Your resource for articles, ideas and information on self-directing your retirement plan into alternative assets.
The Entrust Group does not offer investment, tax, financial or legal advice to clients. Individuals who believe they need advice should consult with the appropriate professional(s) licensed in that area. This section of our website is devoted to providing clients and potential client with educational information regarding self-directed accounts and possible investment scenarios. It is in no way intended as investment advice.
IRA Insights
- Converting to Roth IRA
Recently, two of our clients convert their traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs for some rather creative reasons. First, both clients anticipate their Adjusted Gross Income this year for conversion purposes to be less than $100,000. This will allow them to conv - Options Can Be Great for Self-Directed Investors
If you are a real estate investor, you probably make the majority of your profits by being creative. Utilizing a truly self-directed IRA allows you to maximize this creativity by making the profits that you earn become tax-deferred or tax-free. - Banking on Your IRA Through Lending
- Distributing Shares of Entities from IRA/Qualified Plans
Use of the Discount for Loss of Marketability for Valuation Purposes - IRA Investment in Denver Commercial Properties Gaining Momentum
Historically, most retirement plans in the United States invest in securities of some sort, but gaining popularity over the last 4 years is the use of self-directed IRA administrators to facilitate real estate and lending deals. - Real Estate in Your IRA? Self Direct & Take Control!
If you havent heard about buying real estate inside your IRA, your first reaction might be, You cant do that! Despite the attention, including articles in Business Week... - Self-Directed IRAs - Investing Retirement Funds in Real Estate
Diversification is one of the most important qualities of a successful retirement portfolio. Among the many investment options available, real estate is often overlooked. Few people are aware that opening a Truly Self-Directed IRA or Qualified Plan creat - SPECIAL REPORT: Health Savings Accounts Convincing Employees
When it comes to dollar amounts having anything to do with spending, Americans firmly believe that lower is better, higher is worse. In the year and a half since the new IRS acronym HSA emerged on the scene, many American businesses are finding difficul - Mixed Portfolio Theory Revisited
In the June 2006 Insights I established the basis for a theory I called at the time "Independent Portfolio Theory." I have since honed this idea more and developed it into "Mixed Portfolio Theory." - What is a Coverdell Education Savings Account?
Parents and grandparents take note: saving for a childs college education through at tax-exempt Coverdell account is the most efficient way to optimize an investments rate of return. - Understanding Health Savings Accounts
Changes to the Health Savings Account rules effective January 1, 2007, are generating new interest in the plans. However, there is still a gap in knowledge with regard to the actual usage of the plans. - Is Retirement an Option? Will It be for You?
You will need twenty times your current annual income in investments for maintenance of your lifestyle upon retirement. - For Sophisticated Investors OnlySelf-Directed IRAs
The power and flexibility of a self-directed IRA is not for everyone. With flexibility comes choices, and choices require more detailed investment knowledge. Less active investors find that the time required to find and make investment choices is not wor - Prohibited Transactions - How Close is Too Close?
The ability to successfully structure self-directed IRA and qualified plans into nontraditional and potentially lucrative investments always depends on understanding the rules for prohibited transaction set forth in IRS Code Section 4975. - Three Questions Realtors Should Ask Every Client
Realtors should look at their clients, not just in terms of buying and selling their personal residences, but also in terms of being real estate investors. You think your clients do not have enough cash to invest in real estate? Think again. - To Insure or Not To Insure
We, as administrators, do not require insurance on any property owned by the IRA, nor do we recommend not insuring - it is up to you to make that decision. - Do Retirement Plans Have Too Many Choices? Are New Limits Coming? Independent Investor Alert!
