Following are some frequently asked questions about self-directed IRAs.<\/p>\n
What is the Purpose of these FAQs<\/u><\/p>\n
The purpose of these FAQs is to educate you on your roles and responsibilities as the account owner, and the limited role of a self-directed IRA (individual retirement account) custodian as it applies to your account.\u00a0 Please read these FAQs carefully.<\/p>\n
What is a self-directed IRA?<\/u><\/p>\n
A self-directed IRA is a retirement account that enables you to exercise your own discretion to select, invest in, and hold real estate, private equity, private lending, precious metals, and other diversified assets.\u00a0 All investment decisions and directions in your self-directed IRA are made exclusively by you or a designated third party such as an Investment Advisor or Power of Attorney that you appoint.<\/p>\n
What is a self-directed IRA custodian?<\/u><\/p>\n
A self-directed IRA custodian is a custodian that Internal Revenue Code provisions require you to select to hold and administer your retirement assets until retirement age or an early distribution by you.\u00a0 Unlike registered financial advisors and broker dealers, a self-directed IRA custodian does not<\/u> <\/strong>offer its own investments, provide investment advice, legal or tax advice, promote or provide due diligence on investment sponsors or third parties or provide or any other guidance to you when making investment choices.\u00a0 Rather, a self-directed IRA custodian performs the duties of a directed custodian and takes your instruction to invest.<\/p>\n What does a self-directed IRA custodian do?<\/u><\/p>\n A self-directed IRA custodian acts in the limited role of a non-discretionary administrator of your retirement assets.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 A self-directed IRA custodian provides the following services for your IRA:<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Processes and maintains an IRA agreement and forms you submit to request actions in the IRA<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Accepts receipt of and records contributions, transfers, and rollovers from other IRAs\/retirement plans<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Receives and acts on your instructions to remit funds from the IRA to pay for investments you have selected<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Receives and acts on your instructions to sell, withdraw from or liquidate investments held in the IRA<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Holds originals or copies of documents such as subscription agreements, operating agreements, offering memorandum, promissory notes, certificates, and other evidence of the IRA\u2019s ownership of investments<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Receives and records income from the assets held in the IRA<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Receives and acts on your instructions to distribute assets to you or to other retirement plans from the IRA<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Provides you with statements reflecting transactions, funds, and assets held in the IRA<\/p>\n \u00d8\u00a0 Performs tax reporting on IRS Forms 1099-R and 5498 as required by the IRS<\/p>\n What a self-directed IRA custodian doesn\u2019t do?<\/u><\/p>\n A self-directed IRA custodian does not<\/u><\/strong> provide the following services:<\/p>\n v\u00a0 Provide investment, tax, estate planning, or legal advice<\/p>\n v\u00a0 Recommend or endorse investments<\/p>\n This means that, in acting as custodian of an investment you have selected, the self-directed IRA custodian does not recommend, endorse, or approve that type of investment<\/p>\n v\u00a0 Recommend or endorse investment advisors or sponsors<\/p>\n This means that, when a custodian communicates with or acts on directions from an investment advisor or sponsor selected by you, the self-directed IRA custodian is not recommending, endorsing or approving of that advisor or sponsor.\u00a0 The custodian is also not affiliated with or an agent of that advisor or sponsor.<\/p>\n v\u00a0 Determine the fair market value of account investments<\/p>\n This means that a valuation submitted to the self-directed IRA custodian by the investment sponsor is not a warranty or representation by the self-directed IRA custodian that the reported value is accurate<\/p>\n v\u00a0 Perform due diligence on any investment or investment sponsor that you select<\/p>\n v\u00a0 Determine the safety, prudence, or suitability of any investment that you select for the IRA or for yourself<\/p>\n v\u00a0 Have an obligation to decision whether a transaction would be deemed a Prohibited Transaction as outlined in Internal Revenue Code section 4975 (26 USC \u00a7 4975).\u00a0 Custodians do have the right to reject an investment that the custodian becomes aware of which is or could be a Prohibited Transaction.\u00a0 The responsibility lies with the account owner to ensure the transaction is acceptable in an IRA.<\/p>\n Duties of an Account Owner<\/u><\/p>\n Self-Directed IRAs provide the account owner the opportunity to make his\/her own investment decisions and invest in a variety of asset classes.