When ordinary investors hear phrases like “IRA-owned LLC” and “checkbook control,” they tend to zone out. After all, these concepts sound a little wonky—a little too complicated for something as simple as a long-term retirement plan. But while this type of setup might sound like a lot of work, the truth is that a Self-Directed IRA can be a powerful and, yes, simple plan to help you maximize the results you get from your retirement investments.

But there’s another question that needs to be answered here, and you’ll rarely find it addressed in any articles about IRA-owned LLCs. Is this arrangement right for you? Here’s what you’ll need to know.

Defining the Self-Directed IRA Owned LLC with Checkbook Control

The concept of the Self-Directed IRA is simple: these are like any other retirement accounts, except you’re in charge. You’re not outsourcing investing to someone else or even necessarily investing in stocks. Rather, when you’re in control, you can make IRS-approved investments such as real estate and precious metals, provided you meet the requirements.

One potential avenue of investing is the LLC, or Limited Liability Company. This business structure can be a great way to shelter your assets from potential issues such as litigation—without requiring that you sacrifice the kind of control you would expect over your own retirement plans.

So what exactly does “checkbook control” entail? It means that you’ll have the power of buying and selling within your IRA—the power of the checkbook. This can have advantages and disadvantages, including:

• Checkbook control means you’re in charge of avoiding IRS penalties. When working with an IRA custodian, these custodians can help make sure that you adhere to all tax requirements. When you have more control, you also have more risk.
• Checkbook control requires being proactive. If you enjoy the responsibility of seeking out experts including lawyers and tax professionals—great. If not, then you might want to think about working with a Self-Directed IRA custodian instead.

How to Get Started in Atlanta with a “Checkbook IRA”

The so-called “Checkbook IRA” can be of tremendous benefit for those in Atlanta or in the surrounding areas. Not only is Atlanta’s local real estate market a tremendous opportunity for those who live there, but the same investments can perform well within an IRA with checkbook control. That means that it’s possible to make investments in real estate for retirement while still retaining the kind of control you would normally enjoy in other arrangements.

Why Atlanta? As local station WSB-TV recently reported, the current market looks similar to previous housing booms, especially with higher prices than there were in the housing boom of the early 2000s. That could represent a prime opportunity.

Real estate also functions as a way to hedge against inflation. Inflation should be a concern for any investor—after all, it’s vital that your retirement dollar old on to its value. By holding real estate, you move money out of dollars and into real property. That real property then can go up in value, which in turn helps you hold on to the initial investment.

With a Self-Directed IRA owned LLC and checkbook control, you’ll have plenty of options for seeking out opportunities in the Atlanta area. That means that you don’t have to depend on other markets or even look into moving to make retirement happen just where you are. And that’s at the core of Self-Directing: making your own destiny when it comes to your retirement investments.

However, checkbook control also means that you can give yourself too much responsibility in too big of a hurry. What’s right for you? Keep reading. For more information on these “checkbook power” arrangements, keep checking out our website. You can also call American IRA with your retirement inquiries by calling 866-7500-IRA or visiting more of our information right here at www.AmericanIRA.com.