<img src="//bat.bing.com/action/0?ti=5104607&amp;Ver=2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none; visibility: hidden;">

Learning Center

Learning-Center-menu-image-1

Access the largest knowledge base for Self-Directed IRAs. Expand your investor knowledge with articles, whitepapers, practical guides and tons of other educational resources.

About Entrust

teg-symbol-about-entrust-menu-image

For 40 years, The Entrust Group has provided account administration services for self-directed retirement and tax-advantaged plans. Entrust can assist you in purchasing alternative investments with your retirement funds, and administer the buying and selling of assets that are typically unavailable through banks and brokerage firms.

Tap Into the $13 Trillion IRA Market

Raise capital faster by mobilizing your clients’ existing retirement funds.

Many investors believe the funds in their 401(k) or IRA can only be invested in publicly traded securities. This is not true. In fact, the IRS allows investors to channel their tax-advantaged funds into dozens of different asset types, including real estate, private businesses, and private lending. 

As an investment sponsor, you have a unique opportunity. Many of your existing investors or contacts might be interested in redirecting their retirement funds into your offering. All they need is education about the opportunity and a straightforward, effective way to do so. 

That's exactly why we've teamed up with OpenAlt®, an affiliate company under the same ownership as Entrust. 

Their user-friendly offering platform, paired with the industry-leading Entrust Client Portal, provides a seamless funding experience for sponsors and investors alike. 

Here’s How You Can Tap Into Your Clients’ Retirement Funds:

gold-bars

Empower Your Existing Investors to Boost Their Buying Power

By introducing your current investors to self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs), you give them the flexibility to increase their investment in your offering. They gain the potential for tax-advantaged returns and you gain additional capital from investors you trust.  
bag-dollar

Fund Your Offering Quickly and Easily

We've paired on industry-leading Entrust Client Portal with OpenAlt®'s streamlined platform to make funding effortless. This integration not only accelerates the process but also offers real-time tracking of each investor's progress, keeping you informed every step of the way. 

trend-up

Showcase Your Offering to 23,000+ Potential Investors

The broader your audience, the greater the potential for attracting the right investors. With our online investment marketplace, Entrust Connect, you can effortlessly tap into a diverse network of potential backers eager to explore unique opportunities.

Gain a Dedicated Point of Contact

Say goodbye to impersonal phone banks and long wait times. Once you sign up, we'll connect you with a dedicated account manager to answer all your questions and needs.

Empower Your Clients to Increase Their Investment

Investment_image

Your investors are already enthusiastic about your offering, but what if you could show them a way to supercharge their investment?

With a self-directed IRA (SDIRA), your investors can leverage their existing retirement funds and use them toward your offering.

An SDIRA functions like an IRA offered by a traditional bank or brokerage, but there's a crucial distinction: while most IRAs limit investments to stocks and bonds, an SDIRA opens the door to a near-infinite range of alternative assets, including your offering.

The process is simple: once you've created your profile on OpenAlt® and registered your investment opportunity, you can invite your clients to invest their retirement funds via the Entrust Client Portal. Once they've received your invite, they can establish their SDIRA, initiate a transfer or rollover from an IRA or old 401(k), and fund your offering. 

Your investors are able to aim for higher returns while you're able to significantly accelerate your capital-rising efforts. It's a win-win.

Want to see OpenAlt® in action? Schedule a demo.

AdobeStock_632004951_Preview

Seamlessly Raise Capital with OpenAlt® and The Entrust Client Portal

Surprisingly, many savvy investors remain unaware that they can invest their retirement funds in alternative assets. 

So, we set out to simplify and streamline the capital raising process for investment sponsors. We were missing a crucial piece - a solution that made it effortless for sponsors to unlock their investors' retirement funds. 

Enter OpenAlt®. 

Their intuitive platform and our industry-leading Entrust Client Portal made a natural pairing. Sponsors benefit from a seamless experience with OpenAlt®, covering everything from registering to offering documents to ultimate funding. Meanwhile, investors enjoy the simplified process of the Entrust Client Portal, making it a breeze to open, fund, and invest. 

entrustconnectscreenshot

Showcase Your Opportunity to Thousands of Potential Investors

Once we have a mutual client, we allow you to list your offering on our investment marketplace, Entrust Connect, ready to be discovered by over 23,000 Entrust clients. This extensive reach dramatically boosts your chances of connecting with investors who are perfectly suited for your venture. 

When an Entrust client shows interest, they can explore your investment documents, ask questions about the opportunity, and ultimately, fund their investment through our platform. This makes it easier for our clients to discover their next opportunity and eases the burden on your capital-raising efforts. 

Plus, the Entrust Client Portal is purpose-built to simplify transactions and keep you and your investors well-informed at every stage. Our automated solution not only expedites funding for your offering but also slashes processing times, facilitating seamless and efficient capital-raising.

