This Fox article discusses the high transactional costs of self directed IRAs for active investors, and mentions self directed IRA-LLCs as an alternative. However, in states like California, LLCs come with a $800 annual minimum tax, which cannot be avoided simply by filing in another state. A better alternative for some is a self directed 401k. Don't be too quick to assume you don't qualify for a self directed 401k. Ask us.

Stylistically glib but substantively sincere, Mr. Nabers has some good ideas: His early & consistent stand against ROBS is commendable.

A lot of unlikely fear mongering. The most I can foresee are some prospective limits on high income or net worth individual deductions / contributions.

This can work but must be structured correctly to avoid a prohibited transaction

Despite some of the overly broad language in this article, the real lesson is that retirement funds should not be invested in highly speculative investments or to fund your own business. However, by all means consider "non-traditional" or "alternative" investments that are risk and return competitive with "traditional" investments. Such investments, e.g., real estate, are only non-traditional in retirement funds. That's because brokerage houses have long controlled the retirement fund industry. Real estate based investments, while not a traditional retirement fund investment, are certainly one of the most traditional and conservative investments because they are backed with something that doesn't evaporate: land and buildings.