Real Estate

How to Explain a Self-Directed IRA to an Investing Newbie

Do you know an investing newbie? Are you a newbie yourself? If so, this blog is perfect for you! We will discuss the key points to understand about what a Self-Directed IRA is and its functions.

Self-Directed Traditional vs. Roth IRAs

If you’re a retirement investor, chances are that you’ve heard of Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts. But chances someone you know hasn’t heard of it? Even higher.  These unique accounts provide sophisticated investors the ability to manage their own portfolios without relying solely on institutional options. However, explaining the features and benefits of a Self-Directed IRA to someone who is new to investing can be challenging.

In this article, we’ll discuss how best to explain a Self-Directed IRA and its advantages in simple language so that even those who are just beginning their investing journey can easily grasp what it entails.

What is a Self-Directed IRA and How Does It Work?

A Self-Directed individual retirement account (IRA) is an IRS-approved retirement savings vehicle that provides you with the freedom to choose and invest in almost any asset, including real estate, stocks, bonds, gold, cryptocurrency, and private companies. Self-Directed IRAs are regulated by the same laws as traditional approaches to IRAs but with more flexibility when it comes to investments.

By investing in a Self-Directed IRA, you will have the ability to build wealth within a tax-protected retirement account. The account also allows investors to be in charge of choosing when to buy and sell each individual asset within their portfolio. However, there are certain restrictions involved. For example, you are only allowed to use funds within your IRA for certain expenses while knowing that all profits go directly towards funding your future retirement. This is the key demarcation that makes it possible to house specific assets within a tax-protected retirement account.

Advantages of Self-Directed IRAs over the Traditional Approach

Self-Directed IRAs offer investors several advantages over the traditional approach to retirement accounts. This type of account provides greater control over the investment decisions being made and offers an opportunity to diversify your portfolio beyond stocks and bonds.

With this greater autonomy also comes greater responsibility as a Self-Directed investor, meaning that you’ll have to make time to do the necessary research before investing. Additionally, Self-Directed IRAs can be used to invest in alternative assets such as real estate, precious metals, private market companies, and cryptocurrency. This offers investors a broader range of options for diversification compared to a traditional IRA approach. All told, the potential benefits of utilizing a Self-Directed IRA are considerable—with the right amount of research and effort you may be able to achieve superior returns on your portfolio investments.

What Kinds of Investments Can You Hold in a Self-Directed IRA?

Self-Directed IRAs offer individuals the opportunity to invest their retirement dollars in a wider range of assets than traditional IRAs. With a Self-Directed IRA, you can hold a variety of investments that your custodian offers, as mentioned above—this includes gold, cryptocurrencies, other precious metals, real estate, and all sorts of potential investments.

It’s important to remember that Self-Directed investments carry risk, just like any type of investment. Therefore, if you use these kinds of accounts, do your own research and consult with a financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

How Do You Explain It All?

When you have a Self-Directed IRA, explain it in simple terms. You have an IRA that you get to control. This gives you more options, more power, and more precision in determining how you build your portfolio. That’s all they need to know—and it’s often all you need to know to determine that you want a Self-Directed IRA for yourself and your portfolio.

Interested in learning more about Self-Directed IRAs?  Contact American IRA, LLC at 866-7500-IRA (472) for a free consultation.  Download our free guide or visit us online at www.AmericanIRA.com.

Need more tips for explaining Self-Directed IRAs to an Investing Newbie? Visit: Self-Directed IRA Tips for Beginners (americanira.com)