Next Generation Trust will close early at 3:30 PM on Christmas Eve (12/24) and New Year’s Eve (12/31) and will be closed all day on Christmas Day (12/25) and New Year’s Day (1/1).

Happy Golden Anniversary to ERISA

Happy Golden Anniversary to ERISA

ERISA stands for the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, which became federal law in September 1974. It implements standards for certain employer-sponsored retirement and health plans. Fifty years later, we celebrate its enactment for several important reasons—to us at Next Generation Trust Company and investors nationwide.

ERISA has made it possible for more Americans to save for retirement by:

The legislation was enacted in response to concerns about the future (and security) of workplace retirement plans. It added protections and a federal regulatory framework that governs funding requirements, eligibility rules, and fiduciary standards for plan sponsors. ERISA also created the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (PBGC) which protects private sector defined benefit pension plans.
 

The importance of ERISA to investors – and self-directed IRA custodians and administrators

Although pension plans were still more widely offered at that time than they are today, many workers did not have access to an employer-sponsored retirement plan. Thanks to ERISA, Traditional IRAs were introduced in 1974 as a solution for people who were not participating in a workplace plan to save for retirement beyond their bank accounts. Over the years, Roth IRAs became available as well as health savings accounts and education savings accounts (which can all be self-directed to include alternative assets within their portfolios).

Other retirement legislation was implemented along the way to boost Americans’ ability to save for retirement through tax-advantaged plans and to protect those plans. Most recently, the SECURE Act (2019) and SECURE 2.0 (2022) created significant enhancements to retirement security that adapted to an evolving market and build on ERISA’s strong foundation. As a full-service administrator and custodian for self-directed retirement plans, we keep our clients abreast of legislative changes that affect retirement plans, ESAs, and HSAs and will post updates as they become finalized.
 

Self-directed IRAs were always available

We find that many of our clients don’t realize that when IRAs were created, there was always the option to open a self-directed account. This is partly because 50 years ago, large financial institutions—which limited investments to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds—advertised the availability of their IRAs heavily, leaving many taxpayers unaware of the self-directed option. However, we’re happy to report that over the past five decades, investors have become more financially knowledgeable about alternative assets in general, and more are discovering the many options and benefits of including them in a tax-advantaged self-directed IRA.

Thanks to the passage of ERISA, all those self-directed IRAs have become possible, along with the establishment and growth of Next Generation. We are delighted to be celebrating our company’s 20th anniversary this year…and we all wish IRAs a happy 50th anniversary!

Next Generation Trust Shares Insights Into Investing in Real Estate Lease Options Through a Self-Directed IRA

Real Estate Lease Options in Single-Family and Multifamily Properties are a Popular Alternative Asset

ROSELAND, NJ, September 04, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Savvy investors who understand real estate assets can include real estate lease options in a self-directed IRA to build tax-advantaged retirement wealth and passive income.

Jaime Raskulinecz, founder and CEO of Next Generation Trust Company, recently published a blog article on her firm’s website that details how self-directed investors can include these alternative assets within their retirement plans. It explains lease options, how to make these nontraditional investments, how to set up lease option arrangements, and how optioning a property works.

“Unlike a traditional lease on a rental property, a lease option provides certain advantages to the investor,” said Raskulinecz. “It gives the investor more control over the property without officially owning it, provides a path to property ownership, and when transacted through a self-directed IRA, is a tax-advantaged investment.”

Her firm provides full account administration and asset custody for self-directed IRAs and other plans. Real estate and related assets are among the most popular investments in self-directed retirement plans.

The article discusses lease option arrangements and their structure between the property owner and investor, the benefits of optioning a property and “subject to” properties and how to combine these with lease options to generate greater returns to the self-directed IRA.

“As with many alternative assets, real estate lease options provide consistent passive income through monthly rental payments by tenants,” said Raskulinecz. “Another way to generate retirement income is by optioning a property, whereby the investor assigns—or sells—the lease to a third party at a profit. Either way, these are other types of real estate assets that diversify account owners’ retirement portfolios while also building a hedge against stock market volatility.”

