Quick answers to your most immediate questions

A self-directed IRA is just like other Individual Retirement Accounts in that it provides a way for individuals to save for retirement in a tax-deferred account. The term "self-directed" became popular because the account owner has the freedom to invest in a wide range of investment options, including both alternative and traditional assets.

An alternative investment is any asset that is not publicly traded. Examples of alternative investments include: hedge funds, private equity or debt, real estate and precious metals, among others.

At its most basic, we hold assets in an account on behalf of the owner. The account owner (or their authorized agent) is responsible for directing all investment/account activity. At their direction, we purchase/sell assets, as well as transfer or distribute assets from the account. As part of our role as custodian we also provide required account statements and tax reporting. For additional information, please refer to the Retirement Income Trust Association (RITA) document, Understanding the Role of a Directed IRA Custodian.

You can hold both traditional investments and alternative assets such as hedge funds, private debt/equity, real estate/real assets, futures, and much more.