Next Generation Trust Company Announces Two New Strategic Partnerships to Provide Added Investing Capabilities and Convenience to Clients with Self-Directed IRAs. Clients Can Invest in Cryptocurrencies and Global Real Estate Through ETZ Soft and Stairway Invest

Published on August 10, 2026

Clients Can Invest in Cryptocurrencies and Global Real Estate Through ETZ Soft and Stairway Invest

Last month, Next Generation Trust Company established two strategic partnerships, with ETZ Soft, a third-party platform for investing and trading directly in cryptocurrency, and Stairway Invest LLC, which offers accredited investors a guaranteed 8 percent annual return on investment into its Stairway Loan Accounts.

Here’s a look at what these companies offer self-directed investors with accounts at Next Generation.

ETZ Soft

ETZ enables our account holders to invest in a broad selection of cryptocurrency and digital assets directly through their self-directed IRA, with institutional-grade custody and trading powered by Coinbase Prime. The company’s mobile app provides access to 50 Coinbase assets, including the most popular cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, Dogecoin, and many more digital assets.

When asked why she selected ETZ Soft, our CEO Jaime Raskulinecz said, “At Next Generation, we are always looking for ways to improve our clients’ investing experience; there are not many platforms that work exclusively with custodians of self-directed IRAs, and do it so seamlessly. Our clients can allocate a portion of their SDIRA or solo k funds to trade directly on ETZ Soft, which is a complete infrastructure for crypto investing.”

Investors must first open and fund an account at Next Generation Trust Company, then download the ETZ Soft mobile app, create an IRA subaccount with a funds transfer from their self-directed IRA, and start trading digital assets 24/7 within the app. ETZ Soft provides institutional-grade storage on Coinbase Prime. Any cash distributions after the asset is sold come back to the self-directed IRA. Read more about ETZ Soft at https://etzsoft.com.

Stairway Invest LLC

Stairway Invest allows accredited investors with self-directed IRAs to diversify their portfolios through its Stairway Loan Accounts (SLAs), with a personally guaranteed 8 percent per annum return.

The SLAs are a liquid private product and are SEC-compliant. Funds are invested in real estate globally, with a priority in affordable housing and renewable energy. Stairway’s primary focus is on U.S. markets and they currently hold assets in 16 states as well as Australia, Canada, and Brazil. Interest is credited daily, there are no fees, and unlimited transactions are permitted.

“With real estate continuing to be among the most popular alternative assets allowed in self-directed IRAs, this strategic partnership allows our accredited investor clients to earn a personally guaranteed ROI from one simple, liquid product using funds from their Next Generation IRA,” said Jaime, herself a long-time real estate investor.

As with ETZ Soft, investors (in this case, accredited investors) must first open and fund a self-directed account with Next Generation Trust Company, then use a portion of those funds to invest in Stairway Invest. Stairway’s managers personally guarantee client principal and interest, backed by the assets purchased with deposits as well as their own worldwide portfolios and then by the business itself. The earned interest is credited to the client’s SLA; the principal and accumulated interest can be withdrawn at any time and go back to the self-directed IRA. Visit stairwayinvest.com to learn more about this strategic partner.

Need to open a new self-directed IRA or other type of plan we administer? Visit our Starter Kits on the Forms tab of our website.