The Self-Directed IRA Card that Changes DYNAMICS in Investing

/in , , /by

Interview by Tim Houghten

Ever wished self-direct-ed IRA investing was simpler for you and those you work with?

Wished that all the net return and tax advantages of investing through an IRA where as easy to wield, and as comfortable as having cash in your pocket, swiping a card, or making online and mobile payments from your smart-phone?

The Entrust Group myDirection Visa® Card delivers all of that.

EQUIPPING INVESTORS FOR STREAMLINED SUCCESS

Self-directed IRAs are undeniably one of the best power tools available to investors today. Self-directed IRAs just makes investing better, and more profitable. Not having one means paying more in taxes, and suffering subpar investment returns.

Yet, until now many have passed on the power perks of this vehicle due to perceiving it as complicated, sluggish, and time consuming. This isn’t just a problem for individual investors, but for real estate educators and professionals, and their clients that stand to win so much.

The Entrust Group myDirection Card promises to tear down these old barriers, to deliver more of what investors want, need and deserve. It’s the ability and flexibility to direct your future with the swipe of a card or a smartphone app. The new pre-paid Visa card powered by citi enables individual investors to maintain control of their funds, on-demand.

SPECIFICALLY THIS CARD EMPOWERS YOU TO:

1. Make instant transactions

2. Save on transaction fees and paperwork

3. Invest online

DIRECT YOUR FUTURETM

In an exclusive interview with Certified IRA Services Professional and President of The Entrust Group, Jason Craig highlights some of the critical investor needs that the myDirection card solves. When put in perspective it’s pretty clear that a card like this is essential for enabling investors to operate effectively in today’s modern landscape, while maximizing opportunities.

Being able to invest online is a huge step for IRA account holders. This means being able to take advantage of crowdfunding opportunities and auctions. Even in person investors can now potentially snap up tax-liens, mortgage notes, and auction properties with their cards.

Entrust’s Jason Craig also highlights card benefits that go beyond acquisition to asset and property management. For example, if you own real estate in your IRA the antiquated tradition required contacting your administrator, submitting contractor estimates, and having checks mailed, all before being able to get contractors to work on repairs. That’s not highly efficient on a weekend evening when a major leak shows up. So the card not only “reduces time to payment and action, but eliminates the hassle of receipts, wasted time, and reduces expenses.” That means more freedom, and net profit.

HOW IT WORKS

Craig explains that one of the reasons a card like this has taken so long to launch is the meticulous attention and re-ver-ifying in every step to ensure compliance, user experience, functionality, and “getting it just right.” It’s kind of like Elon Musk designing the new Tesla SUV, and ensuring the artistic middle row seats fit just right between the wing doors as it carries executives want to go. You can’t rush perfection.

The card itself is an asset held within the investor’s IRA. Account holders can have their cards reloaded with more cash as needed in amounts from $100 to $25,000. To ensure compliance and avoid triggering “prohibited transactions” or taxable events, investors have 30 days after a transaction to certify what it was for.

DESIGNING THE FUTURE OF INVESTING

Craig joined The Entrust Group in 2007. Along with pioneer of the first “truly self-directed IRA” founder Hubert Bromma. One of the longest established self-direct-ed IRA companies (since 1981), The Entrust Group now offers arobust, tech-savvy, stronger partner for investors. Craig describes some of the changes as including the consolidation of franchises to bring everything back into one streamlined powerhouse for superior service and compliance. This along with bringing over the human touch and one-on-one service approach from Craig’s private banking background has resulted in a consistent “90% plus client satisfaction rate.”

Another tech tool this has produced for investors is the Saved-Plus mobile app. While most advocates for IRA investing in the real estate world focus on those with existing large balance accounts, this app enables those just starting out to “open an account, save, and monitor their accounts right from their mobile phones.”

Automated transfers can even be created to build up a retirement account based upon preset criteria, including a percentage of expenses on other cards. For example, you might want to ensure you are diligently and religiously setting aside at least 25% of what you spend on entertainment and eating out each month. This app puts that on autopilot, and helps you stay on track to investing.

HOW THE ENTRUST GROUP CAN HELP BUILD YOUR BUSINESS

The Entrust Group’s motto is: “We don’t compete. We complement.” Jason Craig states that “we work with a lot of REALTORS ® , are a Keller Williams preferred vendor, and attend NAR shows.” In the past, the firm has also collaborated on educational events and seminars with real estate investment groups and real estate related trade shows. Support and opportunities include training, free professional marketing materials, participating in live workshops, and discounted fees for opening self-directed IRA accounts.

To propel action and add real value Craig says that accounts “can now be set up the same day.” This means real estate pros and businesses can not only attract more prospects and raise their awareness of these tools and tactics for releasing more capital, but can actively and instantly help more clients in a bigger way, while unleashing their own business volume potential. And the myDirection Card is going to make conversions and action a lot easier than ever before.

Go online to TheEntrustGroup.com for more tools, details of the B2B accelerator program, to download the SavedPlus app, and request a myDirection card. No one should be caught without one.

Retire Wealthy with IRA Investing

/in , , /by

By Stephanie B. Mojica

Self-directed individual retirement accounts or IRAs are rapidly growing in popularity, but experts warn that it is important to only get into such an investment with proper education and professional guidance.

Kaaren Hall, owner of uDirect IRA Services in Orange County, Calif., says even after more than two decades in the financial industry and four years of running her company she too must continually stay on top of her investment education particularly regarding Internal Revenue Service guidelines for retirement accounts.

Self-directed IRAs allow people to invest their retirement funds into a variety of options outside of the traditional stock market, including real estate, land, and private notes.

“Financial literacy is not taught in schools, but our future depends on understanding it,” Hall says. “Only about 4 percent of u.S. investors have a self-directed IRA. Why? Because most investors and many advisors simply aren’t aware of it.”

But even those who are aware of the potential financial power of self directed IRAs often do not fully comprehend is the IRS guidelines of “prohibited transactions,” according to Hall.

“You’re not allowed to have any personal benefit from your IRA prior to retirement,” Hall says.

A common misconception among investors is that they can use the self-directed IRA funds to purchase real estate or other property from themselves or close relatives such as a spouse, a child, a grandchild, a parent, a grandparent and any spouses of such relatives. These transactions are not permitted under self-directed IRAs, according to Hall. However, an investor could purchase property from a more distant relative such as a sibling, a cousin, a niece, or an uncle.

“Make sure you know what you’re doing,” Hall says. “We’re here to help people so they understand the twists and turns as much as possible.”

The term self-directed in itself misleads some people because it is the IRA doing the investing, Hall adds.

“So that’s confusing because they get into trouble by maybe signing a purchase contract (in their own name),” she says. “Your IRA can’t buy an asset that you own.”

Consequently, people should wait until they actually open an account with a qualified custodian before funding it and making transactions, Hall says. Generally, a custodian rather than the actual investor should sign purchase contracts relevant to self-directed IRAs.

While representatives of companies such as uDirect IRA do not give actual investment advice due to potential legal liability, they can help people follow ever-changing IRS guidelines.

Hall, a former mortgage broker whose work history includes Bank of America and Indymac Bank, has educated tens of thousands of investors into deciding whether self-directed IRAs are right for them. She and her associates have directly worked with thousands of clients.

To learn more about self-directed IRAs, call 866-447-6598 or visit www.udirectira.com