Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/

In this episode, Mat and Mark dive into one of the most overlooked yet critical aspects of retirement and estate planning—who should be the beneficiary of your IRA? Should it be your spouse? Your kids? Or your trust? They break down the tax implications, legal requirements, and best practices to ensure your wealth is passed on efficiently and securely. With real-life stories and clear action steps, this episode is a must-listen for anyone with a retirement account. 

• 00:00 – Welcome & Why This Topic Matters
• 00:25 – The Common Mistake Most People Make
• 01:02 – Why Trusts Often Get Left Out
• 01:58 – The Life Insurance Horror Story
• 03:19 – Why Beneficiary Designations Rule All
• 04:04 – Tips for Married Couples: Spouse First, Trust Second
• 05:08 – Why a Trust Helps with Minor or At-Risk Children
• 06:08 – Asset Protection & Special Needs Planning
• 06:50 – What Is a See-Through Trust?
• 08:06 – The IRS Rules & Structural Requirements
• 09:40 – Action Items: Audit, Update, Organize
• 11:00 – Wrapping Up: The Power of Being Organized

To get a comprehensive tax and legal plan get to my law firm KKOS Lawyers, https://kkoslawyers.com. 

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

To book a call with an IRA specialist!: https://directedira.com/appointment/

In this episode, Mat and Mark break down the powerful strategy of using a Self-Directed IRA for private money lending. Learn how your retirement account can act like a bank—lending money to real estate investors or businesses, earning interest and points, all while growing tax-free or tax-deferred. 

0:00 - Introduction to Private Lending with a Self-Directed IRA 
1:20 - What is a Self-Directed IRA and How It Works 
3:00 - Retirement Accounts You Can Use for Private Lending 
4:26 - Secured vs. Unsecured Loans – What the Bank Would Do 
6:23 - Debunking Private Lending Myths and Managing Risk 
9:25 - Key Legal Docs: Promissory Note, Deed of Trust, UCC Liens 
11:48 - Should You Lend Through Your IRA or an LLC? 
14:30 - Lending Criteria: Property, Borrower, and Strategy 
18:00 - Common Mistakes in Private Lending and How to Avoid Them 
21:46 - Understanding Loan Terms: Interest, Points, and Payment Structures 
28:26 - Tax-Free and Tax-Deferred Growth in Your Retirement Account 
34:06 - How to Find Private Lending Opportunities and Deal Flow 
36:32 - Balancing Action vs. Analysis – Know Thyself as an Investor 
37:59 - Final Thoughts and Legal Disclaimer  

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

In this podcast, Mat breaks down how he used his retirement account to purchase a real, physical rental property—and how he paid zero taxes on the rental income and six-figure profits when he sold. Most people think their retirement is locked into Wall Street investments, but Mat shows how you can use a Self-Directed IRA to invest in assets you know and trust—like real estate.

 He walks through the exact steps he took, the financial results, and how you can start taking control of your financial future by building wealth outside of traditional investments.

 📚 Want to learn more? Get a copy of The Self-Directed IRA Handbook or schedule a call with the team at DirectedIRA.com.

00:00 – Intro: I Bought This Rental in My IRA

Mat introduces the surprising truth—yes, you can buy a rental property with your IRA or 401(k).

01:36 – Why Real Estate Over the Stock Market?

Explaining why Mat believes real estate provides better returns and tax advantages than stocks.

03:12 – How a Self-Directed IRA Works

An overview of what a Self-Directed IRA is and how it gives you investment control beyond Wall Street.

05:32 – The Exact Strategy I Used

Mat breaks down his real-life example—buying a 3-bed, 2-bath rental in Indianapolis through his retirement account.

07:14 – Setting Up the IRA LLC Structure

How to structure the deal using an IRA-owned LLC for control and liability protection.

10:26 – The Financial Results: Rental Income and Big Gains

Mat shares the numbers—purchase price, rental income, sale price, and the $100K profit he made tax-free.

12:17 – What I Did Next: Private Lending & More Investing

How Mat reinvested the profits into private money lending and new deals.

13:15 – Why You Should Take Control of Your Retirement

The emotional payoff—building a bigger retirement account and creating a life of freedom and choices.

15:09 – Can You Really Do This? Yes! Here’s How to Start

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

In this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, I sat down with Adam Hooper and Ryan Sudek from Sage Investment Group to dive into a high-impact real estate strategy: converting underutilized hotels into naturally affordable housing. We explored how this model delivers strong investor returns while addressing the affordable housing crisis—without relying on government subsidies. With over 20 successful conversions and more in the pipeline, this episode is packed with insights on real estate investing, IRA strategies, and wealth-building opportunities. If you're passionate about doing good while making money, you won't want to miss this conversation.

