FAQ

The Ultimate IRA®s two main upgrades – self-directed investing and checkbook-convenience, which enable you to invest in what you want, when you want – are not available in a regular IRA.

Here’s a basic list, for starters.

• Real Estate (e.g. rentals, condos, single family homes, land, retail, office, industrial)
• Mortgages
• Private loans
• Foreclosures
• Businesses (e.g. a retail store, a construction company, a wind farm, a circus)
• Private placements
• Tax liens
• Gold and Silver
• Movies, books, songs (or a songwriter)
• Commodities (e.g. lumber, orange juice, soy beans)
• Stocks, bonds, and mutual funds

No IRA, of any type, is allowed to purchase “collectibles” (art, stamps, baseball cards, etc.), or life-insurance contracts. All other investments, alternative and traditional, are allowed. (However, investors should still be wary of Prohibited Transactions.)

Yes. You are a “disqualified person” as is your spouse, parents and grandparents, children and grandchildren (and their spouses), your investment advisors, and any persons who provide any service to your IRA. The logic is this: Your Ultimate IRA®s sole purpose is to provide you – at retirement – with enough money to live in a manner consistent with your wishes. Because the U.S. government allows you to invest tax-deferred funds into your Ultimate IRA®, those funds cannot be used – prior to your retirement – to directly benefit you or any person who is closely related to you.

• Your IRA cannot purchase property you own personally, or property owned by any member of your immediate family.
• Your IRA cannot purchase property from any of your investment advisors, or any persons who provide any service to your IRA plan.
• You cannot personally guarantee a loan for a real estate purchase being made by your IRA.
• Your IRA cannot lend money to a disqualified person.
• Your IRA cannot do business with any entity in which a disqualified person owns 50% (or more).

With the Broad self-directed IRA you get a checkbook. When you want to make an investment, you simply write a check. This feature has two benefits – you can invest in what you want, and when you want. The process for activating the checkbook feature has several steps, which Broad Financial guides you through at the time you open up your account.

Yes.