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Self-Directed IRAs

Your Retirement, Your Rules

Traditional IRAs limit you to stocks and bonds. Self-directed IRAs unlock the full spectrum of alternative investments — real estate, private equity, crypto, precious metals, and more.

$0

Traditional / Roth Limit

Under 50

$0

Catch-Up (50+)

Additional

$0

SEP IRA Max

Or 25% of comp

$0

Solo 401(k)

Total contribution

Compare IRA Types Side by Side

Find the right retirement account for your situation. Toggle between views to explore the details.

Feature Traditional IRA Roth IRA SEP IRA Solo 401(k)
2026 Contribution Limit $7,000 $7,000 $69,000 $69,000
Tax on Contributions Deductible After-Tax Deductible Deductible
Tax on Withdrawals Taxed Tax-Free Taxed Taxed*
RMDs Required? Yes, at 73 No Yes, at 73 Yes, at 73
Best For Tax deduction now Tax-free retirement Self-employed Business owners
Income Limits? For deduction Yes No No

*Solo 401(k) may include a Roth option for tax-free withdrawals.

Traditional IRA

Tax-Deductible Contributions

  • $7,000 limit ($8,000 50+)
  • Tax-deferred growth
  • Taxed on withdrawal
  • RMDs at age 73

Roth IRA

Tax-Free Withdrawals

  • $7,000 limit ($8,000 50+)
  • Tax-free growth
  • Tax-free withdrawals
  • No RMDs ever

SEP IRA

Self-Employed Powerhouse

  • Up to $69,000 limit
  • 25% of compensation
  • Easy to set up
  • No income limits

Solo 401(k)

Maximum Contributions

  • Up to $69,000 limit
  • Employee + employer
  • Roth option available
  • Loan provisions

The Investment Universe

With a self-directed IRA, the world of investing opens wide. Here's what you can hold in your account.

Real Estate

Rental, commercial, land

Precious Metals

Gold, silver, platinum

Cryptocurrency

BTC, ETH, and more

Private Equity

Startups, funds, LLCs

Private Lending

Notes, mortgages

Tax Liens

Certificates & deeds

Farmland

Agricultural assets

Stocks & Bonds

Traditional assets too

Water Rights

Mineral & water

Storage Units

Self-storage facilities

Why Go Self-Directed?

True Diversification

Invest beyond Wall Street. Real estate, private lending, startups, and more — all inside a tax-advantaged account.

Preserved Tax Advantages

Maintain all traditional IRA tax benefits while accessing the full universe of alternative investments.

Full Control

You choose the investments. No broker restrictions, no limited menus, no middlemen making decisions for you.

Higher Return Potential

Alternative investments often outperform traditional markets over time, especially when compounded tax-free.

Traditional IRA vs. Self-Directed IRA

See the difference self-direction makes for your retirement portfolio.

Traditional IRA

  • Limited to stocks, bonds, mutual funds
  • Broker-selected investment options
  • No alternative asset access
  • Correlated to stock market volatility
Recommended

Self-Directed IRA

  • Real estate, crypto, private equity & more
  • You choose every investment
  • Full alternative asset universe
  • True portfolio diversification

Get Started in 3 Steps

1

Open Your Account

Create your SDIRA through our platform with trusted custodian partners.

2

Fund Your IRA

Transfer, rollover, or contribute new funds. We guide you through every option.

3

Start Investing

Choose your investments and track everything from your WealthSmith dashboard.

Frequently Asked Questions

You can invest in real estate, private equity, precious metals, cryptocurrency, private lending, tax liens, and many other alternative assets. The only restrictions are life insurance, collectibles, and S-corporation stock.
Yes. You can rollover funds from an existing 401(k), Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, or other qualified retirement plans into a self-directed IRA without any tax penalty.
For 2026, contribution limits are $7,000 ($8,000 if you're 50+) for Traditional and Roth IRAs. SEP IRAs allow up to 25% of compensation or $69,000, whichever is less. Solo 401(k) allows up to $69,000 in total contributions.
WealthSmith provides a centralized dashboard to manage all your retirement accounts. Track alternative assets alongside traditional investments, monitor performance, manage custodian paperwork, and get real-time valuations — all in one place.
The IRS prohibits certain transactions within SDIRAs, including self-dealing (buying property you personally live in), lending to disqualified persons (family members), and investing in collectibles or life insurance. WealthSmith helps you stay compliant.

Ready to Take Control of Your Retirement?

Open your Self-Directed IRA today and start investing in what you know best.

Open Your IRA