Podcast
Directed IRA Podcast
Hosted by Mat Sorensen and Mark Kohler · EN
The Directed IRA Podcast, hosted by attorneys Mat Sorensen and Mark J. Kohler, is the leading source for investors navigating the world of self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s. As co-founders of Directed IRA & Directed Trust Company (directedira.com), Mat and Mark have helped thousands of clients invest in alternative assets using tax-advantaged retirement accounts.
Episodes cover topics related to self-directing retirement accounts, such as Roth IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, real estate, private equity and venture funds, promissory notes, private placements (PPMs), start-ups, IRA/LLCs (Checkbook IRAs), and the UBIT/UDFI tax rules. The podcast also addresses prohibited transactions and shares real-world examples from investors who have successfully self-directed their retirement for decades.
Whether you're a seasoned investor or just getting started, this podcast offers practical, expert-level insights into building wealth through self-directed strategies.
Mat Sorensen is an attorney, best-selling author of The Self-Directed IRA Handbook, and CEO of Directed IRA & Directed Trust Company, a leading self-directed IRA custodian with nearly $3 billion under administration. He is a national expert on self-directed retirement strategies and a Senior Partner at KKOS Lawyers. Mat also co-hosts The Main Street Business Podcast along with Mark J. Kohler.
Mark J. Kohler is a CPA, attorney, best-selling author of six books, and a nationally recognized authority on small business tax and legal strategies. Mark serves as a Senior Partner at KKOS Lawyers and Board Member at Directed IRA Trust Company, which manages over $3 billion in assets. As the founder of the Main Street Certified Tax Advisor Program, Mark has trained thousands of CPAs and Enrolled Agents nationwide, helping millions of small business owners better navigate tax and legal strategies. Mark also co-hosts The Main Street Business Podcast along with Mat Sorensen.
41episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
How to Buy a Rental Property in your IRA
May 14, 202500:10:20Tap to summarizeIn this podcast, Mat breaks down how he used his retirement account to purchase a real, physical rental property—and how he paid zero taxes on the rental income and six-figure profits when he sold. Most people think their retirement is locked into Wall Street investments, but Mat shows how you can use a Self-Directed IRA to invest in assets you know and trust—like real estate. He walks through the exact steps he took, the financial results, and how you can start taking control of your financial future by building wealth outside of traditional investments. 📚 Want to learn more? Get a copy of The Self-Directed IRA Handbook or schedule a call with the team at DirectedIRA.com.00:00 – Intro: I Bought This Rental in My IRAMat introduces the surprising truth—yes, you can buy a rental property with your IRA or 401(k).01:36 – Why Real Estate Over the Stock Market?Explaining why Mat believes real estate provides better returns and tax advantages than stocks.03:12 – How a Self-Directed IRA WorksAn overview of what a Self-Directed IRA is and how it gives you investment control beyond Wall Street.05:32 – The Exact Strategy I UsedMat breaks down his real-life example—buying a 3-bed, 2-bath rental in Indianapolis through his retirement account.07:14 – Setting Up the IRA LLC StructureHow to structure the deal using an IRA-owned LLC for control and liability protection.10:26 – The Financial Results: Rental Income and Big GainsMat shares the numbers—purchase price, rental income, sale price, and the $100K profit he made tax-free.12:17 – What I Did Next: Private Lending & More InvestingHow Mat reinvested the profits into private money lending and new deals.13:15 – Why You Should Take Control of Your RetirementThe emotional payoff—building a bigger retirement account and creating a life of freedom and choices.15:09 – Can You Really Do This? Yes! Here’s How to StartLearn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →How Investors are Turning Hotels into Homes People Can Afford - ft. Adam Hooper & Ryan Sudeck
