Is a self directed IRA even worth it?

Is a self directed IRA even worth it?

Lewisville, TX · Member since 2015 · 341 posts · 264 votes
Even with using the lowest cost IRA provider out there the fee for 4 separate accounts is over $600 annually assuming my wife & I open a Roth & traditional each. If I put this in one of my best investments that takes IRA Money it earns around 15%. However the account still wouldn’t meet their minimum & even if it did the cumulative fees are 3% of my investment 1st year & then slightly less after that because of growth & compounding. Over 5 years with setup fees that’s 15% of my money & investment! Why not just follow Tom McElroy’s tax advice from rich dad books & ignore all middle class savings tools including IRA’s, 401ks etc. & pay the IRS the 15% capital gains tax on the investment. Some charge me yearly others are 3, 5 or 10 years but I can’t think of a scenario this would work me unless I inherited a $500k IRA or really wanted to manage all these accounts & fees & IRS contribution & withdrawal rules or I took on a large gamble investment for a 30 to 100% return & got into active market again like flipping houses, etc. I guess I would rather pay the IRS less than a company like Quest IRA?
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Carl FischerPro Member
Rental Property Investor · Ambler, PA · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
8y

@Matt Millard

It sounds like you don’t pay much tax right now. I hear it all the time. You will find merit and $ by taking advantage of tax free and tax deferred accounts. Everyone that has money uses qualified plans. I don’t know of any that don’t. They may not be all self directed but many are for good reason-control,true diversity, etc. 

SDIRA qualified plans increase earnings for many by 50%. If you make $100k in a Roth you spend $100k minus $150-$500 fee for the Ira administrator.   Versus only getting $$50k.  Even if it only $20k taxes it’s worth it to me. Go from forever taxed to never taxed.  $20k/yr for 50 years is $1m. 

It may not be right for you now but if you are successful I’ll bet you will have one. Or is it you get one and then you will be succesful. 🧐

There are also some very powerful strategies some smart people employ. 

Good luck, don’t rush it, open a Roth with no fees to at least have one in case they are stop having them as well as starting the ownership clock. 

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  • New York City · Member since 2017 · 3 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    @Jacob Calbillo, yes, you would be eligible for the Solo 401k via your 1099 work at the least. Your eligibility via your real estate business depends on whether it is active or passive income. 

  • Justin WindhamPro Member
    Banker · Nationwide · Member since 2015 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Jacob Calbillo

    Your 1099 work would allow you to setup a Solo 401k plan as long as there are no full-time, non-owner employees in any business you own. Contributions to the plan will be based on income from self-employment, not from your W2 job or any passive income you have. It sounds like your LLC income (or the portion on which you pay SE tax) would be included in this. Be sure to talk with your CPA or other qualified advisor for specifics on your situation.

  • Member since 2017 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    so can you use life insurance loans to fund a self direct ira and then invest in real estate?

  • Retirement Accounts Attorney · Southfield, MI · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Terrence G Simmons

    No as IRAs are generally funded by making annual contributions or by transferring other IRAs or qualified plans into the IRA.

  • Member since 2017 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    so then I could make an annual contribution from the cash value of my life insurance policy in the form of a loan and then use funds in the self directed Ira to purchase estate right? I guess the goal would be to protect assets from taxes in the self Ira as long as possible.

  • Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    8y

    @Terrence G Simmons

    The purpose of life insurance is to provide for your loved ones who depend on you financially in case of your premature death. You should never combine life insurance and savings/investments together. Just buy enough term life insurance to protect your family and invest on your own. Term life insurance is cheap unlike cash value life insurance and will enable you to buy enough coverage, with cash value you probably don't have enough.

    IRA can only be funded with new contributions from your earnings or by rollover from another retirement account. It seems to me from your questions you have been dupped by insurance salesman, I suggest you educate yourself on the concept of investing, retirement planning, insurance, etc. Don't just listen to what insurance salesman tells you, seek independent third party opinion. BiggerPockets forum might be a good place to start, search for related keywords and see what you can find.

  • Retirement Accounts Attorney · Southfield, MI · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Terrence G Simmons

    That won't work either. However, IRA investments grow on a taxed deferred basis, and required minimum distributions don't apply until you reach age 70 1/2.

    On a side note, The House Ways and Mean Committee has released text on a bill aimed at exempting certain balances in IRA from RMDs. The House is scheduled to vote on it by the end of this month.

  • Financial Advisor · Boynton Beach, FL · Member since 2015 · 833 posts · 798 votes
    8y
    Originally posted by @Terrence G Simmons:

    so then I could make an annual contribution from the cash value of my life insurance policy in the form of a loan and then use funds in the self directed Ira to purchase estate right? I guess the goal would be to protect assets from taxes in the self Ira as long as possible.

     There is an entire thread on BP devoted to exploring the leveraging of high cash value life insurance policies to invest in real estate...

    https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/519/topics/245380-paradigm-life-infinite-banking-whole-life-insurance?page=3

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