In today's uncertain economic landscape, savvy investors are increasingly looking beyond traditional stocks and bonds to diversify their retirement portfolios.
While some Wall Street firms limit your investment options, IRA Financial empowers you to take control of your retirement by investing in alternative assets like gold, cryptocurrencies, private businesses, and real estate through self-directed retirement accounts.
The IRA Financial Advantage for Alternative Assets
IRA Financial, founded by former tax and ERISA attorney Adam Bergman, specializes in helping retirement account holders establish self-directed plans that unlock investments in gold, real estate, and other alternative assets many traditional providers don't offer.
Their platform stands out with several key benefits:
- True self-direction: Invest in virtually any asset not prohibited by the IRS
- Flat fee structure: No percentage-based custody fees or asset valuation charges that can silently erode your returns
- Checkbook control option: Make investments by simply writing a check without custodian delays
- Tax advantages: Choose tax-deferred (Traditional) or tax-free (Roth) growth strategies
- Regulatory expertise: Backed by tax professionals ensuring IRS compliance
Most retirement investors don't realize they can use their retirement funds to invest in alternative assets they understand, like real estate or precious metals, according to IRA Financial.
"This is because traditional financial institutions don’t tell their clients about alternative asset investments. They want IRA holders to invest in their products, such as stocks, bonds and mutual funds. In other words, traditional investments," the company said.
Gold IRAs: Portfolio Protection in Uncertain Times
Gold has been considered a safe investment since the Gold Rush of 1849. As of February 2025, gold is trading at $2,935.50 per ounce—up from lows of $1,289.40 in 2019—which demonstrates its enduring value during economic turbulence.
Benefits of Gold in Your Retirement Portfolio
- Stability: Gold has maintained its value throughout history. According to Britannica, a Roman centurion's wage in gold was about the same as a U.S. Army captain's pay today
- Diversification: Precious metals typically move independently from traditional markets
- Inflation hedge: As currency values decline, gold often rises, protecting purchasing power
- Global acceptance: Gold maintains value across borders and economic systems
The IRA Financial Gold IRA platform lets you invest in IRS-approved gold and other precious metals through a streamlined process designed for both novice and intermediate investors.
How to Establish Your Gold IRA with IRA Financial
Setting up a Gold IRA with IRA Financial is straightforward:
- Choose your account type: Establish either a Custodian Controlled Self-Directed IRA (for occasional investments) or a Self-Directed IRA LLC with Checkbook Control (for frequent trading)
- Fund your account: Transfer existing retirement funds tax-free or make new contributions
- Select your metals: Purchase IRS-approved gold, silver, platinum, or palladium bullion or coins
- Secure storage: Your precious metals must be held at an approved depository as required by IRS regulations
IRA Financial has simplified the process of investing in precious metals through retirement accounts. The platform offers real-time pricing, profit tracking, and seamless integration with IRS-approved depositories.
Real Estate IRAs: Building Wealth Through Tangible Assets
Real estate remains one of the most popular alternative investments for self-directed retirement accounts, offering steady income potential, appreciation, and inflation protection.
Benefits of Real Estate in Your Retirement Portfolio
- Income generation: Rental properties provide steady cash flow back to your retirement account
- Appreciation potential: Property values have historically increased over time
- Inflation protection: Real estate prices and rental income typically rise with inflation
- Tangible asset control: Unlike stocks, you have direct influence over your investment's performance
Through IRA Financial's platform, retirement investors can access various real estate opportunities:
- Residential properties
- Commercial buildings
- Raw land
- Apartment complexes
- Real estate notes
- Tax liens and deeds
- Fractional real estate investments
How to Invest in Real Estate with IRA Financial
- Establish your self-directed account: Choose between a Custodian Controlled SDIRA or a Checkbook Control IRA LLC based on your investment frequency
- Fund your account: Transfer existing retirement funds or make new contributions
- Find your property: Identify suitable real estate investments (ensuring they comply with IRS rules)
- Structure the transaction: Purchase can be made 100% with IRA funds, through partnerships with non-disqualified persons, or with non-recourse financing
Real estate investing through a self-directed IRA allows you to diversify your retirement and invest in something you know, IRA Financial noted. With their platform, you can purchase, sell, and flip properties at your discretion while enjoying tax advantages you wouldn't get when investing with personal funds.
