Custodians

Who actually holds the account, what they do, what they charge, and where the big brokerages stop.

• Can I buy real estate with my Fidelity IRA?
  No. Fidelity does not hold direct real estate in retirement accounts. That is Fidelity's business decision, not a tax rule. To buy a building with IRA money you tran...
• Can I buy real estate with my Schwab IRA?
  No. Charles Schwab does not hold direct real estate in IRAs. Schwab's alternative investment access is built for funds and private market offerings, not for a deed i...
• Custodian or administrator: what is the difference, and why it matters
  A custodian is a regulated bank or trust company legally permitted to hold IRA assets. An administrator is a service company that handles paperwork but must place yo...
• How to choose a self-directed IRA custodian for real estate
  There is no single best one, and any article that names a winner is usually being paid to. The right custodian is the one that has closed hundreds of deals like your...