May 14, 202500:54:37Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, I sat down with Adam Hooper and Ryan Sudek from Sage Investment Group to dive into a high-impact real estate strategy: converting underutilized hotels into naturally affordable housing. We explored how this model delivers strong investor returns while addressing the affordable housing crisis—without relying on government subsidies. With over 20 successful conversions and more in the pipeline, this episode is packed with insights on real estate investing, IRA strategies, and wealth-building opportunities. If you're passionate about doing good while making money, you won't want to miss this conversation.0:00 - Intro - Real Estate Supply, Demand & Affordability Crisis0:30 - Meet Sage Investment Group & Their Mission1:43 - Why Hotels? A Strategic Conversion Model Explained6:13 - First Hotel Deal Case Study: Tucson Conversion10:11 - Why Not Office Conversions? Key Challenges12:05 - Investment Returns Without Sacrificing Impact15:15 - Deals That Didn’t Work and Why20:26 - Big Wins: Texas Hotel Acquisitions for Half Price23:09 - Hotel Industry Distress & The Patel Effect25:13 - Post-COVID Shifts in Hospitality and Opportunity27:06 - Using Self-Directed IRAs in Real Estate30:17 - Evergreen Fund Structure & Diversification Benefits31:54 - Liquidity & Exiting the Fund33:08 - 1031 Exchange Strategy Using a 721 UpREIT36:45 - Active Value Creation vs. Passive Investing38:06 - Is Now a Good Time to Invest in Real Estate?40:22 - Supply Forecasting & Conversions Market Potential44:27 - Personal Motivations & Building Investor Access48:31 - How M&A Skills Transfer to Real Estate51:18 - Fund Performance, Notes, and Final Investment Terms53:59 - How to Learn More & Get Involved👉 Want to learn more or invest?Visit sageinvestment.com/IRA for details on how Sage Investment Group helps turn underutilized hotels into high-yield, naturally affordable housing.📩 Have questions or ready to connect?Email ryan@sageinvestment.group or adam@sageinvestment.groupLearn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →50 Minutes of Real Talk on Self-Directed IRAs and Alternative Investing
May 7, 202500:53:19Tap to summarizeThinking of opening a Self-Directed IRA? Open an account today https://directedira.com/open-accounts/In this exclusive live audience podcast, recorded at the Self-Directed IRA Summit, @MarkJKohler and I talk about how powerful the tool of self-directing is. Enjoy as we are accompanied by live attendees going over REAL self-directed investing scenarios.Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →Backdoor Roth Strategy for 2025
Apr 7, 202500:08:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mat Sorensen breaks down one of the most powerful tools for building long-term, tax-free wealth: the Backdoor Roth IRA. Many high-income earners believe they’re ineligible for Roth IRAs due to income limits—but that’s where the backdoor strategy comes in.Mat walks you through how the Backdoor Roth IRA works in 2025, including the three-step process of contributing to a traditional IRA, making it non-deductible, and then converting it to a Roth. He covers common pitfalls like the pro-rata rule and re-characterization mistakes, explains how to double up contributions for 2024 and 2025, and shares why this strategy remains one of the best-kept secrets in retirement planning—even with ongoing attempts by Congress to shut it down.Whether you're new to this strategy or need a refresher on the rules for 2025, this episode gives you the clarity and confidence to make it work.👉 Learn more and get started with your own Backdoor Roth IRA at https://directedira.com/backdoor-roth-ira/Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →Top 10 FAQs For Self Directed IRAs!