Register Your Investment Offering in 5 Easy Steps

START
STEP 1
Set Up Your OpenAlt® Profile

To kickstart the process, sign up with OpenAlt® and register your company profile. 

STEP 2
Add Your Opportunity

Next, add your investment offering to the OpenAlt® platform. The process is simple and streamlined, designed to fit any investment structure.

STEP 3
Invite Your Investors

The more eyes on your project, the greater the chance of success. Invite your network of potential investors to explore the opportunity. For lengthy investor lists, you can effortlessly import contact information from an uploaded spreadsheet. 

STEP 4
Track the Account Establishment Process

You can seamlessly track each investors' account establishment process. 

STEP 5
Optional: Showcase Your Offering to Entrust Client

If you're looking to maximize exposure, consider listing your offering on the Entrust Connect, our online investment marketplace. Want more details?  Reach out to your Entrust contact. 

FINISH

Investment Issuers FAQs

What types of investment opportunities can I list on OpenAlt®?

OpenAlt ®is designed to accommodate a broad spectrum of investment options. This includes a variety of private equity funds, REITs, venture capital, hedge funds, private debt, and much more. 

Can I register multiple investment opportunities?

Absolutely. We want to make finding alternative investment prospects easy, and that includes giving you the flexibility to showcase multiple offerings. 

What if one of my clients has a 401(k)? Can they still invest through an SDIRA?

Potentially. If they have funds in an inactive (former employer's) 401(k) plan, then the rollover process is simple. However, if all of their retirement funds are with their current employer, they will need to check whether their plan administrator allows in-service withdrawals. If so, they may still be able to complete a 401(k) rollover into an SDRIA.

What's the first step I should take if I'm interested in registering an investment offering on OpenAlt®?

If you're eager to tap into the world of self-directed investing, simply sign up on OpenAlt®, create your company profile, and register your offering. Need help? No problem. Just request a demo and we'll get back to you shortly. 

Self-Directed Investing FAQs

What are the benefits of a self-directed IRA?

A self-directed IRA offers several notable benefits; including:

  • Diversification Opportunities: SDIRA holders can explore a wider range of options beyond traditional assets. By distributing investments across multiple sectors and asset classes, they may be able to better protect their portfolio against volatility. 
  • Tax Advantages: SDIRA holders can access alternative assets while benefiting from tax-free or tax-deferred growth generated by their investments. 
  • Alignment with Interests: SDIRA holders can invest in assets that resonate with their passions, expertise, or personal experiences. 

What are the disadvantages of a self-directed IRA?

While self-directed IRAs offer several advantages, it's important to be aware of the potential disadvantages:

  • Complexity: SDIRAs can be more complex to set up and manage. They require a higher level of knowledge, involvement, and understanding of the chosen investments.
  • Higher Costs: Alternative assets are more time and labor-intensive to administer. than publicly traded securities. So, SDIRA holders often must pay higher administrative fees and expenses. 

Are there any regulatory considerations when dealing with an SDIRA?

Yes, the IRA has strict rules limiting how you can use your IRA. For instance, you cannot hold certain types of investments in your IRA nor transact with disqualified persons. To protect the tax-advantaged status of their retirement funds, all prospective SDIRA investors should understand the rules or work with a trusted tax or financial advisor before opening an account. 

Are any investments not allowed in a self-directed IRA?

While an SDIRA offers flexibility in investment choices, there are certain types of assets that cannot be held in an IRA:

  • Life Insurance: SDIRA holders cannot hold life insurance contracts within their IRA.
  • Collectibles: Collectibles such as artwork, rugs, antiques, stamps, alcoholic beverages, and coins (except coins that meet precious metals purity requirements) are not allowed within these accounts. 
  • S Corporation Stock: Holding shares of S corporation stock in an IRA is prohibited. An IRA is a grantor trust and cannot be a shareholder. 

What's a prohibited transaction?

A prohibited transaction that is forbidden by the IRS. These transactions include but are not limited to:

  • Activities that could personally benefit the IRA account holder or other disqualified persons, such as buying or selling assets between the IRA and disqualified persons. 
  • Using the IRA to provide personal loans. 
  • Using the IRA-owned property for personal purposes. 

Prohibited transactions can result in severe tax consequences, including IRA disqualification.

What is your track record and experience in the self-directed IRA industry?

With over four decades of experience, we are a leading provider of self-directed retirement plans and education. Our commitment to exceptional service is exemplified by our team's knowledge base. Many Entrust team members hold the Certified IRA Services Professional (CISP) designation, underscoring our dedication to building upon a longstanding tradition of excellence. 

About The Entrust Group

For over 40 years, The Entrust Group has provided account administration services for self-directed retirement and tax-advantaged plans. 

Entrust can assist you in purchasing alternative investments with your retirement funds, and administer the buying and selling of assets that are typically unavailable through banks and brokerage firms.

Meet the Team

Let's Talk

No matter your professional goals, we want to help you achieve them.