Who Is an IRA Trustee Or Custodian?
There are many IRA custodians that provide traditional investment options; however, if you prefer self-directed investing with alternative assets such as real estate, private equity, precious metals or notes/loans then look for one with experience with these asset classes.
Self-directed custodians understand all facets of investing, from acquisition to administration and tax reporting, which will allow them to avoid potential pitfalls associated with these investments.
The Custodian
Custodian is the term given to financial institutions that take physical possession of investor’s financial assets. Most commonly associated with individual retirement accounts (IRA), this can also include other types of investment accounts such as 401(k).
Custodians typically do not invest or evaluate the securities within a retirement account of an individual; instead, they have been authorized by the Internal Revenue Service to “custody” these investments and must adhere to any regulations set by it.
When selecting a custodian for your IRA, carefully evaluate their selection of investments as well as any fees they charge. Annual account maintenance fees, load fees charged on mutual funds and trade commissions may differ across custodians; it is wise to shop around. Furthermore, look for one who provides support for nontraditional or alternative investments like real estate and privately held companies as these often offer higher returns than traditional marketable securities.
The Administrator
Administrators take care in handling behind-the-scene tasks such as tax reporting, quarterly statements and document processing. Additionally, they’re accountable for creating new accounts or amending existing ones as needed; calculating fees; providing customer service; as well as complying with IRS compliance standards.
Self-directed custodians serve a growing need among retirement account holders who wish to invest in non-prohibited alternative assets on their own accord, including real estate, private companies and precious metals. Although these custodians typically don’t provide financial advice or assess quality of these investments they do provide an easy means of investing.
When searching for a custodian, look for one with a diverse selection of investment options, excellent customer service and low fees and user-friendly website. Also consider finding one who specializes in self-directed IRAs as they will understand the IRS prohibited investments rules to avoid violating them and incurring costly penalties or lost returns due to illegal transactions. Lastly, ensure they offer checkbook control which allows investors to invest without custodian consent or transaction fees.
The Facilitator
Self-directed custodians must ensure there is a distinct distinction between administrative duties and custodial responsibilities, including no advice or recommendations regarding investments held in an IRA account.
Custodians may include banks or financial institutions (credit unions, savings & loan associations and brokerage firms), but may also include non-bank trust companies regulated by state laws. Custodians must first receive approval from the Internal Revenue Service before becoming assets custodians regulated by their state banking commissioner or the Office of the Comptroller of Currency or the Federal Reserve.
Due to their substantial revenue streams derived from fees associated with marketable securities, it makes sense for most custodians to focus on providing marketable investments for IRAs. Some specialized custodians may allow alternative investments such as real estate or private equity for which additional fees may apply – although still required to fulfill administrative functions similar to any other custodians.
The Fiduciary
Every IRA account, regardless of its type, requires a custodian. These entities typically include banks, credit unions, savings and loan associations and trust companies; custodians ensure safekeeping for investments except precious metals held within an IRA account and assist with record-keeping, filing paperwork for these accounts as well as record keeping/filing processes and filing.
Custodians typically do not provide investment advice to IRA investors; however, some are now providing investors with self-directed IRA accounts (SDIRA).
When selecting an IRA trustee or custodian, it’s crucial to read consumer reviews and consult agencies such as the Better Business Bureau to ascertain any issues or complaints against that custodian. Furthermore, verifying information provided – such as prices and asset values – within an IRA custodian account can also be vital – this is particularly pertinent when holding alternative investments that may be hard to value.
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