IRA Financial Blog
Insights, strategies, and expert answers on self-directed retirement, taxes, and alternative investing.
How to Use a SEP IRA and Solo 401(k) Simultaneously: The Rules and the Math
Most self-employed investors know they can open a SEP IRA or a Solo 401(k). Far fewer know they can hold both simultaneously, and that in specific…
How Gold IRA Pricing Works: Spot Price, Premiums, and Custodian Markups Explained
Most Gold IRA investors focus on whether gold prices will go up. Far fewer understand what they actually paid when they bought, and how much of their…
The Death of the Bogle Model: Why Today’s Retirement Investors Need More Than Index Funds
For a generation of Americans, the Boglehead playbook was gospel. Put 60% of your retirement savings into a broad S&P 500 index fund, put 40%…
How to Switch Solo 401(k) Providers Without Triggering Taxes
You can switch Solo 401(k) providers without taxes or penalties in 2026, but only if the transfer is structured as a trustee-to-trustee plan transfer…
5 Best ROBS 401(k) Providers of 2026
If you're thinking about using your retirement savings to fund a business, a Rollover as Business Startups (ROBS) structure could be the right move.…
Top Retirement Accounts for Entrepreneurs
Entrepreneurs have more control over their income than most people. That same flexibility extends to their retirement strategy, but it also creates…
What Happens to an IRA When No Beneficiary Is Named? New IRS Ruling Provides Clarity
When someone passes away without naming a beneficiary on their IRA, the outcome for their heirs can be complicated. A new IRS Ruling issued in June…
Buy a Home in Your Self-Directed Roth IRA and Live in It Tax-Free
Most investors understand that a Roth IRA offers tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals. What many people don't realize is that a Roth IRA can do…
Use a Solo 401(k) to Buy Cryptocurrency
Most discussions about cryptocurrency focus on the investment itself. Investors debate whether Bitcoin will become digital gold, whether Ethereum…
Can a Self-Directed IRA Own an LLC? What You Need to Know
If you are looking for more control over your retirement funds, you have likely come across the idea of using a Self-Directed IRA to invest through…
How to File IRS Form 5500-EZ for Your Solo 401(k): 2026 Guide
If your Solo 401(k) plan assets crossed $250,000 last year, you are required to file IRS Form 5500-EZ. It is not a complicated form, but the details…
How to Choose a Self-Directed IRA Custodian Based on the Assets You Plan to Hold
Most people choose a Self-Directed IRA custodian based on price or general reputation. We believe that is the wrong starting point. The custodian…