Like any self-directed investment, Raskulinecz and her team strongly recommend that investors conduct thorough due diligence before sending investment instructions and that they are comfortable making their own investment decisions. More details about real estate lease investments are in the full article at https://shorturl.at/DO0NO.

More information about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy and about Next Generation is at www.NextGenerationTrust.com.

About Next Generation

Founded on the philosophy that every person should have control over their retirement plans, Next Generation educates consumers and professionals about self-directed retirement plans and nontraditional investments, a strategy at one time reserved only for the very wealthy. Next Generation Services provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support, and its sister company, Next Generation Trust Company, acts as custodian for all accounts. The neutral third-party professionals at Next Generation expertly guide clients and their trusted advisors as part of their white glove, personalized service for a seamless transaction experience from start to finish. For more information, visit www.NextGenerationTrust.com, or contact Next Generation at 888.857.8058 or NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com.

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Investing in Real Estate Lease Options in a Self-Directed IRA

Real Estate Lease Options in Single-Family and Multifamily Properties are a Popular Alternative Asset

If you’re looking for a way to further diversify your self-directed IRA portfolio, and you are savvy about real estate investment properties, you may want to look at investing in real estate lease options.

Unlike a traditional lease, a lease option a) gives the investor more control over the property without officially owning it, b) provides a path to property ownership, and c) is a tax-advantaged investment when transacted through a self-directed IRA.

What is a lease option?

In general, a lease option (rent with the option to buy) enables a renter to purchase the rented property during or at the conclusion of a rental period. The owner may not offer the property for sale to anyone else during this time frame. When the rental period ends, the renter must buy (exercise the lease option) or forfeit the property. The tenant usually pays a rental premium that goes to the downpayment.

What is a lease option investment—and how does it work with a self-directed IRA?

A lease option investment is between a property owner and an investor—and is gaining popularity as a self-directed real estate investment.

The self-directed IRA (the investor) pays a monthly amount to the property owner, who retains responsibility for the mortgage. The terms are agreed upon in advance by both parties—in this case, the monthly amount and length of time (although other factors such as responsibility for repairs and maintenance or utility payments should be considered). The investor can extend the lease to a different tenant who pays the rent (which covers the monthly rental cost). As a self-directed investment, here’s how it works:

A. The account owner enters an agreement with the property owner that stipulates all relevant terms of the lease option.
B. The self-directed IRA makes monthly payments to the property owner.
C. The account owner finds a third-party tenant for the property.
D. The renter makes monthly payments to the IRA.
E. The retirement account sees positive cash flow when a renter pays more on the lease than the amount agreed-to by the investor and property owner.

NOTE: The tenant may not be a disqualified individual; this will create a prohibited transaction and puts the tax-advantaged status of the self-directed IRA in danger.

Optioning a property

When investors option a property, they make a relatively small upfront investment and decide later if they want to exercise the option and cash out the seller.

• The property is not acquired directly at the start. According to the contract signed between parties, the investor (self-directed IRA) may purchase the property at a set price within a specified time. For example, after the one-year lease period expires, the investor (IRA) may purchase the property for X dollars.
• In the meantime, the investor can lease the property and the self-directed IRA earns tax-advantaged cash flow during the option period.
• The investor may also choose to assign (sell) the option to another party for a profit. For example:
o Sam enters a lease option arrangement with a property owner and puts down a small “option consideration” from his IRA; this is a non-refundable upfront payment made to the landlord to secure the right to purchase the property during the lease term.
o The IRA rents the property from the owner for a certain monthly amount for a year.
o Sam finds a tenant who pays rent to the IRA (at more than what Sam pays the owner).
o At some point, the tenant negotiates with Sam (on behalf of his IRA) to sell/assign her the option. This gives the tenant the ability to purchase the property directly from the original owner, using the option Sam sold to her, and to do so at less than fair market value.
o Sam’s IRA earned positive cash flow every month from the rent and much more from the assignment of the option.

Building retirement wealth through lease option and subject to strategies

These real estate investment strategies can be combined to build more wealth. For example:

• The self-directed IRA purchases a subject to property and
simultaneously gets a lease option tenant. The deposit paid for the deal can be recouped from the lease option deposit—a wash at worst and a gain when the deposit paid by the tenant is more than what the IRA paid out.
• The IRA earns passive income when monthly rental payments coming into the account are higher than the monthly mortgage payments going out
• Selling the property to a tenant buyer at a higher price than the contracted purchase price at the start of the deal.

