set of IRS filings. For investors who want to execute a diversified retirement strategy across both traditional and alternative assets, the operational simplicity of doing that in one place is as valuable as any individual feature the platform offers. To get started or to speak with a specialist about transitioning from your current custodian, visit irafinancial.com.