Self Directed Investor Talk: Alternative Asset Investing Through Self-directed Ira's & Solo 401k's

Rental Property Owners face a huge enemy today:  The Federal Government, which delights in creating new rules, regulations and rulings that take power FROM property owners like you and me, and redistributes that power to tenants, “housing advocates”, and of course, to the government itself.  How do YOU shield yourself from this onslaught against your rights as a property owner?  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll tell you RIGHT NOW in Episode #206. Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of recover for savvy self-directed investors like you, where you learn, in bite-sized chunks every day, how to find, understand and PROFIT from exceptional investments. My friends, here in America, a prevailing attitudes that has been taught by our public education system and reinforced by the media to the very large group of Americans I call the “oblivious lowbrows”– these are the people who have practically zero worthwhile knowledge, skills or experience, even though some of them have some or even substantial formal education – what

Are you a rental property owner?  Then answer this question:  Do you believe it’s reasonable to require criminal background checks of your tenants?  Now don’t forget your answer, because I’ve got some terrifying news for you today, made possible by an insane, destructive decision by the US Supreme Court last year.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  This is Episode #205. Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record, where we help savvy investors like you find, understand and profit from exceptional investments. On June 26 of last year – almost exactly a year ago – I told you in Episode #90 of this very show about a terrifying Supreme Court decision that I predicted would be a horrible blight on the freedom of real estate investors in America.  The case involved an issue called “disparate impact”.  In layman's terms, this refers to a policy that disproportionately affects one group of people more than another, even if there is no intent to discriminate against anyone. I gave an extreme example, that went like this:  Yo

The U.S. government is on the attack again.  New rules from the Treasury department just killed an otherwise very big corporate merger, and the motivation is simple:  GREED on the part of the Obama administration.  This isn’t a political statement.  It’s all about YOUR PORTFOLIO, and I’ll tell you exactly how RIGHT NOW.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  This is Episode #204.-----Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you, where we have but one central purpose, and that is to help YOU make great investments that are simple, safe and strong.That’s right, ladies and gentlemen… you are the hero in the story of your portfolio, not me and not any other person to whom you look for guidance.  Or… maybe you’re the goat in the story of your portfolio.  I certainly hope not, but good news:  My job is to make you be the hero in your portfolio forevermore.Well, well, well ladies and gents… the U.S. treasury is at it again, directly interfering with business to the benefit of nobody bu

Billions are pouring into U.S. real estate from investors in China… and frequently, those dollars are going into deals that, to me and you, simply make no sense at all.  But there’s method to the madness, and I’ve discovered 5 important things you need to know if you want to do business with investors in China.  I’m Bryan Ellis. This is Episode #203.------Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!It’s Monday, and what a great day to be alive, my friends!  Spring is a spectacular time of year and we here at SDI Radio are champing at the bit for another great week, so let’s get to it!First, let’s hear a bit of wisdom from the ancients, shall we?  Every episode, I share with you a proverb, quote or saying that has stood the test of time, and is important for you and me as self-directed investors.  Here’s today’s proverb:  “A fortune made by a lying tongue is a fleeting vapor and a deadly snare.”Obvious, right?  Don’t lie to get rich, right?  Well sure, but to

Hey, stock market investors!  When members of the Federal Reserve are graphically expressing worry about the market, you’ve got to take it seriously.  And this news, my friends, is serious if you’re a stock investor.  I’ll tell you all about it right now.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  This is Episode #202.----Hello SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!  Today’s show has one purpose:  To help YOU make great investments that are simple, safe and strong!Let’s get started with today’s installment of Wisdom of the Ancients, where I share with you a saying, quote or Proverb that has stood the test of time and conveys truth to which you and I as self-directed investors must pay close attention.  Today’s proverb says this:  “Those who give to the poor will lack nothing, but those who close their eyes to them receive many curses.”What does this mean to you?  To me, it means that it’s wise to live in an “others-focused” kind of way.  In other words… think of the needs of others…