Another great investing option: a self-directed IRA at Next Generation

Comprehensive account administration, investor education, and excellent client service are three big reasons why self-directed investors have trusted Next Generation for 20 years. If you have a question about rental lease options or other real estate-related investments (or any other alternative asset these plans allow), contact us at 888.857.8058 or NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com. You can also schedule a complimentary educational session for additional insights into self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy.

Next Generation Trust Shares Insights Into Investing in Equipment Leasing Through a Self-Directed IRA

CEO Jaime Raskulinecz Explains How to Include Equipment Leases as an Alternative Asset in a Self-Directed Retirement Plan

ROSELAND, NJ, August 22, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — Investing in equipment leases is among the many alternative assets allowed in a self-directed IRA, as explained in a recent article by Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation.

The article explains different ways to make these investments, which are growing in popularity as banks and large financial institutions leave the equipment leasing sector—creating space for these assets to be held within a self-directed retirement plan.

The equipment leasing realm services clients in the manufacturing, trucking and logistics, construction, and professional businesses.

“Owners of self-directed IRAs can use funds in their accounts to invest in equipment leasing funds or purchase the physical equipment and lease it directly to businesses. In the latter scenario, the plan effectively becomes the equipment broker,” said Raskulinecz, whose firm specializes in full account administration and asset custody for self-directed plans.

The mechanics of self-directed equipment leasing investments

Unlike equipment financing, a form of debt financing, equipment leasing programs use operating lease structures that define the arrangement between parties. This agreement is essentially a contract that permits the lessee to use the asset without conveying ownership rights.

• If the self-directed IRA has invested in the physical asset, the plan owns it. Therefore, like any self-directed transaction (and leasing business), the account owner is responsible for vetting potential lessees and creating the lease terms.
• If the IRA invests in shares of an equipment leasing fund, it takes an equity position in the entity. The fund purchases specific equipment and then leases it to a business that needs it. The business pays a monthly lease payment on the equipment just as it would to a direct investor (the self-directed IRA).

“As with many alternative assets, equipment leasing provides consistent passive income through fixed lease payments, with reliable, tax-advantaged cash flow throughout the lease’s operating period,” said Raskulinecz. “Plus, including this asset creates retirement portfolio diversification as the taxpayer also builds a hedge against stock market volatility.”

Like any self-directed investment, Raskulinecz and her team strongly recommend that investors conduct thorough due diligence before sending investment instructions and that they are comfortable making their own investment decisions. More details about equipment lease investments are in the full article at https://shorturl.at/5jZ7x.

More information about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy and about Next Generation is at www.NextGenerationTrust.com.

About Next Generation

Founded on the philosophy that every person should have control over their retirement plans, Next Generation educates consumers and professionals about self-directed retirement plans and nontraditional investments, a strategy at one time reserved only for the very wealthy. Next Generation Services provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support, and its sister company, Next Generation Trust Company, acts as custodian for all accounts. The neutral third-party professionals at Next Generation expertly guide clients and their trusted advisors as part of their white glove, personalized service for a seamless transaction experience from start to finish. For more information, visit www.NextGenerationTrust.com, or contact Next Generation at 888.857.8058 or NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com.

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Investing in Equipment Leasing Through a Self-Directed IRA

Lease options are among the many alternative assets allowed in self-directed IRAs. Real estate lease-to-buy arrangements are popular; but did you know you can include equipment leasing in your retirement plan?

Historically, local banks and large national financial institutions had a prominent stake in the equipment leasing realm to service manufacturing, trucking and logistics, construction, and other types of clients. However, some have left the sector, creating an attractive asset class for private equity and other investors—including those with self-directed IRAs.

You can use funds in your self-directed IRA to make this investment in two ways: invest in equipment leasing funds or purchase the physical equipment and lease it directly to businesses (in effect, the plan becomes the equipment broker).

 

How does equipment leasing work?

