Articles
Alert: The RISE Act Will Drastically Impact Self-Directed IRAs
The Retirement Improvements and Savings Enhancements Act ("RISE Act") has drastic changes and provisions that effect self-directed IRA investors. From mandatory third-party valuations on all retirement account investment transactions to changing the 50% disqualified...
IRS Warns Against Home Storage for Precious Metals Owned by Self-Directed IRAs
The Wall Street Journal recently reported on the radio advertising that promotes an ability to store gold owned by a self-directed IRA at the IRA owner’s own home. Based on the Journal’s reporting and investigation, the IRS issued a statement warning against such storage.
Self Directed IRAs, Prohibited Transactions, and the IRS Statute of Limitations: Thiessen v. Commissioner
In the recent case of Thiessen v. Commissioner, 146 T.C. No. 7 (2016), the Tax Court considered how long the IRS has to allege a prohibited transaction against an IRA. In general, the IRS must allege a prohibited transaction against your IRA within three years after...
Can I Get Out of the Annuity I Bought with My IRA?
I've consulted many clients over the years who used their IRA funds to buy an annuity investment. The most common questions I get are as follows. What is an annuity? Now mind you, these are persons who already own an annuity. Can I cancel it and get my money back to...
UBIT Tax and Self-Directed IRAs: Three Key Tips Every Investor Should Know
Unrelated Business Income Tax (“UBIT”) is often misunderstood by self-directed IRA investors and their professional advisors. In essence, UBIT is a tax that is due to an IRA when it receives “business income” as opposed to “investment income”. When we think of IRAs...
Roth IRAs: Other Perks on Top of Tax-Free Growth
Many investors and financial professionals are familiar with the primary benefits of a Roth IRA: that the plans investments grow tax-free and come out tax-free. But if tax-free investing isn't enough to get you excited, rest assured, there are more benefits to the...
Asset Protection for Your Self Directed IRA
Many self directed IRA investors misunderstand or are unaware of the protections afforded to their IRA (Roth or traditional) as it relates to creditors and judgments. This article seeks to address the key areas of the law that every self directed IRA investor should...
Understanding the Prohibited Transaction Rules for Self-Directed IRAs (Webinar)
Webinar Slides: Understanding the Prohibited Transaction Rules for SDIRAs By Mat Sorensen
Radio Ad Warning: Self-Directed IRA Investors Should Go For The Gold With Caution
I hear a radio ad every week that says, "there is a loophole that allows you to use your IRA to buy physical gold "tax-free" and that you can EVEN store this gold in your home." If these radio ads were on T.V., there'd probably be an image of Scrooge McDuck swimming...
Prohibited Transaction Case Lesson: The Substance of the Transaction Matters
A prohibited transaction case from 2015 taught an important lesson for self-directed IRA investors. That lesson is that the substance of the actual transaction matters and that you cannot avoid a prohibited transaction by creating entities or other artificial...
