I recently spoke with fee-only financial advisor Bob Wilgo, who was complaining about the hype of Roth conversions and why people should not convert from a traditional IRA to a tax-free Roth. Here are his top 3 reasons when he advises clients:

1. The tax bite is too big. Does it make sense to convert? The number one question you should ask is: Where are you are going to get the money to pay the tax owed today for the benefit of tax-free growth tomorrow? With the economic downturn, people simply don’t have the money to pay the taxes up front or even over the next two years.

2. Retirement is too close. The problem here is it could take a long time to recoup the tax paid today for tax-free growth of a Roth. If you’re close to retiring, converting does not make sense.

3. Tax brackets change in retirement. Chances are that you will be in a lower tax bracket when you start taking distributions out of your IRA. Very few people have as much income in retirement as they do in the height of their working years.

The list above contains a few things to consider before you do a Roth conversion. Either way, you should consider a self-directed IRA—whether you are investing with tax-deferred or tax-free dollars—to acquire alternative investments that you know, understand, and have control over. For more information on how a self-directed IRA works, visit www.theentrustgroup.com.

We hope to see you this weekend at the special investor event in Atlanta, Georgia. Quincy Long, of Entrust Texas will join Dyches Boddiford, investor extraordinaire; and Dave Worley, a top accounting professional, for a one-of-a-kind presentation on everything you need to know about IRAs and LLCs. See you in Atlanta!

With the economy what it is, the traditional investment markets have scared many consumers and they now sit on cash instead of stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and other categories. In this low interest rate environment, it is impossible to grow a nest egg just with a bank savings account. Diversification and control are once again becoming popular, but there are many unanswered questions as to how to take advantage of one’s investments.

Consider using a part of your IRA to diversify into an investment you choose directly. You might say to yourself, how do I know what I can buy with an IRA? How much work will this be for me? How do I keep track of how that IRA investment is doing? What do I need to do in order to sell that investment if it’s something I want out of? Can I really do investments in my IRA? My financial advisor said this is not legal, is that true? I am sure there are many other questions or concerns you have if you’re not familiar with self-directed IRA investing.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to learn more about how to invest your IRA in alternative assets that you can control. The Entrust Group is the nation’s largest third party administrator of self-directed IRAs. According to Hubert Bromma, CEO of The Entrust Group, the unique benefit of working with Entrust is their local office presence and expertise in your marketplace so you, the investor, have a place to go to get educated and become comfortable with this concept.

Is self-directing an IRA for everyone? I believe that we all must be responsible for our own financial future. No one cares as much about your money as you do. I believe we owe it to ourselves to take advantage of any opportunity that will help us accumulate wealth and financial freedom for ourselves. The choice of course is up to you. If you are interested in learning more, visit Entrust at www.theentrustgroup.com and find someone you can contact to get more information, attend classes, and take control!

What is this? A new book out by Gregory Salsbury on rethinking retirement in the new economy looks interesting. He discusses both the psychological and financial decisions based on focus group interviews he conducted with pre-retirees. He shares some scary statistics, which once again, reinforces (in my opinion) the need to take control of our IRAs. Pick up this book then call Entrust or visit at www.theentrustgroup.com.

Join Entrust California on September 10, 2010 at a special presentation titled “Intelligent IRA Investing.” Seek answers from IRA experts, an attorney, and experienced investors who have used their IRA to invest in the cash flow of their choice. Interested in learning more? Visit the website, www.entrustcalifornia.com/investor-workshop, and get more information today!

We all have great imaginations. I, for one, imagine the terrible feeling of not having the money to take care of myself in old age. I have seen that scenario unfold firsthand with friends and family. I never want to have to ask my kids for financial help as I age, yet I think all of us have some fear of running out of money before our time is up.

What can we do to stay on top of our financial future? Especially since everything published these days states that a healthy woman could live well into her 80’s. The number one area we have control over is our IRA. We need all of the money we can get in our IRA, and we need it to last us. If you are age 50 or over, take advantage of catch-up contributions you can make to your plan. Fund the max, whether it’s with an IRA or a 401 (k). No excuses, it’s a forced savings plan.

But don’t let it just sit there, your retirement plan needs investing. With a self-directed IRA you can invest in alternative assets that you control, that make sense in today’s market. Assets such as real estate, precious metals, or lending money (to name just a few) are areas you can invest with your tax-deferred or tax-free account. A self-directed IRA is a personal choice IRA where you can freely say: “I want some say over what my investments should be.” Is this you? Is a self-directed IRA for everyone? Find out at www.theentrustgroup.com and start building your financial freedom today.

There appears to be a lot of misinformation and misunderstanding about investing in gold. Whether the investment is made in a self-directed IRA, which offers a tax-deferred or tax-free acquisition, or in a personal portfolio, an investor should know the main strategies and types of gold investing before they invest. Below are some typical strategies for you to investigate before you buy.

Gold Bullion

A number of companies, such as GoldMoney, offer the ability to buy gold directly, which is then stored in vaults. Many of these companies maintain vaults in Zurich and England, catering to investors who are fearful that the U.S. government will one day confiscate gold as it did in 1993.

Gold Mining Companies

This is a stock purchase in a gold mining company, where you need to watch both the stock itself going up and down, in addition to tracking the fluctuation of gold itself. However, this is a way to get some gold exposure.

Gold Coins

If you believe the world is heading toward an economic collapse, gold coins such as the African Krugerrand or Canadian Maple Leaf may be the only viable currency left to trade. Many investors believe that everyone should hold some gold coins, as dollars will become worthless. Then again, trading cans of tuna may become more valuable too.

Gold ETFs

Investors can buy a stake in real gold through an Exchange-Traded Fund, or ETF. ETFs trade on the stock exchange just like a regular stock, but are backed by real gold that the fund buys at the end of the day.

Anyway you look at it, being a gold bug could be a good thing, as part of one’s portfolio strategy. You should know what you are buying, the type of gold, and understand the risks before you buy. The choice as always is yours.

As retirement looms, your nest egg is by far your biggest worry, followed by health insurance. Maintaining financial stability is key to a comfortable retirement. With a truly self-directed IRA you have the ability to invest in what you believe is valuable today, which will help you achieve your financial tomorrow. Whether it’s real estate, precious metals, wind power, water rights, or any other cash flowing or appreciating asset, you can avoid the anxiety of losing control by having a say in what your IRA is investing in today, and avoid the shrinking pensions most others have to face. For more information on the truly self-directed IRA visit www.theentrustgroup.com.

I recently had dinner with a well-known CPA in Philadelphia, and I asked him how he was investing his own money. I’m always looking for good ideas, but wish to be in control, so I like learning the secrets of professionals’ own financial success.

Basically, the CPA said he has his money in laddered CDs with different maturities, because he believes inflation is on the horizon. He wants to be liquid so he can take advantage of rising interest rates. He also said he has real estate in his retirement plan, through a self-directed IRA with Entrust, which he invested in a country in Central America that he hopes to retire to one day.

The CPA ended our conversation by saying: “I don’t know what to suggest to anyone who is looking for safety, security, and growth. Everything is so uncertain. I guess if you have a system that works for you, stay the course.”

People rely on professional guidance every day. However, when I ask a professional what they suggest people do, the truth of the matter is that they don’t always know. I guess my thoughts of never letting others vote on my money still hold true.

To learn how you can self-direct your IRA to acquire alternative investments like real estate, go to www.theentrustgroup.com.

I always look at this day as the first of many barbecues, and the beginning of summer. I hope all of you are enjoying a day off with family and friends.