Unlike equipment financing, which is a form of debt financing (a loan payable at X percentage for Y months or years), equipment leasing programs use operating lease structures that define the arrangement between parties. The operating agreement is essentially a contract that permits the lessee to use the asset without conveying ownership rights.

 

Equipment types for self-directed investment

All types of businesses use equipment of some kind—large or small, heavy or light. There are plenty of investment opportunities if you want to include equipment leasing in a self-directed IRA. Here are some examples across various industries:

 

Benefits of investing in equipment leasing

As with many alternative assets, equipment leasing provides consistent passive income through fixed lease payments. The self-directed IRA gets reliable, tax-advantaged cash flow throughout the operating period of the lease. Keep in mind that if the leased equipment requires maintenance or repair, those expenses flow through the IRA.

If the equipment is in good working order at the end of the lease period and the agreement has a clause that allows the lessee to purchase the asset at that time, the retirement plan will receive additional funds (at a profit for the investor). Or the account owner may choose to lease the equipment to another party, ensuring further positive cash flow on the investment.

Leased assets offer portfolio diversification and a hedge against stock market volatility (and inflation), as the lease is not correlated with market performance. There is also potential for high returns, depending on the equipment and current market and sector conditions.

 

Considerations in equipment leasing arrangements

Bear in mind that the equipment’s value may depreciate over time—which may affect one’s tax situation for good or bad—or that the lessee may stop making payments.

If you are investing in an equipment leasing fund, be sure you understand the ground rules. Some funds require investors to hold shares for the life of the fund (which could be longer than a typical direct leasing arrangement), prohibiting them from selling those shares.

Therefore, it is important to understand this asset class, conduct your full due diligence regarding the investment, and as we often recommend, consult with a trusted advisor before diving in.

 

Need more information? Next Generation is here to help.

Equipment leasing is growing in popularity as an alternative asset in general and can be a great way to diversify a self-directed retirement portfolio. As a firm committed to investor education, we offer a complimentary educational session to help owners of self-directed IRAs get answers to their questions about this retirement wealth-building strategy—and the many investment options these plans allow. You can also contact our helpful team at NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com or 888.857.8058 during regular business hours.

Young HNW Investors Prefer Alternative Assets High-net-worth individuals under age 44 are choosing more nontraditional investments for their retirement portfolios

A recent study by Bank of America revealed that investors under age 44 prefer to invest in alternative assets. The 2024 Bank of America Private Bank Study of Wealthy Americans surveyed high-net-worth (HNW) individuals with at least $3 million in assets. One must have at least $1 million in investable assets to be considered a high-net-worth individual.

Unlike their older counterparts in the Gen X and baby boomer cohorts, nearly three-quarters of millennial and Gen Z respondents said that traditional stocks and bonds will not provide above-average investment returns in today’s environment. The younger HNW investors said they prefer real estate, crypto and digital assets, private equity, and direct investments into companies. They also prefer to invest in companies that focus on positive social impact.

Among this investor group, 93% said they are likely to make more investments in alternative assets in the coming years over publicly traded investments. (Note: although this group favors less exposure in the traditional stocks and bonds than older investors, those surveyed do still hold these assets as part of their portfolio mix with 47% for ages 21-43 vs. 74% for ages 44+).

Given that the younger investing generation has grown up during cycles of severe market downturn after the events of 9/11, the Great Recession, and the pandemic, it might not be that surprising that confidence in traditional markets is less enthusiastic among them. Millennials came of age during a 2.5-year bear market from 2000 to 2002 and then saw the 50% collapse in stock prices a few years later (2008-2009).

 

Growing wealth among young HNW investors through self-direction

Given the preference for including alternative assets within their portfolios—and blessed with investment time horizon than Generation X and baby boomer investors—the Gen Z and millennial HNW investors today can start crafting a healthy financial future through self-direction.

As noted above and as we wrote about last year in this blog article, many HNW investors are including alternative assets within their portfolios. These individuals understand these are long-term investments through which to build wealth (given that as a group, they have less need for highly liquid assets), that returns are not correlated with the stock market, and that those returns have the potential to outperform traditional investments.

