I had read a Robert Kiyosaki book (I don't remember which one) quite some time ago about investing in real estate with IRA money.  I didn't know how it worked and frankly, forgot about it.  Until, that is, I read the book he wrote with Donald Trump,    "Why We Want You To Be Rich" . 
     I began investigating how to go about leveraging IRA money and how it worked.  This was a personal interest I had because my husband and I had gone through 2 downturns in the economy and saw our IRA balances dwindling. 
Of course, they rebound, but we felt to out of control and frustrated with what was happening to our future.  We decided we no longer wanted to play the "blame game" and bemoan our fate. 
If there was a way to be in the driver's seat, I wanted to be there. 
Anyone who drives/rides with me knows I don't make a wonderful passenger. 
To the point that when my teenage sons began to drive, one of them tactfully told me that it helps him to be in the back seat when he is not driving.  "You don't get freaked out by what you don't see" he told me.  Ahhh...Sadly, I see my IRA balances every month. 
     Additionally, I knew if there was a way to do this, then as a business owner who advises clients and investors on building wealth through real estate, I needed to know as much as I could about this particular strategy. 
     As I dug a little deeper I found a company called Pensco Trust and my education was off and running!! They are a custodial company whose sole business is self directed IRAs.  I attended a class they gave and was overwhelmed with the depth and complexity of this area. 
I guess to say "complex" is a little misleading, because there are some very basic rules that need to be followed.  It's the layers beyond each basic rule that boggled my mind.  
     And then, I realized that I don't need to know all the specifics by heart.  I need to know enough to seek out the professionals who know the other questions to ask and be able to advise me accordingly. 
     After attending this class, I happened to see an article that was picked up by the Associated Press.  I am not even able to properly credit the date or writer, but it was eye opening because it said,
"Despite extensive efforts to educate workers about saving for retirement, many employees are not doing a good job of managing their company-sponsored 401(k) accounts, a new study indicates.
The analysis of nearly 1 million retirement portfolios found that 69 percent have inappropriate risk or diversification of holdings and 36 percent have worrisome concentrations of company stock. In addition, one-third of savers aren't putting enough aside to qualify for the full company matching contribution." 
     Yikes!!  That is really frightening.  The article continues but those are the first 2 sentences.  It bears thinking about at the very least.   
     So, if you have an interest in how this works, let me know.  I will be happy to discuss it with you and be able to direct you to the right advisers to assist you in making a decision about your IRA money.  If there is a real estate market ripe for this type of investment, this is it!

I just finished reading 'Why We Want You To Be Rich', and I must admit, I was pleasantly surprised.  I really enjoyed it! 
It had been recommended by a colleague of mine. 
My initial reaction was "Donald Trump?". 
Second reaction was, "Robert Kiyosaki!".  I have been a follower of his since I first read 'Rich Dad, Poor Dad' 
many years ago.   Additionally, my partner (in the investment leg of my business), Suzanne Koller, and I refer to Robert Kiyosaki and his works in the investment workshops we conduct.  So, I was compelled to make the purchase and begin reading.  One of the things I like about Kiyosaki, (and that has brought criticism to him), is that he doesn't tell you what to do, where to put your money or advise you on what's best for you.  He gives you principles, and ideas of where to begin your education if you want to head down the path of creating wealth. 
Ultimately, he confirms that you are responsible for your own financial destiny.  No one makes choices for you except you, and education is the best way to make informed choices.  I think that's called "accountability".   

In reading, 'Why We Want You To Be Rich', I was intrigued by what I learned about Donald Trump.  I knew him (of course, I don't know him at all, so it's more of my perception of what I thought I knew!) as the brash, arrogant man we see on the news and read about in the tabloids.  He certainly has done enough to give all the gossip mongers fodder for quite some time to come! 
What came across in the book is a man who is driven, determined, open minded, and focused on continuing education.  Education of all things ... that was the biggest surprise of all.
And, not just education for himself.  He has a desire for all Americans, as a population, to have a strong financial education so they have the ability to make decisions about their future and not rely on the government or company to take care of them in their times of need.

Each chapter was divided between the section written in Robert's voice, and that written in Donald's voice.  It was fascinating to find out about their very different upbringing, education and start in the business world.  It was fascinating to to read that Robert Kiyosaki was intimidated and felt inferior when he was approached by "The Donald" pair up to write this book.   It is fun to read as Robert reached the realization that they were on equal ground, each had strengths that complimented the other, and why they were able to write this book in 2 voices but put across one message.  
The other surprising thing for me was how easy a book it was to read.  It is written with true stories, combined with principles and I found it was not at all tedious, as sometimes books about wealth building can be.    
If you read it, I hope you will enjoy it and get as much out of it as I did.