Most people don't even realize the amount of money and the number of sources that are out there available to them.  Here are some places that our Private Money Lenders have pulled their funds from:

Cash

HELOC 

Retirement Accounts

Personal & Business LOC's

Lower Interest Credit Cards

Life Insurance/HSA

Stocks, Bonds, Money Market Accounts

You can roll your current IRA into another company that specializes in Self Directing Accounts.  We don't recommend banks like Chase who offer Self-Directed IRAs but do not specialize in them.

As for a transferring a current 401(k) from your work, it depends on the 401(k).  Most 401(k)s have strict rules regarding moving them before you retire from the company that started them for you BUT some do, so ask the COMPANY your account sits in if you are still working for them.  If you are not, you can almost always move your funds to a Self-Directed company and even turn it into more "useable" funds for investing.

We have a list of Companies we recommend but you will need to do your due diligence in choosing a company.  Click HERE for our FREE handout describing what things to look for in a SDIRA company.  There's also a Question below asking which company to use.  We have put the same information in there.

There is a list of what you CAN and CANNOT invest your SD retirement money into.  We keep it simple and use ours for real estate investments.  It's something we know and understand, so that's what we stick to.  

Warren Buffett said don’t invest in something you don’t understand.

“The important thing is to know what you know and know what you don’t know.”

The biggest rule in investing with your retirement funds is knowing that you cannot benefit in any way from them in the present.  The money made or earned is for the future only.  The present you and your immediate family cannot benefit IN ANY WAY now, in the present.

For instance, while you can purchase a vacation rental property in Hawaii with your SDIRA, you nor anyone in your immediate family (your parents, children, or grandchildren) can benefit from that now, only in the future.  Therefore, you can buy it but you and yours can never stay in it, not even once to check it out.

You can buy a short term rental property but you can't pay yourself to manage it nor anyone in your immediate family.

You can loan money to a friend for their new business but not to your children.

You and your immediate family cannot benefit from the investment in the present time.  Treat your SDIRA as if it were a company you work for and your job is finding quality investment opportunities for them.  You won't get paid now but in the future, when you retire, the fruits of your labor will be there.

We have a few companies we prefer but the choice has to come from you.  Do your due diligence and check out the companies first.  Some important things to look for in the order of importance:

Company Reputation is extremely important.  Some companies started off great but over time have earned a negative reputation for response time, funding delays, or customer service.  One such company we used to LOVE working with was Equity Trust.  Their service was impeccable and their education was setting standards in the industry.  They held a 3-Day "university" training in Orlando each year teaching thier investors how to build their retirement through a variety of legal investments specifically for SDIRAs.  We attended every year and wouldn't miss it. Then, the eldest Desich who started the company retired and the company began slipping in every area.  I know some who still use them but most of my friends have moved on to other companies.  Like a favorite brand with cherished memories, I hope they will get it together again someday.  They were the best once.

How many days does it take to fund a deal?  Hint: it shouldn't be more than 3 days ever.

What are their annual fees?  These can make or break you but they are usually very clearly given with nothing hidden.  

What are the fees for creating a standard investment?  For instance, when lending money to your contractor, you may have a $125 fee to direct the funds out of the account, a $395 fee to set up the mortgage, and another $125 fee when directing the funds back in, plus a $30 wiring fee.  That's $645 just to loan the money.  You need to know these fees so you can embed them into the body of your notes.  This way, they will be paid by your Borrower and not by you.  Not to say there aren't investments where you won't nickle and dime a Borrower but you sure don't want to lend out money where you're only making $500 for a short time but it cost you more than you made.

Know your fees.  Get a list from every prospective company.  Check out their ratings from a variety of places.  Then, make your choice.

We have a list of companies we are currently using and the questions we think it's important to ask in this Free pdf you can Download Here.

Also, keep building your IRA education - that should never end.  There are some things we cannot invest in (see that question in the FAQs) and that list may change.  Be aware of HOW to move your funds.  NEVER EVER send money to a person or a company!  Only send your funds to and use a title company or attorney.  They will help you weed out the scammers.  Your custodians will NOT.  They don't give you advice on who or what to invest in.  That's not their job.  It's yours, so be careful and be diligent.