Rather than be limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, investors can include private equity, commercial real estate and real estate-related assets, precious metals, royalties, and so many more non-publicly traded assets within a self-directed IRA. And with high net worth available to invest in what they already know and understand, it’s not surprising that wealthy investors (of any age) are including these alternative assets in their self-directed retirement plans.

 

White glove service for discerning investors of all generations from Next Generation

High-net-worth individuals with significant investable assets may also expect a higher level of service when it comes to their financial institutions. At Next Generation, all our clients are treated to exceptional service and attention—from the human beings who answer our phones to our resources for investor education.

Our team takes the time to explain the many options and benefits of self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy and provides tools to streamline the transaction process as much as possible—from opening a self-directed IRA to transmitting investment instructions to completing the transaction. We also provide both administration and asset custody for our clients’ accounts for additional convenience.

 

If you’d like to learn more about working with Next Generation as your self-directed IRA administrator or if you have questions about specific alternative assets, we invite you to schedule a complimentary educational session with one of our team members, register for an upcoming webinar (or peruse our webinar library; or contact us at NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com or 888.857.8058

Jaime Raskulinecz of Next Generation Shares Insights About Using a Self-Directed IRA to Invest in Distressed Commercial Property

Owners of self-directed IRAs can invest in distressed and other commercial real estate to diversify their retirement plans by including this alternative asset

ROSELAND, NJ, July 26, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — From suburban office parks to metropolitan office buildings to shopping malls, a lot of distressed commercial property is available on the market today. Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation Trust Company, said that the work-from-home and online shopping trends contributed to the emerging decline of commercial property tenancy pre-COVID and that the trend accelerated greatly during and after the pandemic.

“These factors have left commercial property owners with real estate ripe for investment by other parties—including investors with self-directed IRAs,” said Raskulinecz, whose firm provides account administration and custodial services for self-directed retirement plans.

She added that declining asset valuations and transaction volume have also contributed to the growing pool of distressed commercial properties in the U.S., as have loans that are facing maturity, pointing to a Wall Street Journal report that over $2.2 trillion in commercial mortgages is scheduled to mature by the end of 2027.

State of the U.S. commercial property market
In a recent blog article on her firm’s website, Raskulinecz cited compelling statistics regarding the state of commercial real estate in the U.S. today. Among them:

• Offices comprised 41% of the distressed sector’s value in 2023.
• By the end of 2023, the market value of distressed commercial properties was nearly $86B.
• The pool of potentially distressed properties was $234.6B at the end of 2023 with the multifamily market representing $67.3B and offices $54.7B.
• A CoStar report cited increasing delinquency rates among office building owners, from .57% in January 2023 to 6.28% in January 2024—the longest period of increasing delinquency rates since 2019.

“This all sounds dire for commercial property owners, but the current environment lays the foundation for savvy investors interested in commercial real estate, an alternative asset allowed in a self-directed IRA,” said Raskulinecz. “Real estate provides a long-term investment with returns derived through asset appreciation and the potential rental income from investment properties.”

In a recent Forbes Finance Council article, Raskulinecz shared information about investing in various types of commercial real estate using a self-directed IRA. The asset class includes office buildings, multifamily properties, warehouses and industrial properties, self-storage facilities, strip malls and shopping centers, and hotels.

“As with all self-directed investments, the income and expenses related to the assets flow through the account to avoid self-dealing, which will create a prohibited transaction and cause the account to lose its tax-advantaged status,” explained Raskulinecz. Next Generation executes the transactions and has custody of the assets on behalf of its clients.

A full explanation of how real estate investments are conducted in a self-directed IRA is available in the blog article and on the Next Generation website. To learn more about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy, visit www.NextGenerationTrust.com.

About Next Generation

Founded on the philosophy that every person should have control over their retirement plans, Next Generation educates consumers and professionals about self-directed retirement plans and nontraditional investments, a strategy at one time reserved only for the very wealthy. Next Generation Services provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support, and its sister company, Next Generation Trust Company, acts as custodian for all accounts. The neutral third-party professionals at Next Generation expertly guide clients and their trusted advisors as part of their white glove, personalized service for a seamless transaction experience from start to finish. For more information, visit www.NextGenerationTrust.com, or contact Next Generation at 888.857.8058 or NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com.