What a ride! Since the last day of last year, the stock market fell more than 10%... and subsequently got back all of that loss as of the market’s close on Friday. As a result, something interesting is happening in the self-directed retirement account world that is completely COUNTER-INTUITIVE… and you need to know about it. I’m Bryan Ellis. This is episode # 200.-----Hello, SDI Nation! Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy, self-directed investors like you where we have one, and only one goal: To help you make GREAT investments that are simple, safe and strong.And Today, I add a new, very brief segment to this show that I’ll call “Wisdom of the Ancients”. It’s a short quote, proverb or thought that may be directly related to wealth building, or may only be peripherally related. Regardless, it’s something that’s on my mind, and I’d like to share it with you for your own consideration, because it will contribute to helping you make great investments that are simple, safe and strong.Today’s Wisdom of the A

Donald Trump racks up more primary victories, and it looks like the GOP establishment, and some Republican party types like Mitt Romney and Erick Erickson are pushing for open revolt.  What does this mean for your portfolio?  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll tell you RIGHT NOW in Episode 199.----Hello, SDI nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy, self-directed investors like you, where we have one and only one goal and that is to help YOU make great investments that are simple, safe and strong.Yesterday was the biggest day in the Presidential primary process since Super Tuesday, and again, Donald Trump appears to be an unstoppable force on the Republican side, as is true for the gaffe-prone Hillary Clinton on the Democrat side.So folks, let’s talk about this like adults, shall we?I didn’t vote for Donald Trump in the primary in my home state of Georgia.  I did vote for a Republican candidate, but not Trump.  I am a conservative, but I am not a Republican.I find the whole situation disgusting, to be honest. 

Is it greed, or is it ambition?  The difference is huge, but subtle.  One leads to excellence, the other to ruin… yet, they can feel very similar.   Here’s how to make the distinction, and avoid the devastation to your portfolio that awaits the greedy.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  This is Episode #198.----Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you, where we have one and only one goal:  To help you make GREAT investments that are simple, safe and strong.One thing I’ve learned in working with you fine folks is this:  There’s some subjectivity to the words “simple, safe and strong”… and that’s really as it should be.  While there’s a baseline for those things –  sending money to a Nigerian prince, for example, is always foolish and never safe – what is true is that what you define as simple or safe or strong may be different than how I define it, and that’s ok.Defining what those terms mean for you is really very important, and the answers simply aren’t the same for eve

Want the sexiest, most explosive way to blow up a retirement account that you can ever imagine… and it’s hiding in plain sight?  Get ready to have your mind blown YET AGAIN, my friends.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  This is Episode 197.-----Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy, self-directed investors like you, where we have one and only one purpose:  To help you make great investments that are simple, safe and strong!And BOY-oh-BOY do I have a great strategy for you today!Let’s take a journey into imagination, shall we?Imagine that you’re presented with an array of dozens of locked “treasure” boxes.  You can buy any of these treasure boxes you want for $1,000.  And when you do so, if you’re able to get the treasure box opened, there’s a multiple of your investment waiting inside… maybe $20,000…. Maybe $75,000… maybe much, much more.Of course, there’s the chance that there’s nothing inside at all.  And there’s the chance that you never figure out how to get the treasure box unlocked to begin wi

Last episode, I gave you 5 shocking reasons that you should seriously consider NOT putting real estate investments inside of a self-directed IRA.  But there are two sides to the coin, and today I give you 5 great reasons that your IRA is a perfect home for great real estate deals.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  This is episode 196.-----Hello, SDI Nation!  Self Directed Investor Radio is here for one purpose:  To help YOU make great investments.  So let’s do that right now.Ok, so I know, I know, I know.  If you heard yesterday’s show – which is available to you right now at SDIRadio.com/195 – I’m betting you think I’ve flipped my wig, as I spent the entire episode giving you really strong reasons NOT to use your IRA to buy real estate.  This is, after all, the Self Directed Investor Radio, where self-directed IRAs are a key focal point.But look… the truth is that I’m primarily interested in helping you to make GREAT investments, and a big part of that is the legal structure under which you acquire your assets.  And someti

