Investments
Self-Directed IRA Investments
Real estate, private equity, precious metals, crypto, and more. All inside one tax-advantaged account.
Beyond stocks and bonds
What your IRA can actually hold.
A self-directed IRA is the same retirement-account wrapper most people already use. The difference is the menu of investments it can hold. Alongside stocks and bonds, your IRA can own real estate, private equity, precious metals, cryptocurrency, private loans, and tax liens. The tax treatment is the same as a Traditional or Roth IRA. The assets just expand.
Accuplan administers the account. American Estate & Trust, a Nevada-chartered trust company, holds the assets. You direct the investments.
Asset menu
Six categories your IRA can invest in.
Real Estate
Rental homes, commercial property, land, REITs, mortgage notes, and crowdfunded deals. Rent and appreciation stay inside the IRA.
Learn more →Private Lending
Hold promissory notes inside your IRA. Lend on business notes, personal notes, mortgage notes, or vehicle financing on terms you set.
Learn more →Precious Metals
Gold, silver, platinum, and palladium that meet IRS fineness rules. Bought from the dashboard and held at an insured depository.
Learn more →Private Equity
Equity in privately held companies, funds, and startups. Your IRA holds the position the same way it would hold a public stock.
Learn more →Tax Liens & Trust Deeds
Buy delinquent property-tax liens for the interest payback, or hold real-estate notes secured by a trust deed. Lower capital requirements than direct ownership.
Learn more →Cryptocurrency
Bitcoin and Ethereum bought through the Accuplan dashboard. Keys are held in cold storage by AET, the custodian.
Learn more →What an IRA cannot hold
Three categories the IRS prohibits.
Most investments are allowed. The IRS bars a short list of asset types under IRC §408. Buying any of them inside an IRA can disqualify the account, so we screen the direction of investment before funds move.
Collectibles
Artwork, antiques, automobiles, alcoholic beverages, gems, stamps, and most personal property are barred under IRC §408(m). Exception: U.S.-minted gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins and qualifying bullion that meet IRS fineness rules are allowed.
Life insurance
IRAs cannot hold life insurance contracts. Annuities purchased inside the IRA are not life insurance and are allowed.
S-corporation stock
An IRA cannot be a shareholder of an S-corporation. A self-directed 401(k) can hold S-corp stock in some cases.
How it works
Three steps to invest.
Open your account
Apply online in about 10 minutes. You will need a photo ID and basic personal information. Accuplan administers the account; American Estate & Trust holds the assets.
Fund the IRA
Make a direct contribution, transfer from another IRA, or roll over an old 401(k). Rollovers and transfers are tax-free when done correctly.
Direct the investment
Submit a direction of investment from your dashboard. We send the funds to the asset, title the asset in the name of the IRA, and the investment is live.
Frequently asked
Common questions about alternative IRA investments.
Can I still buy stocks and bonds in a self-directed IRA?
Yes. A self-directed IRA holds the standard menu of stocks, bonds, ETFs, and mutual funds alongside alternative assets. The "self-directed" part means you are not limited to public securities, not that public securities are off the table.
Who decides what the IRA invests in?
You do. Accuplan administers the account and the custodian holds the assets, but the investment direction comes from the account owner. You submit a direction of investment for each purchase, and we execute it.
Can I personally use a property my IRA owns?
No. The IRA owner, spouse, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren, and their spouses are disqualified persons under IRC §4975. They cannot use, rent, or benefit from an IRA-owned asset. Doing so is a prohibited transaction and can disqualify the entire IRA. See the rules page for the full list.
Does the IRA owe income tax on rent or interest it earns?
Generally no. Rent on real property is excluded from taxable IRA income under IRC §512(b)(3), and interest on notes is excluded under §512(b)(1). The two situations that trigger tax are (1) the IRA borrowed money to buy the asset, which triggers UDFI on the financed share, and (2) the IRA runs an active business inside the wrapper, which triggers UBIT.
Do I need an LLC to hold alternative investments?
Not usually. Most investments are titled directly in the name of the IRA (for example, "American Estate & Trust FBO [your name] IRA"). A checkbook-control IRA LLC is one option when you want to write checks directly from the IRA without submitting a direction of investment for every transaction. It adds a setup step and is not required.
What does Accuplan charge?
A flat $349.95 annual fee, regardless of account balance or asset type. No percentage-of-assets fees. See the fee schedule for setup, transaction, and service fees.
Keep reading
More on self-directed investing.
Borrowing and Lending from a Self-Directed IRA
Read article→
How and When a Hardship Withdrawal Is Allowed in an IRA or 401(k)
Read article→
Can I Use My IRA to Start a Business?
Read article→
Using a Portion of a Self-Directed IRA to Purchase an Investment Property
Read article→
Can You Invest in a Private Company With an IRA?
Read article→