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Next Generation Celebrates 20th Anniversary as Administrator and Custodian for Self-Directed Retirement Plans

Company Was Founded by CEO Jaime Raskulinecz to Help More Investors Diversify Their Portfolios By Including Non-Publicly Traded Alternative Assets Within Their Retirement Plans

ROSELAND, NJ, July 15, 2024 /24-7PressRelease/ — The team at Next Generation, a full-service administrator and custodian for self-directed retirement plans, is celebrating the firm’s 20th anniversary this year, reflecting on a history of growth since its founding by CEO Jaime Raskulinecz in 2014.

Raskulinecz and her team have guided clients through 20 years of market fluctuations, including the Great Recession in 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic. As she points out, self-directed investors, whose retirement portfolios include alternative assets, have been better positioned to weather the economic storms because their nontraditional investments are not correlated with stock market performance.

“I had a vision 20 years ago to create a platform for more people to invest in alternative assets they know and understand, and want to include in their retirement plans,” noted Raskulinecz. “I am proud of the growth we’ve achieved and celebrate my team for helping bring us to this significant anniversary.”

Unlike typical brokerage accounts that limit investments to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, self-directed IRAs, HSAs, ESAs, Solo 401k’s and other plans enable investors to diversify their portfolios by including a broad array of non-publicly traded alternative assets within their plans. These include real estate, precious metals, private equity, mortgages, secured and unsecured notes, private placements, royalties, and many more.

“Many people are already investing in these asset classes outside of their retirement plans and may not realize they can build tax-advantaged retirement wealth by including them within a self-directed IRA,” said Raskulinecz, who founded the company out of her desire to include real estate investments within her retirement plan.

20 years of milestones, education and service excellence

Since its start in 2014 as a third-party administrator of self-directed IRAs and other plans, Next Generation has grown to approximately $700 million in assets under custody. In 2017, seeing the need to enhance client convenience, Raskulinecz established Next Generation Trust Company (a regulated financial institution chartered in South Dakota); the sister firm provides custodial services, bringing both sides of account management under one umbrella.

With client education a top priority, Next Generation offers webinars on various alternative investments and complimentary educational sessions for investors who wish to know more about self-direction as a retirement strategy. Next Generation is also active in several REIAs (real estate investment associations), as real estate and real estate-related assets are still among the most popular asset classes for self-directed investors.

While personnel changes have occurred over the past two decades, several employees are marking five or more years with Next Generation in 2024. They are Business Development Specialist Jack Malpass (five years), Client Service Supervisor Emma Olson (six years), Director of Finance Karen Jung (eight years), Operations Manager Kyle Schickram (10 years) and Compliance Manager Bill Wittler (11 years). More recent hires in the past three years are Assistant Client Service Supervisor Lisa DeSimone, and Robert Mathisen and Pamela Rodriguez, client service associates.

“Our team is dedicated to always providing the highest level of client service,” said Raskulinecz. “For example, rather than having a faceless auto attendant, our phones are always answered during normal business hours by a staff member who is well-trained and credentialed in our space.”

Raskulinecz also emphasizes professional growth for her team as an extension of that client service mission and her commitment to their career development.

• In 2020, she and Malpass, Wittler, Schickram, Olson and DeSimone earned their Self-Directed IRA Professional (SDIP) designations from the Retirement Industry Trust Association (RITA). This signifies that they attained comprehensive training in IRA alternative investments, prohibited transactions, UBTI, anti-fraud measures and disclosures; and demonstrated expertise in IRA documentation, reporting requirements, eligibility and contribution requirements, and IRA portability and distributions.
• Schickram, Wittler and Olson are also Certified IRA Services Professionals (CISP).
• Earlier this year, Wittler earned an internationally recognized certification as an anti-money laundering specialist from ACAMS, the Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists.

Over the years, Next Generation has added services to its core business. It now has special services for advisors and advisory firms that offer advice on alternative investments, a robust platform and services for automatic rollover accounts and terminating pension plans, and qualified custody services for private funds.

“We are known in the industry for our unsurpassed customer service that extends beyond our existing clients to anyone who reaches out for more education or information, as well as to all our business associates and referral sources,” said Raskulinecz.

