For investors seeking greater control over their retirement portfolios with alternative assets, such as real estate, private equity, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies, selecting the right Self-Directed IRA or Solo 401(k) provider is essential. The Entrust Group has built a strong reputation over more than 40 years in the industry, while IRA Financial offers a modern, flexible approach built around flat pricing and integrated technology.

This comparison examines fees, product options, technology, and reputation to help investors make an informed decision.

Pricing & Fees: Transparent, Flat, and Investor-Friendly

Understanding the fee structure is critical for retirement investors, as costs can accumulate over time and impact overall returns. IRA Financial uses a single flat annual fee, while The Entrust Group charges an asset-value-based recordkeeping fee plus a separate charge for every purchase, sale, or exchange.

Pricing pulled from company website, as of the article publish date, based on 4 investments with a $200K total balance.

IRA Financial:

• Self-Directed IRAs start at $495/year, with other plans available from $100/year
• No setup fee for a custodian-controlled plan; a one-time fee applies only for Checkbook IRA structures
• No asset-based or transaction fees, just one clear, predictable price
• IRAfi Crypto platform offers low-cost trading for buying, selling, and managing crypto directly in the app

The Entrust Group:

• $50 one-time account establishment fee
• Annual recordkeeping fee of $329/year for two or more assets, plus 0.17% of total asset value over $50,000
• $105 fee for the purchase, sale, or exchange of most alternative assets ($175 for real estate)
• Recordkeeping fees are capped at $2,299/year regardless of account size

Summary

The Entrust Group’s asset-value-based recordkeeping fee combined with a per-transaction charge on every purchase or sale adds up quickly for investors holding several assets. For an investor with 4 assets on a $200,000 balance, Entrust costs more than double what IRA Financial charges in year one, and the gap grows further over 5 years.

Investment Flexibility & Product Options

The range of investment options and account structures available can significantly affect portfolio diversification and long-term flexibility.

IRA Financial:

• Full investment freedom: real estate, private equity, precious metals, notes, startups, and crypto
• Direct crypto investing through IRA Financial’s integrated platform
• Checkbook IRA and Solo 401(k) options for maximum control, with the LLC formed for you as part of the service
• Supports SEP, SIMPLE, Roth, and Traditional IRAs, plus ROBS for business funding

The Entrust Group:

• Offers Self-Directed IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, HSAs, and Coverdell ESAs, a broader set of tax-advantaged account types than most competitors
• Supports checkbook control through an IRA LLC, but Entrust explicitly does not create or sell LLCs, investors must set one up independently
• No ROBS structure, integrated stock trading, or in-house compliance and audit protection services

Summary

The Entrust Group offers a genuinely broad set of account types, including HSAs and Coverdell ESAs that not every custodian supports. Where IRA Financial pulls ahead is in business-funding structures like ROBS, fully integrated crypto and stock trading, and handling LLC formation directly rather than leaving that step to the investor.

Technology: Built for the Modern Investor

An intuitive, integrated platform can save time and reduce errors, especially for investors handling multiple alternative assets.

IRA Financial:

• Newly-updated mobile app and account dashboard with clean UI/UX and modern functionality.
• Offers a fully digital on-boarding experience, automated compliance, and secure document storage.
• Streamlined tools for crypto, transfers, and checkbook control in one place

The Entrust Group:

• Functional online portal for account management
• Documentation process is more traditional and may involve additional paperwork
• Support is available but less integrated with technology

Summary

Entrust has a reliable system for managing Self-Directed IRAs, but IRA Financial’s technology-driven approach reduces administrative hurdles and gives investors faster, more efficient control.

Reputation & Customer Reviews: Trusted by Thousands

Longevity and reliability are key considerations for custodians of retirement accounts, though online review sentiment can tell a different story than years in business alone.

IRA Financial:

• Strong reputation for fast account setup, responsive customer service, and straightforward pricing.
• Over 3,000 5-star reviews across Google, Trustpilot, and other platforms.
• Founded by tax attorney Adam Bergman, who educates investors via weekly videos, podcasts, and blog articles.

The Entrust Group:

• One of the oldest Self-Directed IRA custodians in the U.S., founded in 1981
• Solid Google rating with a meaningful review volume
• Trustpilot reviews skew heavily negative, with recent complaints citing high fees and slow response times

Summary

The Entrust Group’s decades of experience and solid Google rating are real credentials, but its Trustpilot reviews reveal a notable gap in day-to-day client sentiment. IRA Financial holds a strong, consistent rating across every major platform.

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The Bottom Line: Why IRA Financial Is the Smarter Choice

Both The Entrust Group and IRA Financial offer secure paths for investing in alternative assets through self-directed retirement accounts. Entrust’s decades of experience and broad account type support, including HSAs and Coverdell ESAs, are genuine strengths for investors who value that history. But for investors who want lower, more predictable fees, business-funding structures like ROBS, and a fully integrated platform that handles LLC formation directly, IRA Financial offers more.