This is exactly why the agents still survive in this electronic world: they convince the owners to step back and let them do the work without personal attachment.

Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k Similarities Both were created by congress for individuals to save for retirement;Both may be invested in alternative investments such as real estate, precious metals tax liens, promissory notes, private company shares, and stocks and mutual funds, to name a few;Both allow for Roth contributions;Both are subject to prohibited transaction rules;Both are subject to federal taxes at time of distribution;Both allow for checkbook control for placing alternative investments;Both may be invested in annuities;Both are protected from creditors;Both allow for nondeductible contributions; andBoth are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m).The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k DifferencesIn order to open a solo 401k, self-employment, whether on a part-time or full-time basis, is required;To open a self-directed IRA, self-employment income is not required;In order to gain IRA checkbook control over the self-directed IRA funds, a limited liability company (IRAL LLC) must be utilized;The solo 401k allows for checkbook control from the onset;The solo 401k allows for personal loan known as a solo 401k loan;It is prohibited to borrow from your IRA;The Solo 401k may be invested in life insurance;The self-directed IRA may not be invested in life insurance;The solo 401k allow for high contribution amounts (for 2016; the solo 401k contribution limit is $53,000, whereas the self-directed IRA contribution limit is $5,500);The solo 401k business owner can serve as trustee of the solo 401k;The self-directed IRA participant/owner may not serve as trustee or custodian of her IRA; instead, a trust company or bank institution is required;When distributions commence from the solo 401k a mandatory 20% of federal taxes must be withheld from each distribution and submitted electronically to the IRS by the 15th of the month following the date of each distribution;Rollovers and/or transfers from IRAs or qualified plans (e.g., former employer 401k) to a solo 401k are not reported on Form 5498, but rather on Form 5500-EZ, but only if the air market value of the solo 401k exceeds $250K as of the end of the plan year (generally 12/31);When funds are rolled over or transferred from an IRA or 401k to a self-directed IRA, the amount deposited into the self-directed IRA is reported on Form 5498 by the receiving self-directed IRA custodian by May of the year following the rollover/transfer.Rollovers (provided the 60 day rollover window is satisfied) from an IRA to a Solo 401k or self-directed IRA are reported on lines 15a and 15b of Form 1040;Pre-tax IRA contributions on reported on line 32 of Form 1040;Pre-tax solo 401k contributions are reported on line 28 of Form 1040;Roth solo 401k funds are subject to RMDs;A Roth 401k may be transferred to a Roth IRA (Note that from a planning perspective, it may be advantageous to transfer Roth Solo 401k funds to a Roth IRA before turning age 70 ½ in order to escape the Roth RMD requirement applicable to Roth 401k contributions including Roth Solo 401k contributions and earnings.)

Electronics don't "fry", that's what dumb people say when they break them.Your lack of grounds could cause an electric shock, which I would be much more concerned about the liability of, but will not "burn out" anything.

My 10-year old son has recently become obsessed with learning how to solve the Rubik’s Cube.I’m uncertain how he became enamored with the toy.He was grounded from electronics for a week.I think it happened during that time.I watched him become very, very frustrated with the puzzle.On his own, without any guidance, he figured out how to solve one side.It took him 13 days to do this (and he practiced a LOT).Finally, he got it.He got the algorithm in his head.First, before I go on, what he did gave me great hope for his future.He persisted.Even on such a silly thing, through extreme frustration, he persisted.He’s ahead of the vast majority of his peers.Now, here’s what happened after this.He got better and better of course, continuing his practice.Once he “mastered” the one side, he became frustrated again.He had an extreme longing to learn how to do the rest, which is, if you don't know the algorithms, almost impossible to do on a routine basis.So, I looked up how to solve the thing.As it turns out, there are very specific moves that will help “easily” solve a Rubik’s Cube (even though it has a massive amount of possibilities).He sat down this past Sunday to learn the first (of many) algorithms.He learned it and had a breakthrough.By the end of that day, he was flying through that portion of the puzzle.Indeed, he had solved the puzzle four times by the end of that day, but didn’t know the algorithms by heart.

Carlos, I have had good luck with eRentPayment.com I would use something with electronic withdrawal to ensure no one forgets to write a check or get a money order.

I also liked that I didn't have to mail out owner statements any more everything was done electronically.  

Although I personally don't like not having control of the cycle, I would go with a simple electronic cycle pad rather than a dial timer.

The landlord asks rent to be paid electronically via bank account so he has my routing number.

I also believe this gives me an added protection of an electronic "date/time stamp" in proving that notices were made timely.  

Instead of filling out the form just do it electronically, much easier and you get your number on the spot.