The Case for the Self-Directed IRA

He told me he was planning on retiring this year but his retirement plan lost so much money that he can no longer afford to retire.

By: Lisa Moren Bromma

IRA & 401(k) Insights

Over and over again, I hear from people who have not only lost money in the market but also in their retirement plans.  I recently went to my doctor for a physical.  He told me he was planning on retiring this year but his retirement plan lost so much money that he can no longer afford to retire.  He appeared very disappointed, and mentioned that he was looking forward to spending time between his homes in Hawaii and Lake Tahoe.

“Not now”, he said.  “And, on top of this, business is down because so many people have lost their health insurance that they skip the doctor visits if they have to pay!”

You may not feel sorry for someone with homes in Lake Tahoe and Hawaii. My point is that everyone, no matter what financial position they have achieved in life, is suffering.

We can feel sorry for ourselves or we can do something about it.  I make the case for the self-directed IRA because a truly self-directed retirement plan allows you to invest in hard assets as well as conventional investments. You get to vote on how your money is invested by making the choice to diversify and to not have all of your assets in one investment or with one broker.  A self-directed retirement plan requires your active input.  

You make the investment decisions, not someone who would possibly never care as much as you about your money.

The Entrust Group (www.theentrustgroup.com) offers a commitment to excellence, integrity, and community.  With local offices nationwide, our commitments go far beyond the work we do for our clients. We make no investment decisions or recommendations, we simply act on your instructions.  The investment choices are yours!  

Take the time to learn more about how to self-direct your retirement plan with investments you choose and that you feel can have a positive impact on your financial future. When you know, understand, and are in control of your money, you are on the way to achieving the financial freedom you deserve.

Lisa Moren Bromma has been a real estate investor since 1978, a note investor since 1998 and has worked with some of the top private mortgage institutional buyers. She is an advisor to The Entrust Group, the nation’s largest network of self-directed IRA administrators, and the author of Real Estate Investing for the Utterly Confused, and Wise Women Invest in Real Estate. Visit her web sites at
www.wisewomeninvestor.com or
www.theentrustgroup.com.