 ONE TOPIC is irresistible catnip for real estate investors:  the Self-Directed IRA.  This special form of IRA enables investors to deploy their retirement capital into real estate, and to enjoy the substantial tax benefits offered by IRAs.IRAs can bring such substantial tax savings that it is easy to assume that any investment that can be performed in an IRA should be performed in an IRA.  But the devil is in the details, and real estate may be the only asset class for which the use of an IRA could be a fundamentally poor decision.Here are 5 devastating traps awaiting the real estate investor who uses a Self-Directed IRA:Punishing TaxesIt would be reasonable to assume that using an IRA would result in the payment of less taxes than without it.  Alas, that is frequently false.Users of the “Roth” type of IRA have the best tax advantage ever created:  Your profits are 100% tax-free, and that advantage is impossible to beat.But what about “Traditional” IRAs, which are merely tax-deferred rather than tax-free?  T

Do you have an IRA at a conventional custodian – like Charles Schwab or Fidelity or Ameritrade – and wish you could buy real estate inside it?  Well now… because of a new court ruling… you can!  But should you?  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll give you all of the powerful details RIGHT NOW in episode #194.----Hello SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!What a great day to be alive, people!  Don’t you agree?So there’s some BIG NEWS on the legal front that you, as a well-informed self-directed investor need to know… particularly for those of you who have IRA’s at conventional brokers and wish you could buy real estate or other assets – other than just stocks & bonds – inside those accounts.On February 24 – two days ago – a really, really interesting ruling in US tax court came down.  And I’ve got to say a big thank you to attorney extraordinaire Tim Berry – host of the upcoming new podcast SDI Money Law… a GREAT show, my friends – for turning me on to this informati

The politicians – particularly Bernie Sanders – are talking a lot about FAIRNESS… but here’s the truth:  FAIRNESS is the OPPOSITE of freedom, and it’s a code word for targeting and confiscating YOUR WEALTH.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll tell you precisely why this is true RIGHT NOW in Episode #193.-----Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!My friends, I hate that politics ever intersects with money.  Unfortunately, it does… and it’s the politicians who insist that it happens.Case in point:  In his victory speech at the New Hampshire primary, socialist Bernie Sanders proclaimed that “what American people understand is that our great country was based on a simple principle, and that principle is fairness.”My friends… what utter poppy-cock!  What an utterly foolish, wholly made-up statement!  This is a LIE, my friends… it’s exactly the OPPOSITE of the truth.This great country was based on a central concept… and it’s a concept that you and I as self-directed inv

A listener asks: Exactly how can you buy real estate in an IRA? Today, I answer that basic question… and the more important question behind it: SHOULD YOU buy real estate in your IRA? I’m Bryan Ellis. This is Episode #192.-----Hello, SDI Nation! Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!Today, it’s back to basics day. But the “basic” idea we’re covering is one that many of you have done very, very wrong… and you don’t even know it.Before I get into the meat of today’s show, may I ask a personal favor of you? Please say a prayer for my daughter Kayla. She’s 18, and tomorrow she’ll be having surgery that we’re hoping and praying will correct some rather severe skeletal and maybe neurological issues she’s having which are causing her really, really great pain. She’s connected to this show by more than just being my daughter… she is the person who edits and publishes this show so that you get to hear it. So please, please say a prayer for her. Kayla, I love you so much and I’m pr

The best-selling book and movie The Big Short tells the inside story of how Dr. Michael Burry made a huge fortune for his hedge fund clients by betting against the real estate market… and how those clients ultimately didn’t appreciate him despite a HUGE profit.  And I may be the only person in America who thinks so, but I think the clients were right and Dr. Burry was wrong.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll tell you why right now in Episode 191.----Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!Have you ever read the book “The Big Short” by Michael Lewis?  If not, it’s a great read… and I really enjoyed the movie too, which is solidly over 2 hours long and felt like it was over in a flash.So I totally recommend the book and the movie… it’s a really fascinating explanation of what led up to the mortgage meltdown, and how it really was just a function of greed and carelessness.Part of the story involves Dr. Michael Burry.  He trained as a neurologist and got the degree an

