Self-Directed IRAs: Why the Baby Boomer “Have It All” Mentality Is Driving This Choice

The single largest pool of American workers in history are going to retire soon. We’re talking about baby boomers. They are a unique segment of the population, and make up a large slice of the workforce. What makes them so unique on one level is that they’ve managed to accumulate wealth beyond the wildest dreams of generations that came before them. Many financial analysts believe that they will be the largest group of wealthy retirees in history.

Baby boomers defined the concept of “have it all.” So many changes took place during their lives that contributed to this, eg, women joined the workforce in all-time high numbers. This phenomenon bred a large number of two-income households. Social and political changes like the women’s right movement and the civil rights movement added more to the “I can have it all” equation. And, exactly how does this tie in with the proliferation of self-directed IRAs and the seeking alternative investments?

The social and political changes in the world had a significant impact on the lives of baby boomers in that it led to greater independence and freedoms on many levels – financial, educational, personal and spiritual. Financially speaking, this led to a generation who made more, traveled the world more and were more educated than possibly any generation before them. Accustomed to the finer things in life, it’s not something they want to give up in retirement. In fact, they look to increase this lifestyle in retirement. Hence, their retirement monies need to work as hard as they do. Therefore, the desire for more diverse portfolios with greater returns.

The Self-Directed IRA Can Help You Keep Your “Have It All” Dream

Because self-directed IRAs let you choose what to invest in, you can create a very diverse portfolio. And, you can grow it by investing in instruments that provide greater returns, eg, real estate (a.k.a. self directed real estate IRA). Self-directed IRAs are not limiting like traditional IRAs. With the power to make decisions squarely in your hands, the self-directed IRA can help you keep your “have it all” dream alive.

·        Optimal Tooth Color: Silver or amalgam dental fillings can be replaced with natural color, tooth-colored composite restorations and teeth whitening can improve the color of all stained teeth. Tooth color and shading are very important considerations during the evaluation and preparation for many different procedures, including porcelain veneers and dental implants.

·        Aligning for Success: Crooked, overlapping, or gapping teeth can also be straightened when necessary through orthodontics and improved with veneers.

·        A Full Set: Missing teeth can be replaced by dental implants, bridges, or partial dentures.

·        Contoured for Look: Uneven teeth can be bonded for better looking appearance. Gummy smiles can be re-contoured to help improve the overall look of ones smile.

·        The Full Face Effect: An unshapely or even aging face can be improved or rejuvenated with certain procedures in the Smile Makeover category, including orthodontics and or oral maxillofacial surgery.

What is The Life of Your Smile Makeover? 

Cosmetic dentistry procedures can require maintenance over a period of time. Teeth whitening should be repeated on occasion in order to maintain brightness. Porcelain veneers can chip or break off and need replacement. Permanent bondings can stain and require enhancement or replacement. Dental crowns will typically require replacement after 10 to 15 years. Gummy smile improvements could also require enhancement over a period of time.

Your ceramist, lab technician, and the materials chosen by your dentist are also affecting the longevity of your Smile Makeover. To achieve the best results, you must take special care in selecting your cosmetic dentist.

Copywriting can also include body copy, slogans, headlines, direct mail pieces, tag lines, jingle lyrics, World Wide Web and Internet content, television or radio commercial scripts, press releases, white papers, and any other kinds of written material incorporated into advertising media. Copy writers will dedicate words and ideas to print ads, mail order catalogs, billboards, commercials, brochures, postcards, online sites, e-mail, letters and many other advertising media.

When dealing with a websites, copywriting can also refer to writing and wording that is used to achieve higher rankings in the search engines.  This is often referred to as content writing and will include the strategic placement and repetition of keywords and keyword phrases on web pages. As search engine algorithms become smarter and smarter every day, this search engine optimization (SEO) copywriting is generally about writing for human visitors as well as for the search engines, about offering fluent and readable content written in an search engine optimization wise manner.

The best way to give a great wine gift is to give one of many wine gift baskets from an online store that knows wine and doesn’t fool around with this year’s latest “great deals” or “bargain basement” wines. That means going to a store that’s going to put the ‘best of breed’ wines – along with a thoughtful arrangement of accessories and companions (corkscrew, cheese, what have you) – into a basket that will then be packed and shipped in a manner that ensures that the wine will not only reach its destination without having been agitated by handling or temperature along the way, but also will be a handsome gift to behold: one that wine lovers and their imitators alike will adore.

Although wine gift baskets are the best gift to give to wine connoisseurs, they are fancied by laymen as well. Who doesn’t like a rich and oaky cabernet to wash down a juicy steak, or a bottle of champagne to celebrate a promotion or anniversary? Indeed, few gifts say “congratulations” better than iconic French champagne and there are a couple of online gift basket stores who will pack Kristal, Dom Perignon, or Veuve Clicquot into a basket with some celebratory flutes and even a spot of fine caviar should you be willing to splurge and congratulate in a very decadent way. In all, wine gift baskets are a spectacular gift to give to the vintner and wine layperson alike – that’s something we can all clink our glasses to next time we’re due to give a gift!

Arguments can be made for each. However, the smart way to determine which sector of the real estate market to invest in depends on several factors. As any savvy real estate investor will tell you, it all depends on your end goal.

Things to Consider When Deciding Whether to Invest in Commercial or Residential Real Estate with a Self Directed IRA

Location: Real estate is all about location, location, location. Most think in terms of residential real estate when referring to location. But, it is just as important in commercial real estate as well. For example, if you’re thinking of investing in a strip mall, location will be important because merchants must have sufficient traffic to be able to make sales.

