Positive momentum across accounts, assets, and investor engagement signifies rising demand for self-directed retirement investing
SIOUX FALLS, S.D.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--IRA Financial, a leading provider of self-directed retirement solutions, today announced strong platform momentum driven by growing investor demand for alternative assets, greater portfolio control, and flexible retirement structures. As traditional retirement plans fall short of supporting modern investment strategies, IRA Financial is seeing accelerated growth across key metrics including accounts, assets under management, and client engagement.
Over the past year, IRA Financial has had a 25%+ increase in Assets Under Administration in 2025 and a 60%+ increase in account growth in 2025 compared to account growth in 2024. This reflects a broader shift among investors toward self-directed retirement strategies. The platform now supports over 26,000 accounts nationwide, many of whom are actively reallocating retirement capital into alternative asset classes.
“We’re seeing a fundamental shift in how investors think about retirement,” said Adam Bergman, Founder of IRA Financial. “People want flexibility, speed, and access to the same alternative investments inside their retirement accounts that they already use outside of them. Our growth reflects not just demand for IRA Financial, but highlights an underserved market for consumers that want to leverage self-directed investing as a core retirement strategy."
This growth comes amid increasing interest in non-traditional investments within retirement accounts. According to a recent survey of IRA Financial clients, 58.5% cited real estate as their top investment focus for 2026, followed by public equities and ETFs (39.6%), cryptocurrency (32.2%), private equity (31.1%), and gold and other precious metals (28.5%). The data highlights how investors are using self-directed retirement accounts not as niche vehicles, but as core tools for diversified, long-term wealth building.
“Investors today want more than a limited menu of mutual funds,” said Tyler Northrup, CEO of IRA Financial. “They want control, transparency, and the ability to invest in assets they understand and believe in. Our continued growth shows that self-directed retirement investing is becoming mainstream.”
Survey findings indicate that the primary driver behind self-directed retirement adoption is access. More than 71% of respondents said they explored self-directed retirement investing because they wanted to invest in assets not allowed in traditional plans, while 46.1% cited the desire for greater control over their investments. Additional motivations included diversification, fee efficiency, and professional or peer referrals.
IRA Financial’s client base also reflects a high level of investment sophistication. 77% of respondents consider themselves intermediate or advanced investors, and 56.4% qualify as accredited investors. While more than one-third (35.1%) are retired, the platform also serves a growing population of active investors who are strategically allocating retirement capital alongside taxable investments.
The survey further underscores the growing role of alternatives in long-term portfolios. Nearly 59% of respondents reported holding more than 25% of their total investments in alternative assets, while over 78% hold at least a quarter of their total investments inside retirement accounts—signaling a convergence of alternative investing and retirement planning.
IRA Financial’s momentum is supported by its comprehensive Self-Directed IRA, Checkbook IRA, and Solo 401(k) offerings, enabling investors to deploy retirement capital into assets such as real estate, private equity, private lending, and digital assets—while maintaining tax-advantaged status.
Looking ahead, the company expects continued growth as more investors seek flexibility amid market uncertainty and evolving views on portfolio construction. To learn more about IRA Financial and its self-directed retirement solutions, visit www.irafinancial.com.
About IRA Financial
IRA Financial is a national leader in self-directed retirement accounts, including Self-Directed IRAs, Checkbook IRAs, and Solo 401(k) plans. Founded in 2010, the company empowers investors to diversify their retirement portfolios with alternative assets such as real estate, private equity, and cryptocurrency. IRA Financial has helped over 25,000 clients take control of their retirement savings through flexible, compliant, and education-first retirement solutions.
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