IRA Financial Blog

Solo 401k Investments

December 4, 2021

If you are eligible for the plan, these Solo 401k tips will help you make investments in some of the most popular alternative asset investments, including real estate.

Solo 401k – Self-Employed & Small Business Owners

A Solo 401k Plan offers one the ability to use his or her retirement funds to make almost any type of investment on their own without requiring the consent of any custodian or person. The IRS and Department of Labor only describe the types of investments that are prohibited, which are very few.

The foundation of the prohibited transaction rules are based on the premise that investments involving a Solo 401k Plan and related parties are handled in a way that benefits the retirement account and not the plan participant. The rules prohibit transactions between the plan participant and certain individuals known as “disqualified persons”. The outline for these rules can be found in Internal Revenue Code Section 4975. In general, the definition of a “disqualified person” (Internal Revenue Code Section 4975(e)(2)) extends into a variety of related party scenarios, but generally includes the Solo 401k Plan participant, any ancestors or lineal descendants of the plan participant, and entities in which the plan participant holds a controlling equity or management interest.

Best Solo 401(k) Investments

The following are some examples of types of investments that can be made with your Solo 401k Plan:

Residential or commercial real estate
Domestic of foreign real estate
Raw land
Foreclosure property
Mortgages
Mortgage pools
Deeds
Private loans
Tax liens
Private businesses
Cryptocurrencies
Limited Liability Companies
Limited Liability Partnerships
Private placements
Precious metals and certain coins
Stocks, bonds, mutual funds
Foreign currencies

Learn More: How to Diversify Your Retirement Portfolio

Real Estate

The IRS permits using a Solo 401k to purchase real estate or raw land. Since you are the trustee of the 401(k) Plan, making a real estate investment is as simple as writing a check from your 401(k) Plan bank account. The advantage of purchasing real estate with your Solo 401k Plan is that all gains are tax-deferred until a distribution is taken (pretax 401(k) distributions are not required until the plan participant turns 73). In the case of a Roth Solo 401(k) Plan, all gains are tax-free.

For example, if you purchased a piece of property with your Solo 401k Plan for $100,000 and you later sold the property for $300,000, the $200,000 of gain appreciation would generally be tax-deferred. Whereas, if you purchased the property using personal funds (non-retirement funds), the gain would be subject to federal income tax and in most cases state income tax.

Solo 401k Tips:

The deposit and purchase price for the real estate property should be paid using Plan funds or funds from a non-disqualified third-party
No personal funds or funds from a “disqualified person” should be used
All expenses, repairs, taxes incurred in connection with the Solo 401k Plan real estate investment should be paid using retirement funds – no personal funds should be used
If additional funds are required for improvements or other matters involving the real estate investments, all funds should come from the Plan or from a non “disqualified person”
If financing is needed for a real estate transaction, only non-recourse financing should be used. A non-recourse loan is a loan that is not personally guaranteed and whereby the lender’s only recourse is against the property and not against the borrower.
With a Solo 401k Plan the use of a non-recourse loan would not be subject to any tax pursuant to Internal Revenue Code Section 514, which is not the case with an IRA. This provides a very exciting investment opportunity.
No services should be performed by the Plan participant or “disqualified person” in connection with the real estate investment. In general, other than typical trustee type of services (necessary and required tasks in connection with the maintenance of the plan), no active services should be performed by the plan participant or a “disqualified person” with respect to the real estate transaction.
Title of the real estate purchased should be in the name of the trustee for the benefit of the plan. For example, if Joe Smith is the trustee of ABC 401(k) Trust, title to real estate purchased by Joe’s plan would be as follows: Joe Smith as Trustee of the ABC 401(k) Trust
Keep good records of income and expenses generated by the real estate investment
All income, gains or losses from a Solo 401k Plan real estate investment should be allocated to the Plan
Make sure you perform adequate diligence on the property you will be purchasing especially if it is in a state you do not live in
Make sure you will not be engaging in any self-dealing real estate transaction which would involve buying or selling real estate that will personally benefit you or a “disqualified person”

Tax Liens

The IRS permits the purchase of tax liens and tax deeds with a Solo 401k Plan. By using the Plan to purchase tax-liens or tax deeds, your profits are tax-deferred back into your retirement account until a distribution is taken (pre-tax 401(k) distributions are not required until the Plan Participant turns 70 1/2). In the case of a Roth Solo 401(k) Plan, all gains are tax-free.

