by Laurel Cohen
I don’t know a thing about you, but I’ll bet that you aren’t exactly impressed with the returns you have been getting on your retirement investments. Many people have incurred big losses due to the recent economic turmoil. Rather than crossing your fingers and hoping that things will start to look up, why don’t you take action? If your accounts are IRA good investments exist but your bank or employer probably won’t tell you about them. Here are 5 ways you can maximize your returns in spite of the odds.

1. The growth of IRA investments in traditional accounts is limited. Roll over to a self-directed IRA for more flexibility and a much wider array of investment options. By doing so, you will have many more opportunities to increase your returns.

2. If your accounts are IRA good investments to tap into are in real estate. Real estate is a highly lucrative and untapped market that can provide very high returns. This is because real estate tends to increase in value over time unlike stocks, which fluctuate in value every minute of the day. Furthermore, real estate is insured against common forms of loss such as natural disaster so it is a low-risk investment.

3. If you want to see growth of IRA investments, find a company that can help you self-direct your account. Going it alone is not easy. There are companies out that can provide you with an experienced and knowledgeable account custodian who will listen to your wants and act in your best interests. You won’t even have to do any extra work to get higher returns.

4. If your accounts are IRA good investments and profits can be made under the Roth plan. Rollover to a Roth IRA if you are eligible. Roth IRAs have many advantages over traditional IRAs, such as a much wider array of investment options, the fact that your earnings are not taxed when distributed, and the fact that there is no minimum age at which you must start making distributions.

5. Get involved in socially responsible investing if you want to see a growth of IRA investments. There are companies out there that are set up to help you self-direct your account and can even guarantee to double your returns or pay the difference. These companies help you and the underprivileged by buying old homes in neglected urban areas, renovating them, and selling them to working-class families. As a result, you the investor can get a chunk of the profits and help those less fortunate than you in the process.

Make no mistake about it. If your accounts are IRA good investments are out there that can help you maximize your returns. The catch is that you have to know where to look. Banks are simply in it for their own profit and can’t get big enough returns to satisfy their interests as well as your own. If you want to see your returns double or even triple, rollover to a self-directed IRA and invest in real estate. By doing so, you will be able to secure a comfortable retirement and financial future for both you and your family.

Laurel Cohen is an active participant of a national network of professional writers who advocate socially conscious real estate investing through the use of retirement vehicles such as IRAs, 401Ks and other retirement assets. For more information, or to get involved, please visit http://www.ira-investing-guide.com now.

Article Source: 5 Ways to Maximize the Returns on Your IRA Investments