Retired.com gives you two ways to invest inside your Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA): buying directly in the app, or submitting an investment direction form. This article explains which assets work each way today, and what's coming next.
Steps / Explanation
There are two paths to make an investment, and the same model sits underneath both: you direct the investment, and Digital Trust, our custodian, holds the asset and handles the custodial recordkeeping and reporting. What differs is how you place the investment.
Two ways to invest
In-app purchasing is the faster path. For the asset types the platform supports directly, you can buy in a few steps inside the Retired.com app, closer to the experience of a mainstream brokerage app. There's no separate paperwork to complete for each purchase.
The Direction of Investment form is the flexible path. An investment direction form is the instruction you submit telling the custodian to fund a specific investment from your IRA's cash balance. Because an SDIRA can hold a wide range of assets, the form lets you invest in almost anything the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) permits — including assets that aren't yet available to buy directly in the app.
At a glance: how you invest in each asset type
Asset type | How you invest today |
Cryptocurrency | Buy or Sell on Retired.com |
Bundles (themed crypto collections) | Buy or Sell on Retired.com |
Stocks | Buy or Sell on Retired.com |
Staking (eligible cryptocurrencies) | In-app, on assets you already hold |
Precious metals | Direction of Investment - Precious Metals form |
Real estate | Direction of Investment form |
Private equity and private placements | Direction of Investment form |
Promissory notes and private lending | Direction of Investment form |
Other IRS-permissible alternative assets | Direction of Investment form |
What's available in the app today
You can buy these directly in the Retired.com app right now:
Cryptocurrency — supported digital assets, bought and held inside your IRA.
Bundles — themed collections of cryptocurrency bought in a single transaction, with automated rebalancing.
Stocks — publicly traded stocks, placed by you like a typical brokerage order.
Staking — for select cryptocurrencies you already hold, you can stake them to potentially earn rewards without selling. See "Staking overview" for eligibility, mechanics, and risk.
Coming soon in the app: direct purchasing of precious metals. Until that ships, you can still hold IRS-eligible metals in your IRA through the investment direction form (see below).
What's available by investment-direction form today
For most other IRS-permissible assets, you invest by submitting an investment direction form. This path is available today and covers, for example:
Real estate
Private equity and private placements
Promissory notes and private lending
Physical precious metals that meet IRS requirements
Other alternative assets an SDIRA is allowed to hold
With this path, you complete the seller's or sponsor's documentation in the name of your IRA, submit the investment direction with supporting documents, and Digital Trust funds the investment from your IRA's cash balance once the paperwork is complete.
One important distinction
What the IRS allows an SDIRA to hold and what you can buy directly in the app today are two different things. The app currently supports crypto, bundles, stocks, and staking on eligible assets; everything else that's eligible is available through the form. If you're not sure whether a specific asset is available — or which path applies — the Service Team can confirm before you start.
Common questions
Can I buy gold or silver in the app right now?
Not yet — direct in-app purchasing of precious metals is coming soon. Today, you can hold IRS-eligible metals in your IRA by submitting an investment direction form. Contact the Service Team for the current process.
Is stock trading available today?
Yes. You can place stock trades directly in the app. You choose and place the trades yourself; Digital Trust holds the assets for your IRA and handles the custodial reporting.
Why are some assets in-app and others by form?
In-app purchasing is available for asset types the platform supports directly today. Everything else that an SDIRA can legally hold is available through the investment direction form, which is why the form covers a much wider range of assets.
Does Retired.com or Digital Trust recommend which of these to buy?
No. Neither Retired.com nor Digital Trust advises on, recommends, or evaluates investments. We recommend consulting a tax advisor or attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Need more support? Contact our Service team
Select "Start a Conversation" from the Chat menu or call us at 1-800-RETIRED