Too many choices can hamper decision making. Current and historical research reveals that too many investment options may be a bad thing. - Lending to Fund Non-Profit Organizations
How to use your IRA Creatively and Mindfully - The Swanson Decision
The Swanson Decision has been lauded as a “landmark decision” for the “checkbook control IRA”. An entire industry has been built around this decision and the internet has become the platform for launching products designed to give “checkbook co - Eat at Joes IRAs Bar and Grill
The joy of entrepreneurship - IRA/401(k) Insights - Past Issues for 2007, 2006 and 2005
IRA & 401(k) Insights is a monthly publication for anyone interested in self-directing their retirement funds and investing in nontradional assets. View past issues here. - How to Use Non-Recourse Loans for Investment Success
So, how do you use your self-directed IRA or 401(k) to buy and rehab real estate and many other assets. Borrowing money is also possible with a non-recourse loan. There are lenders that... - 2008: Is this a Good Time to Self-Direct My IRA?
- Feb IRA Insights: A Financially Sound Retirement Plan Needs Your Attention!
The financial gurus tell us we should save 10% of our annual income in order to have enough cash to last through our retirement. Most of us are not in a position to save this kind of money due the rising cost of everyday living-- just look at the gas pum - Considerations When Selecting An IRA Administrator/Custodian
When you select an IRA custodian to handle your Self Directed IRA account, you have limited choices but need to carefully evaluate their ability to provide you the services that you need. Many IRA owners are unfamiliar with many of the rules related to I - The Difference an IRA Can Make
How does a real estate investment within an IRA compare to the same investment made with personal funds? - What You Need to Know About Foreclosures Crisis and Opportunity
When a borrower defaults on a loan, the bank will foreclose on the property. In a foreclosure, the bank has the right to have the property sold to pay off the loan. This is not a good option for the borrowers and is not something that the bank wants eith - A Financially Sound Retirement Needs Your Attention
If you could start putting away the maximum amount allowed in your IRA or company 401(k)especially if your company matches those fundsthats a start - Joes IRA...The Banker
Joe kept his eyes and ears open for new investment opportunities. He realized that the choice was his and although he considered the stock market as a source, he still remembered the sick feeling over those months of the 35% decline. - Lay the Financial Groundwork for the Second Half of Your Life
- Self Directing into Real Estate
The internet serves as a portal into many of these practices - and a brief surfing session can yield a considerable volume of information. Yet, as real estate investors, who should we be using as a guide, guru, or advisor? - How to Tap Your Retirement Assets to Achieve Real Estate Dreams
How many times have you run into eager real estate investors who had the bulk of their money tied up in retirement plan assets-and believed they had no way to tap those assets? Now you can help those clients and yourself - Finding Opportunity with Private Placements
In 2006, there were 179 new banks chartered in the United States, led by 21 new financial institutions in both California and Florida. Over $1 billion was raised for these banks all from the bank principals, board members and private individuals. - Diversifying Your Portfolio with Land
Purchasing land using your Entrust self-directed IRA is an easy way to diversify your investment portfolio. It also makes investing in real estate available . . . - The State of Real Estate in 2008: An Historical Economics Perspective
The opening of 2008 brings a new and vibrant market in hard asset investments. Following a year in which many real estate investors have seen decreases in their investments. . . - May IRA Insights: Non-Deductible Contributions to Traditional IRAs
However, there is good reason to contribute non-deductible amounts to your Traditional IRA, especially if your income keeps you from qualifying for a Roth IRA. - May IRA Insights: The Tax Free Investing Opportunity
How many of your clients could benefit from tax-free investing? Since we're talking about a one-time only Roth IRA opportunity, the answer depends on several factors and variables. - May IRA Insights: Why Must IRAs Have A Custodian?
The Employment Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) was signed into law by President Gerald Ford over 33 years ago and the Individual Retirement Account developed soon after. - May IRA Insights: Worried About Your Financial Future?
