Explore
Investment Explorer
See what a self-directed account can hold. Filter by goal, open the full guide for any asset, and screen a transaction for the rules before you commit a dollar.
Investor Services is a directed custodian: we hold and process what you direct, and we don’t recommend or vet investments. Use this explorer to learn the landscape — then do your own diligence.
Stocks & ETFs
Public equities and funds, held tax-advantaged with no capital-gains drag inside the account.
Mutual funds
Diversified, professionally managed funds whose distributions reinvest untaxed in the account.
Bonds & fixed income
Interest that compounds untaxed until distribution — ballast and income for a portfolio.
Cash & money market
Dry powder between investments, earning yield and ready for capital calls or distributions.
Real estate
Rental and investment property held in the IRA’s name — rent flows back to the account untaxed.
Private equity & venture
Stakes in private companies and funds, with capital calls met from IRA cash.
Private credit & notes
Lending secured by real assets — interest compounds untaxed inside the account.
Precious metals
IRS-eligible bullion and coins, held at an approved depository — never at home.
Digital assets
Crypto held through qualified custody in the IRA’s name — you never hold the keys.
Stablecoins
Dollar-pegged digital tokens — fast settlement and a low-volatility digital dollar, held in custody.
The kinds of providers you’ll work with
For most alternative assets you’ll engage a third-party provider or platform to source the deal or the product. Investor Services doesn’t endorse specific providers — choosing one is part of your due diligence. Common categories:
- Turnkey real estate & sponsors — Firms that source, renovate, and manage investment property, or syndicate deals you invest in passively.
- Private-fund & crowdfunding platforms — Venues that give access to private equity, venture, and real-estate funds, often with online subscription and capital-call handling.
- Note origination & lending platforms — Marketplaces and originators for secured notes and private credit your IRA can fund.
- Precious-metals dealers & depositories — Dealers that sell IRS-eligible metals, paired with an approved depository that stores them in the account’s name.
- Digital-asset custody & trading platforms — Qualified-custody providers that let the IRA buy and hold crypto without you ever touching the keys.
Do your diligence first. Because the custodian doesn’t vet investments or providers, the responsibility is yours. Learn the warning signs on the Fraud & scam prevention page, and screen any alternative-asset transaction with the prohibited-transaction checker before you proceed.
Educational only. This page is general information, not individualized investment, legal, or tax advice. Rules depend on your account type, transaction, tax year, and circumstances — consult a qualified professional.