The world is increasingly online. That means many aspects of our lives—from our most intimate personal details to our financial details—are also online. If you want a Self-Directed IRA, it’s likely because you want to secure a solid financial future for yourself and your family. But you can’t do that unless you can be confident in the security of the account itself. Here at American IRA, we have a few ideas on how to maintain security with your account because we’ve been helping people like you. Here’s how we’d approach securing your Self-Directed IRA so you can invest with confidence.

American IRA’s Approach to Security

At American IRA, we prioritize the security and integrity of your Self-Directed IRA. Our comprehensive approach to account security? It’s simple. And it ensures that your funds are protected every step of the way. Here’s how we handle fund movements and transactions to guard your retirement savings:

Buy Direction Letter:

• Funds never move out of your account without a signed Buy Direction Letter from you. This ensures that all transactions are only initiated with your explicit consent and authorization.

Verification Process:

• Wire and ACH instructions are meticulously reviewed, then implemented only after you’ve signed them “read and approved.” Our closing coordinator scrutinizes all funding requests, as well, verifying that they align with your instructions and preferences.

Compliance Review:

• The American IRA Compliance Officer carefully examines the reviewed paperwork. The goal here is to ensure accuracy and compliance with regulatory requirements before any funds transfer. This additional layer of scrutiny minimizes the risk of errors or discrepancies in transactions.

Senior Management Approval:

• A member of senior management conducts a thorough review of the funding paperwork, wire transfers, ACHs, or checks written, then provides final approval for fund movements. It might sound stringent. But it ensures accountability and oversight at every stage of the transaction.

Confirmation Protocol:

• Before releasing funds, we conduct a confirmation call to verify the legitimacy of the transaction and ensure that all necessary security protocols have been followed. This verification step adds an extra layer of protection against unauthorized transactions or fraudulent activities.

Encrypted Communication:

• To safeguard sensitive information and correspondence, we use encrypted emails for all communications related to your Self-Directed IRA. Encryption technology helps protect your personal and financial data from interception or unauthorized access.

By adhering to these rigorous security protocols and procedures, American IRA is committed to providing you with peace of mind.

Securing Your Self-Directed IRA

What about what you can do? Let’s zoom in. In addition to the measures implemented by American IRA, there are steps you can take to enhance the security of your Self-Directed IRA:

Regular Account Monitoring:

• Keep a close eye on your account activity and statements. Look for any unusual or unauthorized transactions. Report any suspicious activity to your IRA custodian immediately.

Stay Informed:

• Stay informed about common scams and fraudulent schemes targeting retirement accounts. Educate yourself about the risks associated with Self-Directed IRA investing and take proactive steps to mitigate them.

Maintain Strong Passwords:

• Use complex and unique passwords for your online account access and avoid sharing them with anyone. Consider enabling multi-factor authentication for an added layer of security.

Verify Investment Opportunities:

• Conduct due diligence before investing in any asset through your Self-Directed IRA. That’s a fancy way of saying: do your homework. Verify the legitimacy of investment opportunities and seek professional advice if needed to assess potential risks.

Ensuring the security of your Self-Directed IRA is paramount to protecting your retirement savings and achieving your long-term financial goals. If you’re interested in learning more about securing your Self-Directed IRA, you can call 866-7500-IRA to learn more about how seriously we treat account security.

Want to learn how secure a Self-Directed account can be? Visit: Are Self-Directed IRAs and Roth IRAs Secure? | American IRA