\u00a0 The follow responsibilities fall on the account owner:<\/p>\n What should I do before I make an investment in my IRA?<\/u><\/p>\n Before you invest, it is prudent to perform your own thorough research and due diligence on the risk profile of an investment and the track record of the investment sponsor.\u00a0 Web sites such as ftc.gov<\/a>, sec.gov<\/a>, finra.org<\/a>, www.nfa.futures.org<\/a> and bbb.org<\/a> maintain free and valuable resources.\u00a0 In addition, it is also prudent to consult with your tax advisor or attorney for specific questions about your investment and any tax or legal implications.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/vc_column_text][vc_tta_accordion active_section=”1″ collapsible_all=”true”][vc_tta_section title=”What Can I Invest In?” tab_id=”1579801931253-cd010221-f9c7″][vc_column_text css=””]<\/p>\n You can invest your IRA in anything except Life Insurance Policies and Collectibles.\u00a0 For more information regarding rules governing self-directed IRA or 401(k) investments, please see\u00a0IRA Rules<\/a>.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What is a Self-Directed IRA?” tab_id=”1579801931273-b9852fbb-0d62″][vc_column_text]A self-directed IRA is a retirement account that puts you in control of choosing your IRA’s investment. Unlike most retirement accounts whose investments are chosen by an account and\/or fund manager, you choose what to invest in with a self-directed IRA. This allows you to diversify your retirement portfolio\u2019s investment and maximize returns.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”What Types of Investments Can I Make with My Self-Directed IRA Funds?” tab_id=”1579801979132-2dffae16-053d”][vc_column_text]The IRS guidelines spell out what you cannot invest in (IRS Pub 590). This is actually by design because the list of what you cannot invest in is much shorter than what you can invest in.<\/p>\n Following are some of investments that are prohibited with a self-directed IRA:<\/p>\n The investment possibilities with a self-directed IRA are practically unlimited. Following is small listing of what you can invest in: all forms of residential and commercial real estate, mortgages, mutual funds, stocks, private placements, notes, tax liens, trust deeds and more.<\/p>\n Because there are such a broad range of investment vehicles, you can structure the diversity of your portfolio any way you like.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Can I Open a Self-Directed IRA Online?” tab_id=”1579802005874-6ea7843f-3e94″][vc_column_text]There are a couple of ways to open a self-directed IRA.<\/p>\n Contact us at 866-538-3539 and one of our knowledgeable self directed IRA account specialists will assist you in opening your self-directed IRA.<\/p>\n You can upload your documents through our secure document upload portal here:<\/p>\n [\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Can I Roll Over or Transfer Existing Retirement Accounts into a Self-Directed IRA?” tab_id=”1579802029817-a0ac3891-c1ea”][vc_column_text]Yes, you can. You can do cash transfers, rollovers from existing retirement accounts, transfers from stock and mutual fund accounts, and transfers from brokerage accounts. How long it takes will depend on what type of account you are transferring and\/or rolling over. The process can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of months. Immediately upon the funds clearing in your account, you can start investing (subject to initial statutory 7 day right of rescission).<\/p>\n It’s that simple.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Self-Directed IRAs Seem Like an Ideal Way to Take Control Over My Retirement Funds. Why Don\u2019t More People Know About Them?” tab_id=”1579802048047-9824e7ad-4803″][vc_column_text]Simple politics and marketing might explain this. To explain, traditional IRA suppliers control roughly 97% of the IRA market. And, like any organized lobby, they use their marketing dollars to stay front and center with consumers.<\/p>\n Furthermore, IRA managers work for companies who promote certain IRA products and services. As they make their money from selling products the company promotes, it’s no wonder that self-directed IRAs have not become mainstream. At uDirect IRA Services we do not sell any investments.<\/p>\n More and more Americans are taking control of their hard-earned retirement dollars. The internet makes it easy to conduct detailed research, get instant feedback, track investment vehicles and make informed investment decisions.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_tta_section][\/vc_tta_accordion][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row disable_element=”yes” css=”.vc_custom_1577393538512{padding-top: 20px !important;padding-bottom: 100px !important;}”][vc_column width=”1\/2″ css=”.vc_custom_1482908698153{padding-top: 40px !important;}” offset=”vc_col-lg-3 vc_col-md-3″]\n
Allowable Investments at uDirect IRA Services, LLC Include the Following<\/h4>\n
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What Investments are\u00a0Not<\/u>\u00a0Allowed?<\/h4>\n
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Call<\/h4>\n
Upload Documents<\/a><\/h4>\n
uDirect Secure Document Upload Portal<\/a><\/h4>\n