📚 Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything I’ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master

🤝 Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club

Self-Directed IRA vs Solo 401(k): Checkbook Control, Prohibited Transactions, and UBIT/UDFI Explained

Lane and John Park discuss how investors can use qualified retirement plan funds to invest in non-traditional assets like real estate and private equity through true self-directed structures, contrasting them with “self-directed” brokerage accounts that still limit investments. They compare self-directed IRAs (which require an IRS-approved custodian) with Solo 401(k)s (which allow the account holder to be the trustee), explaining checkbook control via IRA LLCs or IRA trusts, including why trusts can reduce recurring LLC fees in states like California. The conversation covers Solo 401(k) eligibility (legitimate self-employment with no employees other than a spouse), higher contribution limits, Roth options, participant loans, and the exemption from UDFI. They also review prohibited investments (life insurance and collectibles), disqualified persons rules, UBIT/UDFI tax concepts, deal-funding timelines, and investor Q&A including a real-world UBIT surprise from new-build profits.

00:00 Intro to Self Direction

01:00 Solo 401k Eligibility

02:33 Why Big Brokers Fail

06:38 Checkbook Control Basics

09:13 IRA Trust Option

11:03 Solo 401k Advantages

13:13 SDIRA Setup and Funding

13:54 Custodian vs Control

20:46 Prohibited Assets Rules

23:04 Disqualified Individuals

25:28 UBIT and UDFI Taxes

28:25 UDFI Real Estate Example

31:26 Solo 401k Tax Exemption

33:47 Solo 401k Setup Details

36:18 Solo 401k Loan Feature

37:00 Plan Rules vs IRS

38:46 Contribution Limits Explained

42:13 Loan Terms and Repayment

43:28 Roth and Backdoor Strategies

46:43 Paying Kids and Audits

47:58 Punting Taxes with QRP

51:02 Setup Timeline and Funding

54:18 Checkbook Control Custodians

58:25 When QRP Investing Makes Sense

01:04:37 Retirement Tax Trap Parents

01:06:26 Parents Money Risk Choices

01:07:24 How Much to Retire

01:08:54 Stop Overfunding 401k

01:10:32 Back Into 4 Percent Rule

01:13:47 Financial Independence Mindset

01:14:53 Three Bucket Strategy

01:16:51 Kids Inheritance Limits

01:19:28 UBIT Surprise in Solo 401k

01:21:29 Blocker Corps and AI Learning

01:24:10 Finding the Right Tax Pro

01:28:17 Trivia and Wrap Up

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator

Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of “Hui Deal Pipeline Club” which has acquired over $2.1 Billion AUM of real estate by syndicating over $200 Million Dollars of private equity and most importantly distributed more than $45M back to our investors since 2016.

Check out our Top-50 Investing Podcast, The Wealth Elevator.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

📚 Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything I’ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master

🤝 Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club

The host interviews mortgage expert Jen Hernandez to get an update on the residential mortgage landscape after 2020, focusing on one-to-four unit properties and what single-family investors and homeowners are seeing in 2026. Jen explains that rates nearly doubled quickly in 2022 and have hovered in the low 6% range for about six months, with forecasts from major institutions (Fannie/Freddie and large banks) calling for mostly flat movement and possibly high-5% rates, but no major drops expected. She notes that historically very low rates have coincided with government “rescue” periods, and suggests watching the 7- and 10-year treasuries because mortgage pricing tracks those longer-term bond instruments more closely than the Fed’s overnight rate. They discuss the common misconception that Fed cuts immediately lower mortgage rates, and Jen explains how bond-market behavior, investor risk appetite, and the inverse relationship between stocks and bonds can move mortgage rates differently from the Fed funds rate.

Jen gives practical guidance on whether to buy now versus wait, emphasizing that the answer depends on local market conditions; in Houston/Texas she’s seeing some price suppression, more seller negotiation, and opportunities for closing-cost credits or rate buydowns. She argues that a 6% rate is not bad historically and that buyers can refinance later, while purchasing during softer pricing may allow for future appreciation. The conversation then shifts to investor lending options, including DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans that rely on market rent rather than full income documentation, can allow financing in an LLC, and may offer rates that are sometimes better than conventional—though typically with a 2–3 year prepayment penalty and baked-in points (around 1.5%). Jen outlines DSCR qualification constraints, especially the need for market rent to cover PITI(A), which can push required down payments from 20% to 25% in high tax/insurance areas like Texas.

They cover appraisal and rent trend observations in Houston (generally stable, with some appraisals coming in at or above price), discuss when investor “experience” matters (primarily when using rental income from tax returns to offset debt), and explain the lending ecosystem: big banks/servicers, direct lenders who underwrite and fund in-house, and brokers who connect borrowers to lenders but don’t control underwriting or timelines. Jen details reserve requirements for investment loans (typically 3–6 months of PITI(A), often across all mortgaged properties), warns that consumer credit scores from apps may differ from mortgage FICO models, and recommends getting prequalified months in advance to optimize credit and terms. Finally, they touch on high-net-worth purchase behavior in Houston (cash purchases, leveraging investment lines, recasts, ARM usage), personal views on leverage, and how to contact Jen via loanwithjen.com, noting she can lend in 42 states and can refer trusted contacts elsewhere.

00:00 Mortgage Market Snapshot

00:49 Rates After 2020

02:22 Tracking Rates Like Pros

04:12 Fed vs Treasury Explained

08:22 Buy Now or Wait

12:19 DSCR Loans and Down Payments

16:50 Appraisals and Rent Data

19:15 Direct Lenders vs Brokers

23:31 Reserves and Credit Prep

27:38 How Wealthy Buyers Finance

30:44 Wrap Up and Contact Info

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

📚 Unlock the secrets to building wealth! My book and 12-module Masterclass cover everything I’ve learned about passive investing and creating financial freedom. Watch it on-demand for FREE: http://thewealthelevator.com/master

🤝 Join the Hui Deal Pipeline Club and get a one-on-one call with me to discuss your investment goals: https://thewealthelevator.com/club

In this episode, we dive deep into the strategy of investing tax-free into startups and operating businesses using Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS). Joined by CPA Thomas Jones from Sweeney Conrad, we explore the intricacies behind QSBS, part of tax section 1202, that offers potential tax-free gains up to $15 million on eligible stock held for a minimum period. We discuss the eligibility criteria, the types of businesses that can benefit, different investor scenarios, and potential pitfalls to watch out for. Learn how to effectively leverage QSBS for significant tax savings and make informed investment decisions, whether you're an angel investor or a business owner.

00:00 Introduction to Tax-Free Investing in Startups

00:28 Meet the Expert: CPA Thomas Jones

01:04 Understanding QSBS: Qualified Small Business Stock

03:15 Industries and Use Cases for QSBS

06:34 Asset vs. Stock Sales: Key Differences

12:09 Investor Considerations and Tax Benefits

25:00 Advanced Strategies and Pitfalls

35:24 Conclusion and Contact Information

Connect with me:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lanekawaoka/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWealthElevator

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/TheWealthElevator

Lane Kawaoka is a developer and multi-family syndicator who owns 10,000+ rental units and is the leader of “Hui Deal Pipeline Club” which has acquired over $2.1 Billion AUM of real estate by syndicating over $200 Million Dollars of private equity and most importantly distributed more than $45M back to our investors since 2016.

Check out our Top-50 Investing Podcast, The Wealth Elevator.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.