SDIRA custodians
The Entrust Group
The Entrust Group administers self-directed retirement and tax-advantaged accounts, letting investors hold alternative assets that banks and brokerages typically do not offer: real estate, private lending and mortgage notes, LLC interests, private equity, precious metals, and cryptocurrency. Account types include traditional and Roth IRAs, SEP and SIMPLE IRAs, Individual 401(k)s, HSAs, and Coverdell education savings accounts.
Entrust is an administrator, not an adviser. Its services cover account administration, the purchase and sale of assets at the client's direction, contributions and distributions, recordkeeping, annual fair market value reporting and IRS filings, and annual statements. The site is explicit about what it does not do: it offers no product, investment, or company endorsements, and no legal or financial guidance. Clients transact through an online portal with a mobile app, and a myDirection Visa card is available for managing property expenses.
For real estate specifically the site publishes guidance on how to title a property, managing a property held in an IRA, purchasing strategies including partnering, non-recourse loans, and LLCs, and how to sell an investment property held in a retirement account. Its learning centre carries articles, whitepapers, guides, and webinars, and a B2B programme serves financial advisers and investment issuers.
Founded in 1981, the firm operates from Oakland, California and says over 24,000 people use it. Oversight it describes includes the SEC, the CFTC, IRS rules, the Department of Labor, and, through its relationship with The Entrust Trust Company chartered in Tennessee, state standards in Tennessee and California; financial statements are audited annually by an outside firm. Fees fall into four types and are published on a fees page with a fee calculator.
Best for
Investors who want to hold real estate, notes, or private placements inside an IRA or solo 401(k) and are comfortable directing every transaction themselves. Not for anyone wanting investment advice or vetted deals.
What they do
- Self-directed traditional and Roth IRAs
- SEP and SIMPLE IRAs
- Individual 401(k) plans
- Health savings accounts and Coverdell ESAs
- Real estate IRA administration
- Private lending and mortgage note administration
- Private placement and LLC investment administration
- Precious metals and cryptocurrency accounts
- Annual fair market valuation and IRS reporting
- Online client portal and mobile app
- B2B programme for advisers and investment issuers
- Investor education library and webinars
Details
| Attribute | Value |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1981 |
| Licenses | Affiliated with The Entrust Trust Company, chartered in Tennessee |
| Memberships | American Bankers Association member, BBB rating A+ |
| How they charge | Four fee types: a one-time account establishment fee, an annual recordkeeping fee, asset purchase and sale fees, and per-transaction fees. A fee schedule and fee calculator are published. |
What stands out
- Founded in 1981 and says it has provided self-directed account administration for over 40 years.
- States that over 24,000 people use The Entrust Group, and displays a BBB rating of A+.
- Names the oversight it operates under: the SEC, the CFTC, the Department of Labor, IRS rules, and FinCEN, with annual outside audits.
- Publishes its fee schedule and a fee calculator, with four fee types rather than a single bundled charge.
- States plainly that it offers no product, investment, or company endorsements and no legal or financial guidance.
Common questions
- What is a self-directed IRA?
- A self-directed IRA is an IRA; the difference is the range of investments it can hold. Where a bank or brokerage IRA is limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, a self-directed IRA can hold any asset the IRS allows, including real estate, LLCs, mortgage notes, and precious metals. No transaction happens without the account holder's explicit direction.
- What are the drawbacks of a self-directed IRA?
- The company lists four: the account is more complex to set up and manage and requires more knowledge of the chosen investments; alternative assets such as real estate or private equity can be illiquid; administration costs more because alternative assets are more labour-intensive; and the account holder carries responsibility for staying compliant with IRS rules, which means more paperwork, due diligence, and monitoring.
- How does Entrust charge?
- There are four main fee types: a one-time account establishment fee to open the account, an annual recordkeeping fee covering IRS reporting and administration, asset purchase and sale fees for the paperwork when an asset is bought or sold, and transaction fees for specific items such as paper checks or expedited requests. A fee schedule and fee calculator are published.
- Should I choose a traditional or a Roth self-directed IRA?
- The difference is tax treatment. A Roth is funded with post-tax dollars, can grow and be withdrawn tax-free if requirements are met, and requires no distributions during the owner's lifetime. A traditional IRA is funded with pre-tax dollars, may lower taxable income now, is taxed on withdrawal, and requires distributions from age 73. The company recommends consulting a tax professional.