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Retirement on a Budget

Published on August 16, 2016

Many millennials feel the pressure of student loans bearing down upon them and it can be terrifying trying to figure out how to get rid of all of that debt. On top of worrying about your current financials, you have everyone under the sun telling you to plan for your retirement. You’re probably thinking, “With WHAT money!? How can I get out of debt while saving for retirement at the same time?”. It can seem overwhelming. That’s where Self-Directed IRAs can come in handy for you.

The Basics: Traditional and Roth IRAs

An IRA is an Individual Retirement Account. These accounts are provided by an assortment of financial institutions and they are tax advantaged. There are a few different types, but for now we’ll stick with the basic two: Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. Traditional IRAs are tax deferred accounts. What this means is that in addition to the tax deduction you receive for contributing to your IRA, your earnings within the IRA (interest and gains) are also deferred until you distribute. When you withdraw money from your IRA, it is taxed as ordinary income. Roth IRAs are a bit different. There are contribution limits for Roth IRAs and the contributions you make are not deductible. The big draw for a Roth IRA is if you meet certain requirements when you take money out, it is tax free.

The Beauty of Self-Directing

With an IRA you can invest in things like stocks and bonds. With a self-directed IRA, your options become a little broader. Are you well versed in real estate? You can invest in that. Do you like the security of precious metal investments? Invest away! Maybe you’d like to invest in a business? No problem!  With self-direction you can pick something that you are familiar with and invest to your hearts content.  When you self-direct, you are in the driver’s seat. You can invest in ways that other IRAs and 401ks can’t.

Having a wider array of investment options isn’t the only bonus of self-directing your IRA. It may seem like you need a lot of money to start investing. The truth is you can start with whatever you feel comfortable with. Once you begin investing, you’ll gain the experience you’ll need to feel more comfortable with your decisions and invest more. Investing your money can seem scary at first. You can go your own pace and stick with what you feel most comfortable with.

If you would like to learn more about self-direction, contact us here at Next Generation Trust Services. We would be more than happy to answer any questions you might have. You can reach us at Info@NextGenerationTrust.com or 888.857.8058.

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