- A+ BBB rating
- Robust educational library
- 100's of 5-star ratings
- Checkbook control offered
- Excessive paperwork
- U.S. investors only
uDirect IRA Services prioritizes educating investors on the benefits of self-directed IRAs.
The company gives investors access to a variety of assets, but may not be ideal for frequent traders due to transaction costs.
Read this uDirect IRA Services review to see if an SDIRA aligns with your financial goals.
The Verdict for uDirect IRA Services
I’ve given them a rating of 7.6 out of 10.
uDirect IRA Services offers investment flexibility through self-directed IRAs.
While the company’s account set up fees are low, transaction fees and itemized account management fees can add up.
Review what uDirect IRA offers and look through the fee schedule to see if it aligns with your investing goals.
| Category | Rating (out of 10) |
|---|---|
| Investment Options | 9 |
| Pricing & Fees | 7 |
| Account Setup & Maintenance | 8 |
| Customer Service & Support | 7 |
| Security & Compliance | 7 |
| Reputation & Reviews | 7 |
| Resources & Tools | 8 |
| Overall Rating | 7.6 |
In this review of uDirect IRA Services, I’ve followed GIC’s detailed criteria for evaluating the self-directed IRA custodian.
About uDirect IRA
Founded in 2009, uDirect IRA Services is a third-party self-directed IRA administrator based in Irvine, California.
The company provides financial education to help investors diversify their retirement savings by adding alternative assets to their portfolios.
uDirect IRA is on a mission to increase financial literacy by educating investors on the benefits of SDIRAs.
The company was founded by Kaaren Hall who brings decades of experience in property management and mortgage lending.
She believes financial education is the key to building wealth and self-directed IRAs can help investors reach their financial goals.
The company has been accredited with the BBB since 2009 and has an A+ rating. It also has a AAA rating with the Business Consumer Alliance.
uDirect IRA is a member of RITA, the Retirement Industry Trust Association.
Investment Options
uDirect IRA Services offers a variety of tax-advantaged self-directed accounts including:
- Traditional IRA
- Roth IRA
- SEP IRA
- SIMPLE IRA
- Solo 401(k)
- Inherited IRA
Within these accounts, investors can invest in several types of alternative assets:
- Residential real estate
- Commercial real estate
- Raw land
- REITs
- Real estate notes
- Promissory notes
- Private equity
- Tax liens
- Precious metals
- Private stocks
- Structured settlements
- Oil and gas
- Factoring investments
- Car paper
- Cryptocurrency
- Accounts receivable
- Equipment leasing
With these options, uDirect IRA offers flexibility for investors to allocate their portfolios beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
Collectibles like artwork are prohibited by uDirect, as are life insurance policies. Transactions involving disqualified persons like family members are not permitted.
Investors are responsible for conducting their own due diligence on investments.
UDirect IRA Services offers checkbook control with its self-directed IRAs. This establishes an LLC and gives investors the ability to write checks using their IRA’s funds.
uDirect IRA does not work with any preferred providers. Investors are individually responsible for selecting investment opportunities and partners that align with your personal financial goals.
When you’re ready to set up an account you can go online and choose the account you’d like to open.
You can rollover an existing retirement account or make a contribution with a wire transfer. Once the account is funded you can begin investing.
To select investments for an account, identify the investment you’d like to make and instruct uDirect IRA to execute the investment on your behalf.
Once the investment has been made you’ll be able to monitor it on your uDirect IRA account dashboard.
Pricing & Fees
There is a one-time setup fee of $50 and an annual maintenance fee of $275.
uDirect IRA requires a minimum account balance of $325. Accounts include six free transfers.
There are separate storage fees for precious metals that vary based on what’s in the account.
| Amount | Gold | Silver | Both |
|---|---|---|---|
| $0 – $25,000 | $8/month | $10/month | $10/month |
| $25,001 and up | $12/month | $18/month | $18/month |
uDirect also charges fees for crypto investments. Fees are based on the asset value and a flat 0.05% storage fee is charged each month.
| Crypto Asset Value | Fee |
|---|---|
| $0 – $10,000 | 1% |
| $10,001 – $25,000 | 0.75% |
| $25,001 and up | 0.5% |
Aside from account fees, uDirect also charges a variety of different transaction fees including:
- Transfer fee: $25 per transfer (after the first six)
- Partial account termination: $75
- Full account termination: $175
- Account reinstatement fee: $50
- Precious metals handling fee: $75
- Precious metals liquidation fee: $50
- Rother conversion: $75
- Wire transfers: $15
- ACH: $10
uDirect IRA’s set up fees are lower than some of its competitors, but if you plan on trading within your account, all of the extra transfer fees can add up.
There is a minimum account balance requirement but it isn’t substantial.
Investors who prefer precious metals may find savings in the company’s flat monthly storage fees, but holding other assets like crypto can be more expensive.
Account Setup & Maintenance
Setting up an account with uDirect IRA is a straightforward process:
- Do an initial consultation with a uDirect IRA representative or research the company’s website to learn more about their SDIRA options.
- Choose an account type to open.
- Complete account setup application and pay $50 account fee.
- Fund the account with a new contribution or a rollover from an existing retirement account or SDIRA custodian.
- Select your investments.
When you open a new account you will need to verify your identity. This includes submitting a copy of your driver’s license or passport, Social Security Number, as well as proof of address.
