Alternative Investments
Self-Directed IRA for Alternative Investments: The Rules That Can Blow Up Your Retirement
TL;DR A self-directed IRA lets you hold real estate, private equity, crypto, and other alternative assets inside a tax-advantaged account, but the IRS rules are strict and the penalties are severe.
Jeff Barnes, MBA··10 min read
Regulatory & Compliance
SEP-IRA vs Solo 401(k): Which Retirement Account Wins for the Self-Employed Investor
TL;DR: At $200,000 net self-employment income in 2026, a Solo 401(k) lets you contribute $61,674 versus $37,174 in a SEP-IRA, a $24,500 advantage that comes entirely from the Solo 401(k)'s employee...
Jeff Barnes, MBA··10 min read
Alternative Investments
Self-Directed IRA for Alternative Investments: The Tax Advantages, the Prohibited Transaction Traps, and How to Set One Up
TL;DR: Americans hold $18.9 trillion in IRAs (ICI, Q3 2025), but only an estimated 2 to 5 percent of that sits in self-directed accounts. A self-directed IRA (SDIRA) lets you put tax-deferred or
Jeff Barnes, MBA··14 min read