IRA Financial Blog
Insights, strategies, and expert answers on self-directed retirement, taxes, and alternative investing.
Self-Directed IRA Allowed Assets: The List, the Reality, and 7 Gray Areas
Key Takeaways The biggest risk of investing in a Self-Directed IRA is not choosing unconventional assets. It's accidentally engaging in a…
How to Use a Self-Directed Roth IRA to Shelter Carried Interest Gains
For fund managers, sponsors, and entrepreneurs, carried interest is one of the most powerful wealth-creation tools available. It is also one of the…
Top Silver Investing Platforms: Fees, Features and How They Fit Into Your Retirement Strategy
Silver investing is not just for collectors or enthusiasts. It has become a serious option for investors looking to diversify their portfolios,…
Why Elon Musk Is Wrong About Retirement: Even in an AGI World, You’ll Still Need Money
In recent interviews and viral social-media clips, Elon Musk has suggested that there may eventually be “no need” to save money because artificial…
The Self-Directed Roth IRA LLC: The Ultimate Guide for Strategic Investors
Retirement planning is not what it used to be. For decades, investors were told to stick to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. Today, that mindset is…
How to Complete IRS Form W-9 for a Self-Directed IRA or Solo 401(k)
If you have ever filled out a Form W-9 as an independent contractor, you probably think of it as a simple paperwork exercise. Name. TIN. Signature.…
FBAR and Tax Reporting for Self-Directed IRA Investors
What Every Self-Directed IRA Holder Should Know About Foreign Bank Accounts and Reporting Investing internationally with a Self-Directed IRA or a…
Solo 401(k) Provider Fees Explained: Setup, Annual, 5500-EZ, Loans, Roth
Solo 401(k) provider fees are not standardized. In 2026, the gap between what is “normal” and what is quietly expensive is wider than most…
Top Raw Land Investing Platforms in 2026
Raw land investing has gained momentum as investors look beyond traditional stocks, bonds, and rental properties for long-term growth and portfolio…
Top Energy Investing Platforms to Consider in 2026
Energy investing has quietly become one of the most compelling alternative asset classes available to investors today. As global energy demand grows…
Trump, Alternatives, and the Solo 401(k): The Retirement Plan That Paved the Way for Alts in 401(k)s
For decades, the American retirement system has rested on a simple but increasingly outdated assumption: that 401(k) investors should primarily own…
LLC Annual Report Fees for Self-Directed IRA LLC
Self-Directed IRA LLC Checkbook Control Annual Report Fees Self-Directed IRA LLCs give investors greater control and flexibility over their…