I have been investing in the stock market for years now, and recently came across real estate investing in the past few months.

If you are true investor whether it's stock market or real estate, you need to look long term to really reap rewards until you are momentum investor or day trader or seasonal REI. 

My stock n bonds don't drive drunkGood idea or not?. 

Such plans are purely a means to diversify your retirement savings and allow for investment opportunities beyond the stock market. 

It's something I'd definitely put a good deal of stock on when making my decision.

It has created a nice sum to stock away.

.-- 10k cash savings, and about 50k in stocks, another 50k in 401k/roth-- I'm able to save *max* 45k cash/year with my current situation. 

@Sadiq Muhammed  Any other savings you can draw on: margin account for your stock holdings? 

The only difference between such plans is how they can be invested, with the self-directed plans providing options beyond just the stock market.You and your wife would each need to establish your own self-directed IRA plans. 

Just like buying options in the stock market does not give you the stock but only the option to buy the stock for a certain time period.2.