More importantly, with a Solo 401k Plan, you, as trustee of the 401(k) Plan, will have “checkbook control” over your retirement funds allowing you to make purchases on the spot without custodian consent. In other words, purchasing a tax-lien or tax deed is as easy as writing a check!

Solo 401k Tips:

The deposit and purchase price for the tax lien should be paid using Solo 401k Plan funds or funds from a non-disqualified third-party
No personal funds or funds from a “disqualified person” should be used
A check from the Solo 401k Plan account should be taking to auction or used for the tax lien purchase – no personal check or cash should be used
No credit card should be applied for in the name of the Plan as that would violate the IRS prohibited transaction rules. A pure debit card is allowable
All income, gains or losses from tax lien investments should be allocated to the Plan

Learn more about “checkbook control” and custodian controlled self-directed IRAs today!

Loans & Notes

The IRS permits using 401(k) funds to make loans or purchase notes from third parties. By using a Solo 401k Plan to make loans or purchase notes from third-parties, all interest payments received would be tax-deferred until a distribution is taken (pre-tax 401(k) distributions are not required until the Plan Participant turns 73). In the case of a Roth Solo 401(k) Plan, all gains are tax-free.

For example, if you used a Solo 401k to loan money to a friend, all interest received would flow back into your 401(k) Plan tax-free. Whereas, if you lent your friend money from personal funds (non-retirement funds), the interest received would be subject to federal and in most cases state income tax.

Solo 401k Tips:

The loan or note amount should be paid using Plan funds or funds from a non-disqualified third-party
No personal funds or funds from a “disqualified person” should be used in the loan transaction
The loan or note should not involve a “disqualified person” directly or indirectly
The loan or note should have a stated interest rate of at least Prime as per the Wall Street Journal (5.50% as of August 30, 2022)
All interest and principal associated with the loan or note should be allocated to the Plan
It is good practice to have the loan terms documented in a promissory note or loan agreement
If you will be acting as the lender, consider securing the loan with an interest or lien in an asset owned by the borrower
Make sure you will not be engaging in any self-dealing loan transaction which would involve a loan or note that will personally benefit you or a “disqualified person”

Related: Recession Investing and Your Retirement Account

Private Businesses

With a Solo 401k you are permitted to purchase an interest in a privately held business. The business to be purchased can be any entity other than an S Corporation (i.e. limited liability company, C Corporation, partnership, etc.). When investing in a private business using 401(k) funds, it is important to keep in mind the “Disqualified Person” and “Prohibited Transaction” rules under IRC 4975 and the Unrelated Business Taxable Income rules under IRC 512.

Solo 401k Tips:

The deposit and purchase price for the business should be paid using Plan funds or funds from a non-disqualified third-party
No personal funds or funds from a “disqualified person” should be used to purchase the business
The purchase of the stock or assets of the business should not directly or indirectly benefit the plan participant personally or any “disqualified person”
The purchase of a business operated via an LLC or partnership will potentially trigger the Unrelated Business Taxable Income rules under IRC 512 and a corresponding tax of approximately 40% for 2018 would be applied
Stock of an S Corporation should not be purchased with retirement funds as the S corporation rules only allow individuals to be S Corporation shareholders
The purchase of stock of a C Corporation would not trigger the application of the Unrelated Business Taxable Income rules under IRC 512
All income, gains or losses from the purchased business should be allocated to the Plan
The plan participant or any “disqualified person” should not have any ownership in the business being purchased and should not directly or indirectly personally benefit from the acquisition
Make sure to perform adequate diligence on the business you will be purchasing or investing in especially if you will be buying the stock/interests and not the assets
Make sure you will not be engaging in any business acquisition transaction which would involve buying or selling a business that will personally benefit you or a “disqualified person”

Did you know that you can open a Solo 401(k) even if you have a full-time job and contribute to a traditional 401k?

