The Hybrid Real Estate Professional How to Build Wealth with Self-Directed IRAs | Kaaren Hall on Real Estate & Retirement
In this episode, I sit down with Kaaren Hall, the CEO and founder of UDirect IRA Services, to uncover the truth about self-directed IRAs — and why the idea of "passive income" might be misleading.
We dive deep into how self-directed retirement accounts actually work, what you can and can’t invest in, and how real estate investors are using them to take back control of their financial future. Kaaren shares decades of experience in real estate, mortgage origination, and retirement planning — plus how she went from losing everything during the Great Recession to building one of the most respected self-directed IRA companies in the country.
If you're curious about how to invest in real estate, syndications, or private lending tax-free, or you're wondering if a self-directed IRA is right for you — this episode is packed with actionable insights.
Timestamps-
00:00 Introduction
02:26 The Great Recession and New Beginnings
04:57 Understanding Self-Directed IRAs
13:24 The Importance of Active Investment Management
20:28 Types of Self-Directed Accounts
23:59 Exploring Different Types of IRAs
24:52 Clarifying Solo 401k and SEP IRA
26:27 New Roth Contributions to SEP and Simple IRAs
28:18 Responsibilities of Self-Directed IRAs
30:40 Opening and Funding a Self-Directed IRA
32:52 Due Diligence and Fraud Prevention
39:32 The Importance of Diversified Retirement Planning
43:13 Connecting with U Direct IRA Services