The details on the particulars of that process are something I need to look into further, but I believe that there are many custodians and administrators that can make this happen for an insignificant cost, compared to the upside down the line.With one of those accounts, you can then invest in real estate (or virtually any other type of investment) just as you would with your after-tax non-retirement dollars, but with deferred gains as in the 401(k).This leads me to this conclusion:Given the before mentioned benefits of self-directed retirement investment accounts, it seems like a savvy investor could have his cake and eat it too - he might be able to take a great employer match in the early working years, hustle to build a real estate portfolio outside of the 401(k) on the side, and when he makes the transition out of his job, switch the funds over to a self-directed fund and begin investing in real estate through that.For the past year, I've become extremely interested in these self-directed accounts.

(This was supposedly found in the billfold of coach Paul Bear Bryant of the University of Alabama after he died in 1982.)Imagine that you had won the following *PRIZE* in a contest: Each morning your bank would deposit $86,400 in your private account for your use.However, this prize has rules: 1.

My day job is at the University of Minnesota.

I recently left University to pursue my dream of becoming a successful real estate investor.

@Edison ReisWhile much of the information here on BP is universal, financing and taxation are two areas where things are done a little differently north of the 49th.BTW:  The Smith Manoeuvre is a wonderful tool ... but you need to be precise and attentive to setting it up and operating it, lest you step outside the grey area an the CRA invalidates your plans.

It doesn't matter much if you have a server at home or using a virtual machine, but it sure would stink if all your data and analysis suddenly disappeared because you used some cool new big data and advanced analytics tool in the cloud, but it was their own SaaS cloud and not an Azure or AWS.You also have to be careful with the cloud, especially smaller shops and people who are afraid of computers.  

So, some improvements in the local job market- in addition a couple of small universities there...Sorry, not much help, but I've been pondering that market also...thanks,Jimmy

LOLBe careful ... if he sets up notifications for that he might accidentally create an infinite loop that could cause a rift in the space-time continuum and unravel the very fabric of the universe.

I've considered a second phone line on my work cell or a virtual line through Grasshopper (which doesn't help the caller ID issue), but haven't found a good solution.  

I also like Turlock for the State University and great downtown!