IRA Consulting
You want control, autonomy and flexibility
An IRA LLC, is a unique type of a self-directed IRA that allows you to take control of your retirement funds. You have the freedom to invest in a broader range of assets—including real estate, precious metals, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. You’re in control of how you invest. Afterall, it’s your money.
Does any of this hit home?
You find yourself saying "I have to figure out what to do with my money"
You’re feeling stuck in the old system
You are frustrated with the lack of control and diversification of you retirement funds
You fear the loss of your savings and wealth due to inflation and government largesse
You distrust the USD and fiat-backed assets like stocks, bonds, mutual funds
Take control of your retirement with an IRA LLC
Here’s how it works
An IRA LLC—also known as a “checkbook IRA”—
gives you the freedom to invest in assets all with greater control and flexibility.
Here’s the basics
Self-Directed IRA: Lets you invest beyond stocks and bonds—think real estate, startups, metals, BTC and crypto-currency, and other alternatives.
LLC (Limited Liability Company): A legal entity your IRA owns, for holding and managing your investments.
You Manage It: As the manager of the LLC, you make the investment decisions.
Checkbook Control: You control the LLC’s bank account, so you can quickly move on investment opportunities, without waiting for custodian approval.
Where Unbound Assets comes in
To set up an IRA LLC, your custodian requires an approved facilitator—that’s us!
The team at Unbound Assets has been facilitating IRA LLCs since 2013. We handle everything from LLC structure setup to investment support, and our consulting expertise is included. We know the best practices, what to avoid, and how to keep your IRA LLC running smoothly.
With Unbound Assets, you’re in control
—building your financial future on your terms.
Captain your financial future
Open a
self-directed IRA
The steps
01
Submit your Application.
We’ll review it with in 48 hours.
Approved Facilitator
Self-Directed LLC Facilitator: Unbound Assets.
02
Account Creation Process.
We execute all the required documentation and guide you through the process, step by step, including forming a new IRA LLC.
03
Transfer Custodian.
We ensure proper and complete transfer of your old Custodian: Fidelity, Dow Jones, Schwab, etc. to your new custodian, Forge Trust.
04
Fund your LLC account. We walk you through establishing a bank account for your newly created LLC and oversee that funds successfully transfer.
05
Ongoing Consulting: Along with our custodial partner, Forge Trust, we ensure compliance and proper reporting.
06
Make Investments. You’re the manager of your LLC, and you can now use the funds in your LLC's bank account to make investments directly. All income and proceeds from these investments flow back into the LLC's bank account, which is still held within your IRA. Start shopping and let us help! Private equity, stocks, bonds, metals, bitcoin and crypto-currency, business start-ups, precious metals, real estate and more!
Start-ups
Private Equity
Stocks/Bonds
BTC/Crypto
Metals
Real Estate
Unbound Assets is there with you throughout the process.
IRA consulting package includes
We help you every step of the way
from account opening to making investments
$1,595
One time fee
We provide high touch consulting for the establishment of your IRA LLC
We transfer or roll over your funds and help procure final investment purchases of your choice
Ongoing consulting and assistance with asset placement, liquidation, storage, and more
$250
Annual maintenance consulting and continued compliance
Guidance and assistance with annual distributions including proper 3rd party valuations for asset in kind distributions
We ensure your IRA LLC continues to be properly maintained and compliant with state and federal regulations.
We’ve been guiding people to build real wealth since 2013.
With years of experience navigating every kind of market condition, we know the terrain—and the traps. From proven strategies to smart maintenance and sharp decision-making, we help you optimize every aspect of your financial strategy for long-term success.
Ready to take the next step?
Payment options
to get you set up with your IRA LLC
ONE TIME PAYMENT
$1,595
via credit card, BTC, personal check, or collected from IRA rollover funds
ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTS
$1,295
spousal, Roth, trade
+$250 annual fee per account
Building retirement wealth
by investing in a wider range of assets
Diversifying your IRA portfolio
Beyond the most common asset types, a self-directed IRA opens up many investment options that you may not have previously considered.
You can invest in virtually anything except:
Life insurance
Collectibles
Any transaction that directly or indirectly personally benefits you or your lineal descendants.
Your IRA investment must benefit your IRA exclusively.
All the income/gains come back to the IRA with no tax.
An IRA LLC is for you if…
You Want Checkbook Control for Faster Transactions
An IRA LLC allows you to manage investments directly through a business checking account, bypassing custodian approval for each transaction, saving time, money, and paperwork. This is ideal for time-sensitive investments like real estate auctions or foreclosures, enabling quick access to funds.
You Want Control
An IRA LLC gives you complete control over the assets in which you invest, where they are stored, and who has access.
You Plan to Invest in Alternative Assets
If you’re interested in assets like real estate, precious metals, private equity, or bitcoin and cryptocurrencies, an IRA LLC provides flexibility to invest in IRS-permitted assets (excluding life insurance and collectibles). It’s suited for active investments requiring hands-on management, unlike standard IRAs limited to stocks and bonds.
