Tax Strategy Blog for Business Owners

“Can my IRA buy a rental with a mortgage? Can it buy from my brother? What happens to it when I die? Real questions about self-directed IRAs and Solo 401(k)s.” This self-directed IRA Q&A is our September 2026 live session: 90 minutes with guest John Bowens, Director & Head of Education and Investor Success at […]

“Can I invest in a business with my IRA? If yes, what structure should I use?” Can your IRA buy a business? In our September live Q&A, guest John Bowens of Equity Trust Company said it comes down to one question: will you run it? Then Laura Dohanes, CPA, read a line she hears a […]

“Can I move my whole down payment into a self-directed IRA, buy a rental, and write it off against my income?” A self-directed IRA rental can be a great investment, but it can’t be your write-off. In our September live Q&A, Laura Dohanes, CPA, and guest John Bowens of Equity Trust Company took a plan […]

“Can I partner with my Roth IRA to invest in a flip or a rental?” Can you partner with your IRA on a flip or rental? It’s allowed, and it’s also one of the easiest ways to blow up an IRA by accident. In our September live Q&A, guest John Bowens of Equity Trust Company […]

“If I do all my house flips in my Roth IRA, I never pay tax on them… right?” Flipping houses in a Roth IRA sounds like the perfect plan: average $35,000 a flip, pay no tax, forever. In our September live Q&A, guest John Bowens of Equity Trust Company explained why the Roth doesn’t make […]

“How do I use a self-directed IRA to invest in real estate, and what happens after I die?” Inherited IRA real estate works very differently from property you leave through your will. In our September live Q&A, guest John Bowens of Equity Trust Company and Laura Dohanes, CPA, explained how an IRA holds property, who […]

“What happens if I break a prohibited transaction rule, and what do I do if I find out I already did?” The prohibited transaction penalty depends heavily on which account made the mistake. In an IRA, one prohibited transaction, of any size, can cost you the whole account. In our September live Q&A, Laura Dohanes, […]

“My IRA is at Fidelity, and it’s “self-directed”… isn’t it? What really changes when I go self-directed?” Self-directed IRA vs regular IRA is the first confusion most investors hit: the IRA at Fidelity or Schwab is already called “self-directed,” so what changes? In our September live Q&A, Laura Dohanes, CPA, put that question to guest […]

“What can a self-directed IRA actually hold, and what’s off-limits?” Self-directed IRA prohibited transactions are where most investors get into trouble, usually not on purpose. In our September live Q&A, guest John Bowens of Equity Trust Company and Laura Dohanes, CPA, started with the short list of things an IRA can never own, then who […]