The Solo 401(k) Advantage for Self-Employed Investors
For self-employed individuals and small business owners with no full-time employees, the Solo 401(k) offers additional advantages for alternative asset investing, especially real estate.
Solo 401(k) Benefits
- Higher contribution limits: Contribute up to $70,000 annually ($77,500 if age 50+) compared to $7,000 for IRAs
- Loan feature: Borrow up to $50,000 or 50% of account value for any purpose
- UBTI tax exemption: Avoid Unrelated Business Taxable Income tax on leveraged real estate investments (a major advantage over IRAs)
- Simplified administration: No annual filing requirement unless assets exceed $250,000
The Solo 401(k) offers self-employed individuals maximum investment flexibility and contribution potential. For real estate investors specifically, it provides an advantage when using leverage, as qualified retirement plans are exempt from the Unrelated Business Taxable Income (UBTI) tax that typically applies to debt-financed property in IRAs.
Understanding IRS Rules for Alternative Investments
While self-directed retirement accounts offer remarkable flexibility, they must operate within IRS guidelines to maintain their tax advantages.
Key IRS Rules to Consider
- Prohibited transactions: You cannot transact with disqualified persons (yourself, spouse, lineal descendants/ascendants, etc.)
- No personal benefit: You cannot personally use the assets held in your retirement account
- No personal possession of precious metals: Gold and other metals must be held by an approved trustee or depository
- Proper titling: All assets must be titled in the name of the retirement account, not the individual
The foundation of IRS rules for self-directed retirement accounts is that investments should benefit the retirement account itself, not provide immediate personal benefit before retirement age. IRA Financial's tax professionals provide guidance to help ensure your investments remain compliant with these complex IRS regulations.
The Importance of Portfolio Diversification
Financial experts consistently recommend diversification across multiple asset classes to manage risk. While alternative assets can play a valuable role in this strategy, balance remains crucial.
"Real estate can be an excellent long-term investment. It's a proven inflation hedge, and in the right areas over the right time frame, [real estate] can outperform many other investments," Richard Redmond of Richmond Mortgage Capital told Realtor.com last year.
However, he cautioned, "If you are a small investor and the particular property or area where you own a rental property runs into unexpected hard times, your returns can really suffer."
Most financial advisors suggest limiting alternative assets like gold to about 5% to 10% of a retirement portfolio, with real estate potentially comprising a larger portion depending on your expertise and risk tolerance.
Lower Fees Mean Higher Returns
One of IRA Financial's key differentiators is its transparent, flat-fee pricing model. While many Gold IRA providers and self-directed custodians charge percentage-based fees (typically 1% annually) plus transaction fees, IRA Financial uses a simple annual fee structure.
For a $100,000 account, traditional providers might charge $1,000 yearly in asset-based fees before adding transaction costs. IRA Financial's flat fee approach can save investors thousands over the life of their retirement accounts—money that stays invested and compounds for your future.
Taking the Next Step with IRA Financial
If you are ready to diversify your retirement portfolio with gold, real estate, or other alternative investments, IRA Financial makes getting started simple:
- Establish your account: Open a Self-Directed IRA or Solo 401(k) through IRA Financial's website or mobile app
- Fund your account: Transfer existing retirement funds tax-free or make new contributions
- Begin investing: With your funded account, start making investments in assets you understand and trust
Take control of your retirement future today by adding tangible, inflation-resistant assets to your portfolio with IRA Financial's self-directed retirement solutions.