| We hear it every day: the market is down...our | | | | your retirement, self-directed retirement plans can |
| retirement plans are down...our brokerage accounts | | | | help you break free of the investment restrictions |
| are down...our home lost value. The time has come to | | | | your current custodian or employer plan places on |
| take this so-called recession by the horns and start | | | | your options. Through a self-directed plan, a whole |
| making it work for you! As in business, there is no | | | | world of non-traditional investments opens up, |
| challenge that doesn't also present opportunity. The | | | | including such investments as real estate, private |
| current market conditions are no different. | | | | stock, limited partnerships and more. A self-directed |
| "Bad news is an investor's best friend. It lets you buy | | | | plan can be anything from a traditional or Roth IRA |
| a slice of America's future at a marked-down price. | | | | to a SEP or SIMPLE IRA or even a solo (k) plan. |
| Be fearful when others are greedy, and be greedy | | | | There are also options available for businesses who |
| when others are fearful. And most certainly, fear is | | | | want to offer a self-directed plan for their entire |
| now widespread, gripping even seasoned investors." | | | | employee base. While they do require a special |
| Warren Buffett, "Buy American. I Am" - New York | | | | custodian (as most of your widely-known online and |
| Times - 10/16/2008 | | | | brick-and-mortar brokerages don't offer them), it's |
| Honestly - how often does America "go on sale?" | | | | simple to roll over assets from your existing plan into |
| We're living in a very exciting time and those who | | | | a self-directed plan. Your custodian of choice will walk |
| choose to capitalize on the opportunities that await | | | | you through the process of transferring assets into |
| are in prime position to escape the "recession | | | | your self-directed IRA and also prvide you with |
| doldrums" an emerge content investors. But how do | | | | guidance on what you can and cannot invest in with |
| you leverage these opportunities to your advantage? | | | | your new retirement account. Here are some |
| Simple: Rethink your retirement savings. Most people | | | | benefits of using a self-directed IRA or retirement |
| hold their retirement savings in traditional and | | | | plan: |
| widely-known vehicles: company-sponsored 401k | | | | - Take advantage of real estate on sale for below |
| plans, online brokerage accounts and the like. But | | | | market value - use your retirement funds to |
| these are the same vehicles that have people up in | | | | purchase income property |
| arms about the decline in the stock market. See, | | | | - Diversify your retirement portfolio with assets that |
| most "traditional" retirement plans only offer limited | | | | are non-correlated to the stock and bond markets |
| selections that are based in the fixed income (i.e. | | | | - Invest in alternative asset classes you personally |
| bond) and equities markets. These range from mutual | | | | know and trust |
| funds to company stock to stable value and money | | | | - Recession-proof your retirement portfolio through |
| market funds. But if you're not a fan of the | | | | solid planning and a combination of all these benefits! |
| performance of these assets, there's a place for you | | | | There is a useful series of self-directed IRA articles |
| to turn: | | | | available from InvestorLoft to further familiarize you |
| A self-directed retirement plan | | | | with the basics, opportunities and restrictions for |
| Largely unknown yet extremely powerful tools for | | | | self-directed and real estate IRA investing. |