Precious Metals & Coins

Our Solo 401k Plan documents allow for investments into precious metals and certain coins. The advantage of using a Solo 401k Plan to purchase precious metals and/or coins is that their values generally keep up with, or exceed, inflation rates better than other investments. In addition, IRS approved metals or coins, as defined under Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m) should be held in an approved depository or U.S. Bank.

Solo 401k Tips:

Only IRS approved metals or coins (bullion) may be purchases as per Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m)
The IRS approved precious metals or coins being purchased by the plan should be paid using plan funds or funds from a non-disqualified third-party
With respect to IRS approved precious metals or coins (bullion), the metals or coins should not be held in the personal possession of any individual
With respect to the IRS approved precious metals or coins outlined in Internal Revenue Code Section 408(m), the bullion must be held in the “physical possession” of a U.S. depository or at a U.S. bank
An affidavit signed by the trustee of the plan confirming that the IRS approved precious metals or coins are being purchased and being held in the sole interest of the retirement account is good practice
All income, gains or losses from the purchased precious metals or coins should be allocated to the Solo 401k Plan
IRS approved precious metals or coins should not be held at a bank outside the United States
Perform adequate diligence on the dealer with which you will be transacting with for the purchase of IRS approved metals or coins

Foreign Currencies

The IRS does not prevent the use of 401(k) funds to purchase foreign currencies, including Iraqi Dinars. In fact, our Plan documents permit the purchase of foreign currencies. Many believe that foreign currency investments offer liquidity advantages to the stock market as well as significant investment opportunities.

By using a Solo 401k to purchase foreign currencies, such as the Iraqi Dinar, all foreign currency gains generated would be tax-deferred until a distribution is taken (pre-tax 401(k) distributions are not required until the Plan Participant turns 70 1/2). In the case of a Roth Solo 401(k) Plan, all gains are tax-free.

Solo 401k Tips:

Make sure you have a solid background in trading foreign currencies and understand the high volatile and significant risk
If you will be investing with a third-party, perform adequate diligence on the individual and make sure the individual has the knowledge to trade foreign currencies and all his/her securities licenses are in good standing.
Beware of leverage – it is allowable but it would trigger the application of the Unrelated Business Taxable Income rules under IRC 512 and thereby a corresponding tax
No personal guarantee of any leverage or loan obligation is permitted
All income, gains or losses from the foreign currency transactions should be allocated to the Plan

Stocks, Bonds, Mutual Funds, CDs

In addition to non-traditional investments such as real estate, a Solo 401k may purchase stock, bonds, mutual funds, and CDs. The advantage of using a self-directed Plan is that you are not limited to just making these types of investments. With a Solo 401k Plan with “checkbook control” you can open a stock trading account with any financial institution as well as purchase real estate, buy tax liens, or lend money to a third-party. Your investment opportunities are endless! When purchasing stocks or securities with the Plan, all income and gains, including dividends, would flow back to the plan without tax. With a Roth Solo 401(k) Plan, all gains are tax-free. Whereas, if you purchased stocks with personal funds, all income and gains would be subject to federal and in most cases state income tax.

Solo 401k Tips:

If you will be investing with a third-party, perform adequate diligence on the individual and make sure the individual has the knowledge to trade stocks or securities and all his/her securities licenses are in good standing.
Beware of promoters who are promising high returns and that do not work at reputable financial institutions – high likelihood of fraud
Beware of leverage – it is allowable, but it would trigger the application of the Unrelated Business Taxable Income rules under IRC 512 and thereby a corresponding tax
No personal guarantee of any leverage or loan obligation is permitted
Open up a brokerage account in the name of the Plan – not a personal account
All income, gains or losses from the stock investments should be allocated to the Plan

For more information, checkout our founder Adam Bergman’s Book, email us at [email protected] or call 1-800-472-0646 to speak with one of our customer service representatives today!