0:00 - Intro - Real Estate Supply, Demand & Affordability Crisis
0:30 - Meet Sage Investment Group & Their Mission
1:43 - Why Hotels? A Strategic Conversion Model Explained
6:13 - First Hotel Deal Case Study: Tucson Conversion
10:11 - Why Not Office Conversions? Key Challenges
12:05 - Investment Returns Without Sacrificing Impact
15:15 - Deals That Didn’t Work and Why
20:26 - Big Wins: Texas Hotel Acquisitions for Half Price
23:09 - Hotel Industry Distress & The Patel Effect
25:13 - Post-COVID Shifts in Hospitality and Opportunity
27:06 - Using Self-Directed IRAs in Real Estate
30:17 - Evergreen Fund Structure & Diversification Benefits
31:54 - Liquidity & Exiting the Fund
33:08 - 1031 Exchange Strategy Using a 721 UpREIT
36:45 - Active Value Creation vs. Passive Investing
38:06 - Is Now a Good Time to Invest in Real Estate?
40:22 - Supply Forecasting & Conversions Market Potential
44:27 - Personal Motivations & Building Investor Access
48:31 - How M&A Skills Transfer to Real Estate
51:18 - Fund Performance, Notes, and Final Investment Terms
53:59 - How to Learn More & Get Involved

👉 Want to learn more or invest?
Visit sageinvestment.com/IRA for details on how Sage Investment Group helps turn underutilized hotels into high-yield, naturally affordable housing.

📩 Have questions or ready to connect?
Email [email protected] or [email protected]

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

Thinking of opening a Self-Directed IRA? Open an account today https://directedira.com/open-accounts/

In this exclusive live audience podcast, recorded at the Self-Directed IRA Summit, ‪@MarkJKohler‬ and I talk about how powerful the tool of self-directing is. Enjoy as we are accompanied by live attendees going over REAL self-directed investing scenarios.

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

In this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mat Sorensen breaks down one of the most powerful tools for building long-term, tax-free wealth: the Backdoor Roth IRA. Many high-income earners believe they’re ineligible for Roth IRAs due to income limits—but that’s where the backdoor strategy comes in.

Mat walks you through how the Backdoor Roth IRA works in 2025, including the three-step process of contributing to a traditional IRA, making it non-deductible, and then converting it to a Roth. He covers common pitfalls like the pro-rata rule and re-characterization mistakes, explains how to double up contributions for 2024 and 2025, and shares why this strategy remains one of the best-kept secrets in retirement planning—even with ongoing attempts by Congress to shut it down.

Whether you're new to this strategy or need a refresher on the rules for 2025, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence to make it work.

👉 Learn more and get started with your own Backdoor Roth IRA at https://directedira.com/backdoor-roth-ira/

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

Mat Sorensen and Mark J. Kohler are back with another episode of the Directed IRA Podcast—this time answering the most frequently asked questions about self-directed IRAs. Mat, the CEO of Directed IRA, requested this episode himself because he’s tired of hearing the same questions over and over(Cleary we're kidding). So, he and Mark are tackling them head-on in this special "Getting Started" series.

Listeners will get clear answers on what they can invest in, what they should invest in, and the common mistakes to avoid. If you've ever wondered about real estate, private lending, startups, or alternative assets in your IRA, this episode is for you!

Tune in to learn:
✅ What a self-directed IRA actually is
✅ The top 10 most common investment questions
✅ Key IRS restrictions to watch out for
✅ Why investing in what you know is the smartest strategy

For more expert insights, visit DirectedIRA.com.

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

In this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mark Kohler and Mat Sorensen break down the mechanics of partnering your IRA with others in deals. Whether it’s pooling funds from multiple IRAs, combining accounts within a family, or structuring investments to comply with IRS rules, they cover the do’s and don’ts of co-investing. Tune in to learn how to structure partnerships, avoid prohibited transactions, and maximize your self-directed retirement investing strategy.

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

In this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mark and Mat break down how to use your self-directed IRA or 401(k) to invest in private businesses, funds, and startups. We’re not talking about running another business yourself—we’re talking about leveraging your expertise to identify valuable investment opportunities.

Most people think investing with an IRA means buying stocks, but what if you could invest in the next big thing before it goes public? Whether it’s a local business you know has potential or a startup in your industry, using insider knowledge (legally!) can be a game-changer.

We cover:
✅ How investing in private companies differs from public stocks
✅ Why broker-dealers don’t allow this—and how self-directed IRAs give you control
✅ The risks and rewards of private business investments
✅ How a Roth IRA can help you grow wealth tax-free with the right investments

If you’re looking for ways to maximize your retirement returns beyond traditional stocks and mutual funds, this episode is for you.

Head over to DirectedIRA.com now to start your self directing journey! 

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com

Jamison Manwaring joins Mat Sorensen in the podcast to discuss a unique foreclosure deal that Neighborhood Ventures is acquiring. With rising interest rates and lenders tightening their grip, a prime multifamily property in Arcadia, Phoenix, recently went through foreclosure. Originally purchased for $18.25 million, Neighborhood Ventures secured it for $11 million, presenting a significant opportunity. Jamison explains how the property, already 91% occupied and recently renovated, was undervalued due to under-market rents. By strategically increasing rents and optimizing management, they aim to unlock its full potential.

This episode dives into the broader trend of distressed real estate opportunities as lenders force sales after months of extensions. Jamison also breaks down the mechanics of rate caps, why many are expiring, and how investors are using their Self Directed IRA to Invest in this deals.

Learn more about Neighborhood Ventures: https://neighborhood.ventures/

Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/
Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/
Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/

Connect with Mat online:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensen

Websites:
https://directedira.com
https://matsorensen.com
https://kkoslawyers.com
https://mainstreetbusiness.com