Self-Directed Roth IRAs

A self-directed Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that allows the owner to hold alternative investments. It could be a good fit if you want access to more asset classes than standard retirement accounts allow, but there are also downsides to this type of account.

This guide will explore what a self-directed Roth IRA is, how to open one, the rules surrounding such accounts, and additional factors to consider first.

What is a self-directed Roth IRA?

What is a self-directed Roth IRA?

A self-directed Roth IRA is a type of retirement account that receives the same tax-advantaged treatment a regular Roth IRA does. You won't receive any tax benefit in the year you make a contribution, but invested contributions will grow, compound, and receive dividends tax-free. When you withdraw money from a Roth IRA, you generally won't pay taxes either. A self-directed Roth IRA is subject to the regular Roth income limits. 

However, in a self-directed Roth IRA, account owners can invest in assets that most IRA custodians don't allow. With a standard Roth IRA, investors are generally restricted to stocks, bonds, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), CDs, and similar investments.

A self-directed Roth IRA has many additional investment choices, such as real estate, precious metals, and cryptocurrency. These assets are considered alternative investments. They have the potential to increase diversification across your retirement assets, but they come with additional risks.

How to open one

How to open a self-directed Roth IRA

You can open a self-directed Roth IRA with a custodian that offers this type of account. Keep in mind that most of the top Roth IRA providers don't have self-directed accounts available, as they only offer standard IRAs and Roth IRAs.

Custodians that offer self-directed Roth IRAs include IRA Financial, Equity Trust, and The Entrust Group. Check that the custodian has the specific alternative investments you want.

You're responsible for choosing and managing the account's underlying investments. You'll also be responsible for funding and executing the account transactions. If you need ongoing assistance with selecting investments, consider working with a financial advisor who's a fiduciary for professional guidance.

Rules

Self-directed Roth IRA rules

The main advantages of a self-directed Roth IRA are that you have control over the investments in the account, and you have many more investment options than you get with a standard Roth IRA. In addition, you'll be subject to the same IRS-provided income limits (using modified adjusted gross income, or MAGI) and annual contribution maximums.

Here’s a list of permitted investments that extend beyond the traditional investment menu:

Gold and other precious metals

Physical gold and precious metals are popular self-directed Roth IRA investments. Precious metals are often used by investors to diversify their holdings and preserve wealth, no matter what the economy is doing. Gold is often cited as a common inflation hedge. 

Real estate

Self-directed Roth IRA account holders can buy investment properties through their IRA. However, there are lots of rules to abide by.

First, you can't buy property you intend to live in either full- or part-time. Next, the process can be complicated and time-consuming, since you must be sure not to mix personal and IRA funds with a real estate investment. All expenses, taxes, and insurance for the investment property must be paid from the IRA.

Debt

Through a self-directed Roth IRA, it is possible to purchase a variety of debt instruments. Tax liens are one popular example. You can also purchase loans (or an interest in a loan) through debt-investing platforms.

Businesses

You can invest in businesses within a self-directed Roth IRA, either in their entirety or in part. For example, if you want to use your self-directed IRA to buy a convenience store, you can do that. However, there are several rules governing the ownership of businesses in self-directed IRAs, so it's a good idea to reach out to a professional financial planner before you get started.

Bitcoin and other digital currencies

Digital currencies like Bitcoin (BTC 0.34%) are still relatively new investments, and they're often predicted to play a central role in a digitized financial future. Since they're considered capital assets, digital currencies are subject to capital gains taxes when sold at a profit, so holding them in a tax-advantaged account can make a lot of sense.

According to First Digital IRA, which specializes in helping investors purchase digital currencies in self-directed IRAs, most of their clients invest just a small portion of their assets in Bitcoin and other digital currencies. In other words, Bitcoin, like the other items listed here, can be used to further diversify one's retirement assets.

Reputable self-directed IRA custodians with digital currency capabilities store clients' digital currencies in a much more secure manner than most individuals would do for themselves.

Prohibited transactions

Some types of investments and transactions are prohibited under the self-directed Roth IRA rules, including:

Self-dealing

Self-dealing refers to conducting business with yourself -- that is, buying assets from, or selling them to, your own IRA. Self-dealing prohibitions apply not just to you as an individual but to all "disqualifying persons," which include your spouse, your beneficiaries, or your business.

A prohibition against self-dealing is in place to prevent fraudulent transfers that are often conducted to avoid taxes. It also limits the temptation to initiate transactions that may appear legitimate but have no underlying economic substance. 

Borrowing money

You are not permitted to borrow money from your self-directed Roth IRA, or any IRA for that matter. Borrowing money is also a form of self-dealing in that, by borrowing from your IRA, you're essentially conducting business with yourself.

There is a loophole, known as the 60-day rollover rule. You can make a withdrawal from an IRA, including a self-directed Roth IRA, if you redeposit the entire amount in a qualified retirement account within 60 days. The retirement account could be a new account or the same account where you withdrew the money. This effectively allows for a short-term IRA loan, but you can only do one IRA rollover per 12-month period.

Certain investments

Collectibles and life insurance are the two primary types of prohibited investments for a self-directed IRA. Collectibles include art investments, antiques, jewelry, stamps, or most other items the IRS deems to be collectible.

Life insurance offers contracted protection for those who depend on your income. Due to its very nature, life insurance is not appropriate for a self-directed IRA.

Other prohibited investments include complex derivatives and S corporation shares.

Your primary residence

As briefly noted above, your self-directed Roth IRA is not the place to hold your home. Not only does this give the appearance of self-dealing, but your primary residence is simply not a conduit for stable retirement income. 

Is a self-directed Roth IRA right for you?

Is a self-directed Roth IRA right for you?

A self-directed Roth IRA has its pros and cons and is most definitely not for everyone. Further, you should not put money into any of the aforementioned alternative investments if you don't have a thorough understanding of the respective risks. Stock and bond investments, especially in the form of ETFs and mutual funds, are relatively easy to understand, which is why most people are better off sticking to a standard Roth IRA.

However, if you're knowledgeable about the alternative investments on this list -- and you're aware of what transactions are prohibited -- and want to use them as part of a well-rounded retirement strategy, a self-directed IRA could be worth a look.

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