Mar 31, 202500:39:01Tap to summarizeMat Sorensen and Mark J. Kohler are back with another episode of the Directed IRA Podcast—this time answering the most frequently asked questions about self-directed IRAs. Mat, the CEO of Directed IRA, requested this episode himself because he’s tired of hearing the same questions over and over(Cleary we're kidding). So, he and Mark are tackling them head-on in this special "Getting Started" series.Listeners will get clear answers on what they can invest in, what they should invest in, and the common mistakes to avoid. If you've ever wondered about real estate, private lending, startups, or alternative assets in your IRA, this episode is for you!Tune in to learn: ✅ What a self-directed IRA actually is ✅ The top 10 most common investment questions ✅ Key IRS restrictions to watch out for ✅ Why investing in what you know is the smartest strategyFor more expert insights, visit DirectedIRA.com.Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →How to Partner your IRA with others when doing Deals
Mar 26, 202500:26:11Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mark Kohler and Mat Sorensen break down the mechanics of partnering your IRA with others in deals. Whether it’s pooling funds from multiple IRAs, combining accounts within a family, or structuring investments to comply with IRS rules, they cover the do’s and don’ts of co-investing. Tune in to learn how to structure partnerships, avoid prohibited transactions, and maximize your self-directed retirement investing strategy.Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →Investing in Private Companies, Funds, and Small business with a Self Directed IRA or solo 401k
Mar 17, 202500:27:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mark and Mat break down how to use your self-directed IRA or 401(k) to invest in private businesses, funds, and startups. We’re not talking about running another business yourself—we’re talking about leveraging your expertise to identify valuable investment opportunities.Most people think investing with an IRA means buying stocks, but what if you could invest in the next big thing before it goes public? Whether it’s a local business you know has potential or a startup in your industry, using insider knowledge (legally!) can be a game-changer.We cover:✅ How investing in private companies differs from public stocks✅ Why broker-dealers don’t allow this—and how self-directed IRAs give you control✅ The risks and rewards of private business investments✅ How a Roth IRA can help you grow wealth tax-free with the right investmentsIf you’re looking for ways to maximize your retirement returns beyond traditional stocks and mutual funds, this episode is for you.Head over to DirectedIRA.com now to start your self directing journey! Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →Banks Are Pushing Distressed Assets—Here’s What It Means for You! with Jamison Manwaring.
Mar 10, 202500:33:08Tap to summarizeJamison Manwaring joins Mat Sorensen in the podcast to discuss a unique foreclosure deal that Neighborhood Ventures is acquiring. With rising interest rates and lenders tightening their grip, a prime multifamily property in Arcadia, Phoenix, recently went through foreclosure. Originally purchased for $18.25 million, Neighborhood Ventures secured it for $11 million, presenting a significant opportunity. Jamison explains how the property, already 91% occupied and recently renovated, was undervalued due to under-market rents. By strategically increasing rents and optimizing management, they aim to unlock its full potential.This episode dives into the broader trend of distressed real estate opportunities as lenders force sales after months of extensions. Jamison also breaks down the mechanics of rate caps, why many are expiring, and how investors are using their Self Directed IRA to Invest in this deals.Learn more about Neighborhood Ventures: https://neighborhood.ventures/Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →Self Directed Mechanics - Transfers & Rollovers
Mar 5, 202500:22:00Tap to summarizeIn this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mark Kohler and Mat Sorensen break down the key steps to setting up and funding a self-directed retirement account. If you have an existing IRA, 401(k), or another retirement account and you're wondering how to transition into self-directing, this episode is for you.Mark and Mat discuss the importance of understanding what type of retirement account you already have, how to take inventory of your funds, and what options are available for rolling over or transferring assets. They also highlight common mistakes people make when assuming what kind of account they hold—and how to avoid them.Whether you're an investor looking to move into alternative assets like real estate, crypto, or private deals, or just want more control over your retirement funds, this episode lays out the mechanics you need to know.Tune in to get expert insights and actionable steps for taking charge of your financial future with a self-directed IRA.Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
Transcribe →How To Buy XRP Tax-Free With A Roth IRA!
Feb 18, 202500:11:16Tap to summarizeIs it possible to invest in crypto completely tax-free? Yes—if you use a Roth IRA! In this episode of the Directed IRA Podcast, Mat Sorensen breaks down how you can use a self-directed Roth IRA to invest in cryptocurrencies like XRP while avoiding capital gains taxes.Most people assume Roth IRAs are limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds through major brokers like Fidelity or Schwab. But with a self-directed Roth IRA, you can invest in alternative assets—including crypto. Mat walks you through how to open a crypto Roth IRA, transfer funds tax-free, and use a Gemini trading account to start buying digital assets inside your IRA.If you’re serious about growing your wealth with crypto while keeping your profits tax-free, this episode is a must-listen!Learn More about A Crypto IRA here: https://directedira.com/cryptocurrency/Learn how to take control of your retirement - https://directedira.com/Shop my products - https://shop.matsorensen.com/ Blog & Articles - https://matsorensen.com/blog/Connect with Mat online:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/matsorensen/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mat.sorensen.1LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matsorensen/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sorensenmat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@MatSorensenWebsites:https://directedira.comhttps://matsorensen.comhttps://kkoslawyers.comhttps://mainstreetbusiness.com
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