Frequently Asked Questions

A self-directed IRA is a retirement account that allows you to invest in alternative assets beyond traditional stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. With a self-directed IRA, you can invest in real estate, private equity, precious metals, and many other alternative investments while maintaining all the tax advantages of a traditional or Roth IRA.

As a custodian, Westcarriage is responsible for holding and safeguarding your IRA assets, processing transactions, maintaining records, and ensuring IRS compliance. We handle the administrative aspects while you maintain control over investment decisions. We do not provide investment advice or sell investment products.

Westcarriage was established in 1996 and has over 28 years of experience providing custodian services for self-directed retirement accounts. We have helped thousands of clients successfully manage their alternative investments within their retirement accounts.

Opening an account is simple. You can complete our online application, which typically takes 10-15 minutes. Once submitted, our team will review your application and contact you within 1-2 business days to finalize the setup. You can also call us at (800) 955-3434 for assistance.

Yes! You can transfer or rollover funds from existing IRAs, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and other qualified retirement plans. We provide transfer and rollover forms to make the process smooth and straightforward. Transfers between IRAs are typically tax-free events.

You'll need a valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or passport), your Social Security number, and basic personal information. If you're transferring funds, you'll also need information about your current account custodian.

Self-directed IRAs can invest in a wide variety of alternative assets including real estate, private equity, private loans, promissory notes, precious metals, tax liens, and much more. However, certain investments are prohibited by the IRS, including life insurance, collectibles (with some exceptions for precious metals), and S-Corporation stock.

Yes! Real estate is one of the most popular alternative investments in self-directed IRAs. You can purchase residential properties, commercial properties, raw land, rental properties, and more. However, the property must be held for investment purposes only, and you cannot personally use or benefit from the property.

Prohibited transactions involve self-dealing or transactions with disqualified persons (you, your spouse, parents, children, and certain business partners). Examples include buying property from yourself, selling to your IRA, or personally using IRA-owned property. Violating these rules can disqualify your entire IRA.

Our fee structure includes an annual account maintenance fee and transaction fees based on the complexity of the investment. We believe in transparency and have no hidden costs. For a complete breakdown of our fees, please visit our Fee Schedule page or contact us directly.

We charge a one-time account establishment fee when you open a new account. This fee covers the cost of setting up your account, processing initial paperwork, and getting you started with your self-directed investments.