EP 254: Avoiding Costly IRA Mistakes: Prohibited Transactions Explained with Kaaren Hall

Kaaren Hall is the founder and CEO of uDirect IRA Services, LLC, a leading provider of self-directed IRA accounts since 2009. With over two decades of experience in real estate, mortgage lending, and property management (and especially Self-Directed IRAs) Kaaren has empowered thousands of people to take control of their retirement funds and invest in alternative assets, such as real estate, private lending, precious metals and more.

Her expertise in self-directed retirement accounts has made her a sought-after speaker, and she has been a featured panelist and presenter at industry-leading conferences, including BiggerPockets’ BPCON22, 23 & 24.

Kaaren is also the founder of OCREIA (Orange County Real Estate Investors Association), where she fosters a vibrant community of real estate investors through education and networking since 2012. 

Adding to her accolades, Kaaren is now the author of the newly published Self-Directed IRA Investing: A BiggerPockets Guide, the definitive resource for investors looking to unlock the power of self-directed IRAs to build wealth. Published by BiggerPockets Publishing, this comprehensive guide combines actionable insights, real-world examples, and Kaaren’s extensive industry knowledge to help investors confidently navigate the world of self-directed retirement accounts.

Beyond her professional achievements, Kaaren’s entrepreneurial journey has enabled her to support meaningful charitable giving, and inspire others to take control of their financial futures. She also serves on the Board of Directors for The Council on Aging Southern California as well as the board for RITA (the Retirement Industry Trust Association), where she continues to advocate for transparency and education in the retirement industry.

Buy her book for $9.99 - https://store.biggerpockets.com/products/self-directed-ira-investing-a-biggerpockets-guide

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Self-Directed IRAs

03:18 Market Trends and Investment Opportunities

06:22 Karen Hall's Journey to CEO

09:31 Differentiating UDirect IRA Services

12:17 Understanding Self-Directed IRAs

15:09 Prohibited Transactions and Compliance

18:04 Checkbook Control vs. Custodian Management

20:44 Navigating UBIT and UDFI Taxes

23:33 Fair Market Value Requirements

24:25 Understanding Fair Market Value in Self-Directed IRAs

28:26 The Importance of Contributions and Retirement Planning

30:13 Managing Idle Cash in Your IRA

31:23 Educational Resources for Passive Investors

34:26 Due Diligence for Passive Investors

36:11 Bucket List Achievements and Future Aspirations

37:34 Investing in Boutique Hotels

38:57 Connecting with uDirect IRA

40:11 outro

RANDY SMITH

Connect with our host, Randy Smith, for more educational content or to discuss investment opportunities in the real estate syndication space at www.impactequity.net, https://www.linkedin.com/in/randallsmith or on Instagram at @randysmithinvestor

Keywords

self-directed IRA, passive investing, UBIT, UDFI, market trends, investment strategies, retirement planning, fair market value, prohibited transactions, educational resources