Carter Lane: How to Use Your Retirement Account to Fund Real Estate (Legally and Profitably)

In this episode of the Profit First for Real Estate Investing podcast, I sit down with Carter Lane from Unified Wealth to talk about one of the most overlooked tools in a real estate investor’s financial toolkit: the self-directed IRA. Carter breaks down how business owners and investors can take control of their retirement funds, invest in what they know (like real estate), and build long-term, tax-advantaged wealth.

We dive into how the traditional retirement model is failing most Americans, why Carter believes the “Wall Street path” is broken, and how Solo 401(k)s and checkbook IRAs can give entrepreneurs the flexibility and protection they need. If you’ve ever felt unsure about how your retirement savings are actually working for you, this episode will give you clarity—and action steps.

Episode Highlights

[0:00] – Introduction

[1:48] – Carter’s background and what led him to launch Unified Wealth

[3:32] – How his mother’s devastating retirement loss shaped his mission

[6:17] – Why 85% of retirees go back to work within three years

[8:44] – What exactly is a self-directed IRA—and what it is NOT

[10:29] – The biggest myth about what you can invest in with retirement funds

[13:11] – Custodial model vs. checkbook control: key differences

[16:06] – Solo 401(k)s explained and why they’re a game changer for business owners

[18:27] – How you can legally “borrow” from your 401(k) to invest in your business

[20:35] – The importance of financial education and investor control

[23:41] – What Carter’s weekly investor calls are all about

[26:18] – How to reach Carter and take the first step toward financial freedom

5 Key Takeaways

1. Self-directed retirement accounts = investor control. You don’t have to leave your wealth in Wall Street’s hands.
2. Solo 401(k)s offer powerful tax and funding advantages. Especially for entrepreneurs, these tools are often underutilized.
3. Avoid the middleman with checkbook control. Unified Wealth’s model simplifies access to your funds while staying compliant.
4. The traditional retirement system is outdated. Most investors don’t realize the risks until it’s too late.
5. Education is the differentiator. Unified Wealth leads with clarity and support, not complexity and jargon.

Links & Resources

• Schedule a call with Carter: https://www.talktounified.com/pf
• Learn more about Profit First for REI: https://www.simplecfo.com

If this episode opened your eyes to how you could grow your retirement outside of Wall Street, please rate, follow, and review the podcast. And share it with another investor who needs to hear this strategy.