For more information about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy, visit www.NextGenerationTrust.com.

About Next Generation

Founded on the philosophy that every person should have control over their retirement plans, Next Generation educates consumers and professionals about self-directed retirement plans and nontraditional investments, a strategy at one time reserved only for the very wealthy. Next Generation Services provides comprehensive account administration and transaction support, and its sister company, Next Generation Trust Company, acts as custodian for all accounts. The neutral third-party professionals at Next Generation expertly guide clients and their trusted advisors as part of their white glove, personalized service for a seamless transaction experience from start to finish. For more information, visit www.NextGenerationTrust.com, or contact Next Generation at 888.857.8058 or NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com.

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Saving for Retirement? Make Sure You Save for Long-Term Care.

If you’ve been saving diligently for a comfortable retirement, our hats are off to you! You can look forward to traveling, new hobbies, all those books you want to read, volunteering your time, and other ways you envision the perfect retirement.

One item you might not be considering is potential healthcare needs; are those factored into your retirement budget? Specifically, the costs of long-term care?

While medical insurance (Medicare plans, supplemental health plans) and funds from your health savings account cover many healthcare costs, the Nationwide Retirement Institute’s Long-Term Care Survey suggest concern among many U.S. adults about how they will handle the high costs of long-term care, should they need it.

 

Types of long-term care expenses

The National Institute on Aging outlines several long-term care models comprising home-based care by informal caregivers (family and friends) or by paid caregivers (nurses, home health aides, therapists, other professionals); and community and residential care such as adult day care and senior centers, assisted living residences, and nursing homes. Aside from personal care support that aging adults may require, there could be expenses associated with medical equipment, medication assistance, meal programs, housekeeping, and of course, the cost of living in an assisted living or nursing home environment.

 

Concerns regarding caregiving costs

With many older Americans experiencing the conflict of trying to manage their retirement goals while juggling the responsibilities of caring for elderly relatives, it’s no wonder the survey revealed that 40% of U.S. adults are worried that long-term care costs (not necessarily their own) may keep them from retiring. Some statistics from the survey point to concerns about caregiving expenses:

• Forty-three percent are concerned that those costs will prevent them from retiring.
• Fifty-six percent are willing to take a loan from their retirement account to pay for a relative’s caregiving expenses.
• Forty-two percent reported they’ll probably have to use funds they’d earmarked for their children if they ever have to take on caregiving duties.
• Average monthly out-of-pocket expenses are $338 to pay for co-pays, medications, and transportation.

Additionally, only 17% of respondents had discussed long-term care planning with a financial professional and just 20% had purchased long-term care insurance (with many unclear or making wrong assumptions about the actual vs. presumed cost of those premiums). You can read the full survey results here.

Bear in mind that Medicare does not cover assisted living or nursing home expenses, and depending on your insurance plan, you may or may not have any coverage for paid care in the home. Estimates of how much a person needs in retirement to cover “ordinary” medical expenses are in the $150-160,000 range so health care—especially long-term care—is a critical budget line item!

 

Enhance your long-term care coverage—boost retirement savings with a self-directed IRA

You’re already saving for retirement; why not turbocharge your account and prepare for long-term care costs through self-direction?

If you are comfortable making your own investment decisions, doing the research and due diligence about investments, and already know and understand alternative assets, you can include these in your self-directed IRA. You’ll build a more diverse portfolio and a hedge against market volatility with non-publicly traded alternative assets that are not correlated with stock market performance.

Real estate, precious metals, private equity, commodities, unsecured and secured loans, and more are all alternative assets that are allowed within self-directed plans. In fact, if you’re already investing in these outside of your existing retirement plan, you’re already a step ahead!

TIP: You can also self-direct an HSA and after you enroll in Medicare, you can use the funds in the health savings account for non-medical expenses (although you be taxed on those distributions).

 

Give long-term care a run for its money

Open and fund a self-directed IRA and/or HSA today. At Next Generation, we make it easy, with starter kits that walk you through all the steps, and a helpful team of professionals available by phone at 888.857.8058 or email at NewAccounts@NextGenerationTrust.com. We also encourage you to schedule a complimentary educational session to learn more about self-direction as a retirement wealth-building strategy.