One of the biggest financial tragedies in the world today is that so many people that that their IRA or 401k has to be tied up in the stock market. That is 100% false. There are too many options to count! For the purposes of this blog I will simply give a broad overview of some of the ways you can invest your IRA or 401k

1) You can purchase all or a portion of a property with your retirement funds

2) You can buy paper (such as mortgages, private notes etc.)

3) You can buy tax certificates

4) You can buy all or a portion of a business

5) If you wanted to be more passive you could simply lend money secured or unsecured to individuals or companies.

NOTE: THE WAY THE IRS CODE IS WRITTEN, THEY SIMPLY TELL YOU WHAT YOU CANNOT INVEST IN SUCH AS: RUGS, ANTIQUES, COINS, AND WINE.

All you have to do to start investing WITHOUT TAKING DISTRIBUTIONS is OPEN A SELF-DIRECTED IRA. It is the same retirement vehicle that you already have you are just able to invest in things other than securities such as stocks and bonds. If you have a Traditional IRA you can "self-direct" it. Same with a Roth, SImple, SEP, or 401k.