Blog
The Back-Door Roth IRA (or better yet, the Roth 401k)
You probably know that if you make more than $117,000 as a single-filer, or $194,000 as a joint filer, you don’t qualify to contribute to a Roth IRA. What if I told you there’s a simple workaround to this problem?
Checkbook Control of Your Retirement Savings Gives You More Than Just Freedom of Investment Choices
Many of our clients have reported back that when they got checkbook control of their retirement accounts, they got much more than an increased number of investment choices.
How NOT to use a Roth IRA
How NOT to use a Roth IRA By Jordan Sheppherd A little over a year ago, a court case came out involving a Roth IRA/Corporation structure, the facts of which are almost comical. The case is Polowniak v. Commissioner TC 2016-31. You can see it on the US Tax Court’s...
Doing It Right: The Two-Step Contribution Process
Many clients are ready to make their contributions for 2016 or get a head start on 2017 (click here for information regarding IRA limits) but are unsure of the process of making contributions to their Check Book IRA.
Why Roth 401(k)s are Great for Millennials
They say it’s never too late to learn something new… but I would also argue it’s never too soon to start looking ahead, and that includes saving for retirement.
Updating Your Operating Agreement
Each year I hear from clients who need to make address or Successor Manager changes to their Operating Agreement but are unsure of how to proceed.
What the Executive Order to Delay the Dodd-Frank Act Means for You
The biggest takeaway from this article is that now is the best time to take full control of your retirement savings and investments!
Contributing Assets to a Solo 401(k)
Because most people are used to contributing cash to a retirement account, it’s easy to think that cash and only cash can be contributed. For an IRA this is certainly true, but not for a Solo 401(k).
You Have a Check Book IRA or A Solo 401(k): Now What?
The number of people starting a Check Book IRA or Solo 401(k) is increasing dramatically. The One question that commonly surfaces is: “Now what?”
Tips to Make Sure Your Flip Doesn’t Flop
Here are six tips for any first time real estate flipper or for the seasoned veteran to remember.
5 Ways the Solo 401(k) is Better than a SEP IRA
Every day, clients ask how they can get checkbook control of their SEP. While you can set up a SEP CheckBook IRA, the Solo 401(k) is a much better option, as you will see below. It’s a much stronger plan and gives you many more options to maximize your income deferment and investment options.
Who’s Really in Control of Your Retirement Account?
Every day we talk to people who believed, when they setup their Self-Directed IRA elsewhere, that they were getting complete control of their Individual Retirement Account or 401(k).
Then the reality sinks in. Although they have widened their investment options, their Retirement Accounts are still under the control of a custodian to make and manage their investments.
Crowd Funding
A Great Way for the Novice Investor to get in on the Real Estate Boom.
Everyday, I talk to people who want to jump in the real estate market to get higher returns on their IRA or Solo 401(k) investments. The Checkbook IRA and Solo 401(k) are perfect vehicles for this.
How to ADD Funds to your Check Book IRA LLC
There are several reasons a manager might want to add funds to their IRA LLC, the most common being an annual contribution. However they may want to close other IRA accounts and move them into the CheckBook IRA to have better access. Also, don’t forget that when you leave your employer or you turn 59 1/2 you may move your 401(k) into your IRA LLC.
Can I Buy Foreign Real Estate with a Self-Directed Solo 401(k)?
One of the advantages of the Solo 401(k) is the ability to buy real estate in a foreign country. The problem with buying property in another country is that every jurisdiction has its own rules and regulations. In some cases, you have to be a member of a local corporation, or a domestic corporation if you are a foreigner. Some cases, the corporation has to have, possibly, a local attorney. Every country has its own rules. And it is nearly impossible to use your retirement plan if there is a custodian or trustee involved.
REALTORS – “would you like fries with that?”
Realtors: “Would you like fries with that?” By Steve Sheppherd Any real estate investor will tell you that an excellent real estate agent can be a real asset. However, in my experience most real estate agents are simply order takers. The only difference is that...
Solo K is Simpler
Why is the Solo 401(k) so simple? I mean a lot of people have some sort of an idea about the complexity of a regular 401(k). But, why is the Solo 401(k) so simple?
Well frankly, when they set up the retirement programs, it is the company that sponsors the plan. So the company says,
CheckBook IRA Offers Private New Mexico, LLC
Are you looking for a Private LLC structure for your real estate or other ventures that allows you to have complete anonymity for your business and investment assets, plus asset protection?
How about no state taxes nor any annual reporting, that means zero public record disclosures?
Can I Add an LLC to Solo 401(k)
Some of our clients with the solo 401(k) would like to add an LLC. Perhaps for anonymity, that is what they wanted to do. And that is not an issue at all.
Is a CheckBook IRA right for me?
People are asking themselves this question every day. With many brokerages and investment advisers touting their expertise and road to a comfortable retirement people questioning more and more what is the best vehicle to assure a nest egg for the future. Many people have great success using CheckBook IRAs to diversify their investments.
Subcontractors: Heaven or Hell
If there’s one thing I learned while remodeling and flipping 50 houses in South Bend Indiana, it’s that subcontractors can make you or break you. I had my share of mistakes, but I did eventually learn. What I’d like to share with you in this Manger Report, are the most important points I gleaned from that experience. If you will listen, these things can save you thousands of dollars, and much indigestion.
Borrowing From Your Solo 401(k)
Another real advantage of the Solo 401(k) over an IRA is the ability to borrow money from your 401(k) personally. Not an investment, obviously you can do that. You are the plan administrator. You can invest in anything but life insurance and collectibles. But if your need money personally, maybe you want to fix up the house or you need a little money for a while for your child’s education, you don’t have to worry with the Solo 401(k). You can borrow according to the law up to half of your 401(k), to a maximum of $50,000. So if you have forty grand in there, you can borrow twenty. If you have a hundred thousand in there, you can borrow fifty. If you got two hundred thousand in there, you can only borrow fifty. If you and your spouse happen to be set up and we do your plan document, then we can structure it to where you and your spouse each can borrow up to that.
Spouses in a Solo 401(k)
One of the additional advantages of the Solo 401(k) is that a husband and wife can combine their retirement plans into one plan, and thus combine their funds to do investing.
Can I Buy Foreign Real Estate with my IRA or 401(k)?
A lot of people would like to buy a property in other countries with their retirement fund. It is just next to impossible using a regular self directed custodian.
A lot of people would like to buy a property in other countries with their retirement fund. It is just next to impossible using a regular self directed custodian.Each country has their own rules. Some countries, you have to be a member of a corporation in that country. You, or maybe your attorney will have to be part-owner. There’s all kinds of rules and regulations, and the custodians just don’t want to be involved in that.