Economy: Commercial real estate is more closely tied to what a given economy is doing that residential real estate is. If you’re going to invest your self directed IRA funds into commercial real estate, assess the local economy of the targeted region with a long-range view. For example, what are its prospects for recovery/downturn in the next three or five years. Then, you can make your investment accordingly.

Length of Investment: Piggybacking on the last point just above, using your self directed IRA funds to invest in real estate should be done with an eye toward the future. The big payoff in real estate is often received when you buy and hold. So, consider how long you’re willing to stick with a certain investment – and what is the likely payoff over that time.

The bottom line is, using your self directed IRA to invest in real estate is a smart move that can increase your retirement nest egg exponentially. However, as with any investment, it takes research and patience.

The IRA can contribute all the cash or a portion of its cash into an LLC wholly owned by the IRA. The transfer of your IRA money as initial capitalization of the LLC does not constitute a disqualified transaction or a taxable event!

Since the self directed IRA owns the IRA LLC or IRA Company, the IRA funds can be directed to the IRA Company in exchange for member units or shares of the LLC. After funding, both not only can traditional investments be made, but also alternative investments such as real estate including foreign real estate, discounted notes, gold coins, and bullion may be purchased by the IRA-LLC.

A Key Point to Consider When Buy Real Estate with an IRA Owned LLC

When owning real estate inside an IRA, all expenses must be paid by the funds in the IRA-LLC account. If you pay out-of-pocket for such expenses as contractors, appraisers, plumbers, taxes or landscapers, then you can open your IRA up to penalties, fees, and taxes starting at the beginning of the year in which you made the mistake.

Assets consolidated under the LLC become the sole asset of the account holder’s self-directed IRA. Once your IRA LLC has been funded, your IRA statement from the custodian will simply reflect one asset, i.e., the LLC. If structured properly, your IRA LLC should not pay any transactional, asset or holding fees, and why should you should it? After all, you are truly self directed and you are the one cutting the checks and paying the bills directly with your IRA checkbook.

The management of a self-directed IRA is a skill the investor can learn. Checkbook control of your IRA is something that every savvy investor should consider if they don’t want to be limited to just the run-of-the-mill investments.

In order to set up your IRA LLC feel free to call the IRA LLC Partner at (877) 339-4559. The IRA LLC Partner will guide you step by step. They will help you complete all the appropriate paperwork to manage the IRA transfer as well provide you with the training to guide you and set you on the course to investment success.

This was to be my new home. Italy. I had never been there, yet here I was moving across the wide ocean to immerse myself in a culture I hadn’t a clue about and a language I didn’t speak or understand. I wondered for the millionth time if I was out of my mind…plum loco!

Fearing I’d find the answer if I dwelled on it for too long, I took a deliberate step forward. I contacted an international moving company. Then I decided to contact all the international moving companies in the Yellow Pages. This took some time and lots of concentration as I had to keep track of quotes that kept changing as the companies competed for my business. This was okay with me – kept me from thinking about whether or not I had lost my mind.

I checked my shortened list of international moving companies on the Better Business Bureau and finally, I made my selection. I set the date for two short weeks for them to come and pack my possessions into their barrels, crates and tea chests – in case I lost my nerve. I wouldn’t have time to chicken out in two weeks, would I? No…I’d be way too busy!

Turns out I wasn’t that busy. My international moving company agent was absolutely fabulous. She helped me plan my move and informed me of the papers I’d need. When she found out I had inherited an Italian vineyard estate from grandparents I’d never known, she’d gushed about how lucky I was, Italy was the most romantic country ever, and on and on till I was pretty much convinced I was doing the right thing.

My international moving company’s agent’s name is Lorenza. She has relatives in Italy that she visits every year. They live in a city close to my estate. Turns out she’s my age, 26 and single so we made arrangements to meet at my place in Italy in two months. We exchanged emails. Who knew I could actually meet such a great person of interest through an international moving company?

Her description of the mountains, castles, lakes, quaint villages, ocean and most of all, the friendly people, blew away the last remaining doubts that I had like morning mist in a breeze. All that remained was pure, unadulterated excitement!

International Moving

Real estate has is a time-tested investment that does well, particularly if you’re in it for the long haul. And, there are various investment options under the real estate umbrella to consider.

Several Options to Consider When Trying to Decide How to Invest in Real Estate with Your Self Directed IRA LLC or Checkbook IRA

Real estate can be a diversified investment. There is commercial property, residential property, raw land, mortgages and mortgage pools, trust deeds, etc. Following are three and why you may want to consider them in this economic climate.

Condominiums: Considering the current foreclosure rate, now is an optimum time to look towards condos as an investment with your self-directed IRA LLC. This is particularly true if you consider beachside communities for possible vacation rentals. Once the market makes a return to good times, you’ll be ideally situated to capitalize.

Undeveloped Raw Land: You can use your self-directed IRA LLC/checkbook IRA to purchase raw land. Many areas that have suffered from natural disasters like hurricanes and tornadoes may have particularly good deals on raw land, which can later be sold to developers for residential or commercial real estate development.

Invest in Commercial Real Estate: While the US economy has not reached the formal recession status, the general feeling is that the US economy is slumping. This has a negative, trickle down effect on business. Many close or look to restructure. All of these factors can add up to great investment opportunities for future gain.