Sep '25 • Behind the Business
Read this if you're thinking about a checkbook controlled SDIRA
Hi All,
I’ve been digging deeper into self-directed retirement accounts lately to better understand the tools people are using. One topic that comes up a lot is the checkbook-controlled IRA. It’s a setup where the IRA owns an LLC, and the account holder (as manager) writes checks or wires directly from that LLC. The appeal is clear: faster transactions and fewer custodian delays.
I recently spoke with an industry veteran who’s seen this structure play out in practice. Here’s the summary of what I was learned:
Why some people use it
- Bypass custodian delays and fees
- Move quickly on deals like private lending
Where the caution comes in
- Because the account holder is both owner of the IRA and manager of the LLC, it can look like too much direct control.
- Different custodians treat it differently. Some won’t allow it; others do, but it’s still a gray area.
- If it were ever questioned, the “fix” would usually be administrative (re-titling assets back into the IRA) — not catastrophic, but inconvenient.
Other considerations
- Some folks try to get around the control issue by naming a third party as LLC manager. That reduces one risk but creates another (trusting someone else with your funds).
- For slower, one-off deals (like a single syndication), a standard custodian-processed IRA can be just fine.
Bottom line
Checkbook-controlled IRAs do exist and people use them, but they sit in a compliance gray area. For some investors the speed is worth it, for others the simplicity of a custodian held self directed IRA (or a Solo 401k if eligible) is a better fit.
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Read this if you're thinking about a checkbook controlled SDIRA
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