084 | How to Beat Wall Street Using Your IRA and 401(k) – Insider Tactics from Adam Bergman

What if your retirement account could do more than just survive Wall Street, what if it could help you build real, tax-free wealth? In this episode of the Vital Wealth Strategies Podcast, host Patrick Lonergan sits down with Adam Bergman, tax attorney, founder of IRA Financial, and author of nine books on self-directed retirement strategies. Together, they dive into the powerful, yet often misunderstood world of self-directed IRAs and 401(k)s and how entrepreneurs can use these tools to invest in real estate, private companies, crypto, and other high-growth opportunities completely outside of traditional stock and bond portfolios. 

Adam pulls back the curtain on the exact tax code provisions that allow for these moves, explains the differences between self-directed IRAs, checkbook control IRAs, and ROBS plans, and shares how strategies like Roth conversions and discounted valuations can unlock massive long-term tax savings. Whether you're sitting on cash in a retirement account or looking for smarter ways to grow your wealth, this episode is packed with actionable insights and real examples that can help you shift from financial security to financial freedom. 

Key Takeaways: 

• The difference between building wealth and just saving money in a brokerage account 

• What the IRS actually allows you to do inside a retirement account and what’s off limits 

• How to self-direct your IRA or 401(k) to invest in real estate, private equity, or crypto 

• Why Roth conversions (especially with valuation discounts) are a game-changer 

• The power of ROBS to start a business with retirement funds, tax and penalty free 

• Why every entrepreneur should consider diversifying outside of Wall Street 

Learn More about Adam: Official Website

 

Resources:   

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Credits:    

Sponsored by Vital Wealth    

Music by Cephas    

Art work by Two Tone Creative 

Audio, video, research and copywriting by Victoria O'Brien