There is a one-time fee that you’ll need to pay to finalize opening your account which can be paid using PayPal.
If you elect to rollover funds from an existing retirement account, you will need to provide a statement from your existing IRA provider during account setup.
Keep in mind rollovers must be completed within 60 days of to avoid taxes and penalties.
After your account is active there is an annual $275 fee to cover administrative costs.
This includes record keeping for tax purposes. You’ll need to keep a minimum balance of $325 in your account for it to stay active.
Investors are responsible for ensuring their investments comply with IRS regulations.
uDirect only serves as a custodian and does not provide investment advice, however, they do recommend maintaining a 10% reserve balance in your account – especially if you own property – to cover any unforeseen expenses.
Once your account is active and investments have been selected you’ll gain access to uDirect IRA’s online client portal.
You can use the portal to monitor your account and manage your investments. There is a separate place on the website to upload forms and documents.
Customer Service & Support
uDirect IRA offers customer support via phone, email, or live chat. You can call the customer support team at (714) 515-6536 or toll-free at (866) 919-1186.
Phone support is available Monday through Friday between 8:00 AM and 5:00 PM PT.
You can also reach out to uDirect via email at [email protected]. There is a live chat feature on uDirect’s website to get instant support as well.
New clients can schedule a complimentary 30-minute consultation right on the company’s website.
Existing clients report uDirect IRA support staff are quick to provide answers to questions when setting up a new account.
The support team is regarded as knowledgeable and responsive.
That being said, some customers have expressed frustration with the amount of paperwork required to set up an account or process transactions.
Security & Compliance
uDirect IRA prioritizes security to ensure investor’s assets are safe and protected.
The company partners with American Estate & Trust to hold investor’s assets. These assets are held in segregated accounts.
uDirect IRA’s website collects personally identifiable information from its clients.
This information is protected and uDirect maintains industry standard data management protocols.
The company is a member of the Retirement Industry Trust Association and is committed to maintaining industry best practices.
The company adheres to IRS and state regulations regarding SDIRAs.
They provide educational resources to investors on IRS regulations and investment due diligence requirements to ensure investors are in compliance.
Reputation & Reviews
uDirect IRA has a 3.9-star rating from 65 reviews on Yelp and a 4.5-star rating from 122 customers on Google.
It does not have any reviews on the Better Business Bureau.
Investors express contentment with uDirect IRA’s services and timely support. There are several complaints against the company through the BBB.
Clients have complained about excess fees and misrepresentation of products and services.
The company maintains social media accounts on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
Resources & Tools
Investor education is the cornerstone of uDirect’s mission. The company offers a robust library of educational resources to help investors make informed decisions about SDIRA investing.
This includes webinars, YouTube videos, and guides about investing in specific assets like real estate or private equity.
The company also offers investors the opportunity to attend live events.
These events usually host industry experts and allow investors to get more in-depth answers about top investment questions.
While uDirect IRA doesn’t provide personalized investment advice, it does offer a weekly newsletter.
This includes tips about making investment decisions and latest developments in IRS regulations.
The company does not offer retirement planning calculators or market analysis to help investors on making investment decisions.
uDirect IRA Alternatives
uDirect IRA is a respected SDIRA custodian with affordable fees for new investors.
While it offers competitive rates, it might not be the best fit for more active investors.
Here are a few alternatives to consider.
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Our Rating:
4.8
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Our Rating:
4.5
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Our Rating:
4.2
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Setup fee for IRA:
$360-$600
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Setup fee for IRA:
$100
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Setup fee for IRA:
$50
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Rocket Dollar
Rocket Dollar is ideal for investors who actively manage their portfolios and want the most flexibility.
It offers self-directed IRAs and solo 401(k)s and investors can choose from a variety of assets, including the option to “bring your own deal.”
Get started with Rocket Dollar today!
Broad Financial
Broad Financial is a good option for experienced investors who want greater flexibility with checkbook control.
Compared to uDirect IRA, Broad Financial’s fees are significantly higher.
Madison Trust Company
Madison Trust Company is known for its customer support and is a good option for new investors who appreciate a more hands on approach.
The company offers a similar fee structure to uDirect IRA.
Is uDirect IRA a good self-directed IRA custodian?
uDirect IRA offers self-directed accounts to help investors diversify their retirement savings through alternative assets.
The company offers an affordable fee structure and a robust educational library.
While this might be ideal for hands-off investors, individuals who want to make frequent trades in their portfolio might find a better provider elsewhere.
Evaluate uDirect IRA’s offerings to see whether or not they align with your financial goals and expectations.
FAQs
Who owns uDirect IRA services?
uDirect IRA Services was founded by the company’s President and CEO Kaaren Hall.
Does uDirect IRA have any pending lawsuits or complaints?
There are no pending lawsuits against uDirect IRA Services but there are some complaints on the Better Business Bureau.
Investors have complained about excess fees and misrepresentation of uDirect IRA’s offerings.
Does uDirect IRA hold my retirement funds?
uDirect IRA manages and administers self-directed IRA accounts but partners with American Estate & Trust to hold investor’s assets.
uDirect IRA Services
uDirect IRA Services helps you use your retirement savings to invest outside the stock market to improve your financial future.
Product Brand: uDirect IRA Services
3.8