Most of us utilize a company 401(k) plan or depend on major financial institutions to invest our retirement dollars and pray for double digit growth. With the downturn in the markets, the economy in general and the continued slide in real estate, does th - June IRA Insights: The Successful Realtor's Retirement Plan
It is difficult today, with all the choices, to determine which retirement plan is best suited for each individual. However, it is now easier for the realtor to enjoy the same tax favored plans large - June IRA Insights: Joes IRA Hits a (Rental) Home Run
Joe's retirement plans were coming back into focus as the result of his newly found investments for his IRA. - June IRA Insights: Tax Lien Certificates
Whether you invest with your self-directed IRA or personal funds, tax lien certificates can make sense for slow and steady growth in your portfolio. Tax liens are booming in states where homeowners are missing mortgage payments. - June IRA Insights: Women and Retirement
Jill was a stay-at-home mom with two active children under the age of 6. Although Jill had a degree in education, she had only worked two years before starting her family with her husband Steve. - Things to Avoid with Rollovers
Over the past several months, our office has had several instances of clients or potential clients not understanding the IRS rollover provisions. Generally speaking, if you have your current custodian directly transfer your fundsto your new custodian - Investments Support You During Tough Times
The stock market is volatile. The sub prime mess has wreaked havoc on the economy. Gas prices are over $4.00 a gallon. And good companies are in financial trouble. I don't have a crystal ball but could safely guess the state of the economy is not plannin - July IRA Insights - Interesting Insights - Tax Relief for Military
On June 17, 2008, President Bush, signed H.R. 6081, the Heroes Earnings Assistance and Relief Tax (HEART) Act of 2008. The bill was passed by the - July IRA Insights: How do I Invest Thee? Let me Count the Ways
Many people find it very easy to see the benefits of self-directing their Roth and Traditional IRAs, SEP IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, Individual 401(k)s, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (ESAs) and Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) . . . - July IRA Insights: Start Up Bank Stock in IRAs
In many small towns across the country, large banks have moved in and gobbled up smaller competitors to expand their presence. As this occurs, the one size fits all' approach used by these larger banks creates voids in what many people consider . . . - July IRA Insights: Investments to Support You During Tough Times
The stock market is volatile. The sub prime mess has wreaked havoc on the economy. Gas prices are over $4.00 a gallon. And good companies are in financial trouble. I don't have a crystal ball but could safely guess the state of the economy is not plannin - July IRA Insights: Interesting Trend in 1031 Exchanges
While the numbers of 1031 Exchanges are down, they are not out. A 1031 Exchange is a tax code section that allows a taxpayer to sell investment real estate and defer some or all of the taxes if they follow the guidelines when purchasing replacement prope - The Cost of Kids
As the father of three kids - one teenager and two soon-to-be teenagers - you never really think about how much your children cost you - August IRA Insights: The Case - No Support in the Stock Market
Lately, many investors feel that sinking feeling in the pit of their stomach as they look at their 401(k) and IRA statements. Since an all time high on October 9th of 2007 of 14,164, the Dow Jones Industrial Average has steadily - August IRA Insights: Funding Your New Business with Retirement Funds
John recently retired from the fire department and is ready to move on to the next phase of his life. At 54 years young, John knew he wasn't ready for "full-time" retirement and had been thinking about starting his own business for several years. As his - August IRA Insights: Uncle IRA, the Venture Capitalist
While the average IRA holder trades public stock and mutual funds, it's the sophisticated, self-directed investor who also keeps an eye open for growing, private companies. Every public company started out as a private business and almost all used . . . - How To Be an Informed Self-Directed IRA Holder A Primer
Chances are that you are reading this publication because you want more information on Self Directed Retirement Plans. Thats great! Retirement Plan Self Direction has some wonderful benefits, including diversification of your retirement funds, greater p - What Can You Do with A Small IRA?
- UBIT? You Bet! Using the Powerful Tool of Debt Leveraging in Your IRA
Many people just throw up their hands and say 'Forget it!' upon learning that an IRA can be subject to Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) or Unrelated Debt Financing Income Tax (UDFI) if it owns debt leveraged property.
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