You Want to Reduce Custodian Fees
With an IRA LLC, you avoid per-transaction fees charged by custodians, as the LLC is treated as a single asset. This is cost-effective for transaction-heavy investments like rental properties or fix-and-flips, where multiple payments (e.g., repairs, taxes) occur.
You Value Privacy in Investments
An IRA LLC can hold investments without publicly linking your name or IRA account number to property records, unlike a standard SDIRA where title documents are public. This offers a layer of confidentiality.
You Want Limited Liability Protection
The LLC structure provides a legal separation between the IRA’s assets and personal finances, potentially shielding other IRA assets from creditors if a specific LLC investment (e.g., a property) faces claims.
You’re Investing in Transaction-Heavy Assets
For assets requiring frequent transactions (e.g., hard money loans, real estate flips), an IRA LLC simplifies processes by allowing you to write checks directly, avoiding custodian delays and paperwork.
You Want to Partner with Other Investors
An IRA LLC can facilitate joint ventures, allowing your IRA to co-invest with other non-disqualified parties (e.g., unrelated investors) in assets like commercial properties, splitting ownership based on contributions.
Frequently Asked Questions about IRA LLCs
-
Typically, 2–4 weeks, depending on: Custodian account setup (1 week). State LLC filing and processing (1-2 weeks, faster with expedited options). Bank account opening and fund transfers (1–3 days). Delays may occur if documents are incomplete or the custodian requires extra review.
-
An IRA LLC is a special purpose Limited Liability Company (LLC) owned by a Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account (SDIRA). It allows the IRA owner to have "checkbook control" over their retirement funds, enabling direct investment decisions without needing custodian approval for each transaction.
-
You establish an SDIRA with an IRS-approved custodian, form an LLC owned by the SDIRA, and transfer IRA funds to the LLC’s bank account. As the LLC’s manager (or with custodian oversight), you can direct investments from the LLC account, such as real estate or private equity, while the IRA remains the LLC’s owner.
-
Checkbook control: Faster investment decisions without custodian delays.
Flexibility: Invest in alternative assets like real estate, precious metals, or private businesses.
Cost savings: Potentially lower transaction fees compared to per transaction custodian fees.
Asset protection: LLC structure may offer liability protection (statedependent). -
An IRA LLC can invest in IRS-permitted assets, including real estate, private company shares, promissory notes, precious metals (e.g., gold, silver), cryptocurrencies, and more. Prohibited investments include collectibles (e.g., art, antiques), life insurance, and Scorporation stock.
-
IRS rules (IRC 4975) prohibit the SDIRA or LLC from engaging in transactions with “disqualified persons” (e.g., you, your spouse, children, parents, or entities you control). Examples include: Using IRA LLC funds for personal benefit (e.g., living in a property owned by the LLC). Borrowing money from the LLC. Selling personal assets to the LLC. Violating these rules can disqualify the IRA, triggering taxes and penalties.
-
Typically, you (the IRA owner) are appointed as the manager of the LLC in a manager-managed structure, allowing you to control investments. Alternatively, the SDIRA custodian or a third party can be the manager, depending on the Operating Agreement and custodian requirements.
-
The custodian holds the SDIRA, ensures IRS compliance, and approves the initial investment in the LLC. They may also require periodic reporting or approval for certain LLC transactions, depending on their policies.
-
Yes, if structured correctly. The IRS allows SDIRAs to invest in LLCs, but strict compliance with prohibited transaction rules (IRC 4975) is essential. Work with an attorney or SDIRA facilitator to ensure the LLC’s Operating Agreement and transactions meet IRS guidelines.
-
Generally, no. The LLC must be newly formed specifically for the SDIRA to avoid commingling personal and IRA assets, which could violate IRS rules. The SDIRA should be the sole owner (or primary member) of the LLC.
-
If the IRA LLC generates income from a trade or business (e.g., flipping properties or operating a business) or uses debt financing (e.g., a mortgage on real estate), it may owe UBTI tax. Consult a tax professional to file IRS Form 990-T and calculate any tax owed by the IRA.
-
No. Paying yourself a salary or taking personal distributions from the LLC is a prohibited transaction, as all LLC income and assets belong to the SDIRA. You may receive management fees only if explicitly allowed by the custodian and IRS rules, but this is rare.
-
Violating prohibited transaction rules can lead to the IRS disqualifying the entire SDIRA, resulting in: Immediate taxation of the IRA’s value. A 10–15% early withdrawal penalty if you’re under 59½. Additional accuracy-related penalties. Seek legal advice to correct errors and mitigate penalties.
-
Yes, but additional considerations apply, such as foreign tax compliance, custodian approval, and U.S. reporting requirements (e.g., FBAR or FATCA). Consult a tax professional with international expertise.
-
Maintain detailed records, including: LLC formation documents (Articles, Certificate, EIN, Operating Agreement).
Bank statements and transaction receipts.
Investment contracts and titles (e.g., property deeds).
Custodian approvals and correspondence.
Annual valuations of LLC assets (required by most custodians). These records ensure compliance and simplify IRS audits or custodian reporting.