That means you're not limited to a limited selection of funds chosen by a financial advisor or your employer. Instead, you can buy stocks, bonds, individual options, IRA in Gold and even bet on orange juice futures, if you so wish. Available as a traditional IRA (to which tax-deductible contributions are made) or Roth IRA (from which tax-exempt distributions are obtained), self-directed IRAs are best suited for experienced investors who are already familiar with alternative investments and want to diversify into a tax-advantaged account. In simple terms, a self-directed brokerage account is one where you have full control over how you invest your money, including the option to invest in IRA in Gold. Collectibles include a wide range of items, including antiques, works of art, alcoholic beverages, baseball cards, souvenirs, jewelry, stamps and rare coins (note that this affects the type of gold a self-directed Roth IRA can store).
In short, a self-managed brokerage account is a direct path to the financial markets that allows you to invest in more than just a package of pre-selected funds or stocks. If you want to open a self-directed IRA, you'll need a qualified IRA depositary who specializes in that type of account.