Money is flowing out of the stock market in huge waves… but where is it going?  If you’ve made the wise choice to diversify away from Wall Street, here are 3 EXCELLENT options for how to invest $100,000 TODAY.  I’m Bryan Ellis… this is episode 190.-----Hello SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!Welcome to the first day of the second month of 2016!  If you’re a stock market investor, January was a brutal month.  The Dow dropped, in aggregate, over 5% and as of mid-morning, the losses are continuing on the first trading day of February.A real barometer of the confidence of the public in the stock market is the inflow-outflows question.  In other words, on net, are more investors putting money IN or taking money OUT of stocks?For January, there’s a definite answer:  There’s a huge OUTFLOW.  People are abandoning stocks in droves.  A report from Bank of America shows that in the first 3 weeks of January alone, more than $25 BILLION flowed OUT of stock market equ

Did you hear?  Barrack Obama is targeting YOUR RETIREMENT ACCOUNT in his proposed budget for 2017.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll tell you what he’s saying, what it actually means… and why this is a HUGE ISSUE for self-directed investors RIGHT NOW in Episode #189.----Hello SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!  Welcome to another dose of predictably profitable thinking!Well, well, well my friends… another day, another proposal to regulate and overtake your control of your money from our good buddies – overlords, anyone – in Washington DC.  Today, you get another episode of the unfortunate intersection of politics with your money.That’s right my friends… Obama’s new budget proposal for Fiscal 2017, released in the last 24 hours, squarely targets something called “Retirement Security”.  Right there in black and white on the White House’s OMB – that’s office of management & budget – web page is a nice little paragraph that says, and I’ll ask for your indulgence as

There’s a moral component to self-directed investing… and the gravity of that component outweighs every other factor of success.  I’m Bryan Ellis.  I’ll tell you about that overlooked dimension of financial success right now in Episode 188.----Hello, SDI Nation.  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!  Get ready for another dose of predictably profitable thinking!Folks, I can tell you right now… some of you will be offended by the content of this show.  I regret that, but I’ve got to share this with you anyway.There’s a concept that’s long been popular among business people and self-motivated types:  Clarity.  Clarity, they say, is the key to making your hopes and dreams come true.  Without clarity about your goals, you don’t really have a goal.  Without clarity about your strategies, you can never implement those strategies.  Without clarity about your purpose, you have no purpose.  But with clarity comes true purpose… and an amazing alignment of intent and interest and

What do you do to protect your 401k when the stock market is in free fall, and your retirement savings are disappearing like ice under heat? I’m Bryan Ellis. I’ll tell you exactly how to PRESERVE, PROTECT and GROW your retirement savings RIGHT NOW in Episode #187.-----Hello, SDI Nation! Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy, self-directed investors like you! Get ready for another dose of predictably profitable thinking!In the last 30 days, the Dow Jones Industrial Average – that’s the stock market – has been slashed by nearly 9%.Let’s think about the gravity of that for a moment. One way to look at is this: If you’ve been working and saving for the past 30 years – and your money is in Dow-type stocks – it’s almost as if 9% of that time – that’s 2.7 YEARS – it’s almost as if 2.7 YEARS of your life has now been erased… just wiped away… as if you never put in the blood, the sweat, the tears of those years… as if they never happened at all… and now there’s a financial chasm that has to be filled… but no matt

Donald Trump, “New York Values”, Ted Cruz… and a BORING, Profitable Investment Strategy  |  Episode 186.----Hello, SDI Nation!  Welcome to the podcast of record for savvy self-directed investors like you!  Get ready for another dose of Predictably Profitable thinking!So, another Republican debate happened last night, and it was entertaining as ever.  Without commenting on anyone’s political views, I have an observation…Ted Cruz is a brilliant, brilliant man… and a masterful debater.  His skill in that area is without peer.But Donald Trump really got the best of him in a big moment last night… and I think that moment is instructive for all of us.The context was simple:  Ted Cruz was making the point that Trump is from New York, and New York isn’t known as a place that’s particularly supportive of conservative, i.e. Republican, values.  The suggestion was that there’s something unattractive about New York values, from the conservative point of view.It’s a reasonable thing Cruz was trying to do… to tie Trump to