Following are the similarities and differences between the solo 401k and the self-directed IRA.The Self-Directed IRA and Solo 401k SimilaritiesBoth 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;Both are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m); andNeither may be invested in your own business. 

I quickly realized that working for the "man" was not going to give me an early or comfortable retirement.  

Cheapest and most stable interest rates you can find.

NOT the bottom .. the bottom are trouble long term.. the top are usually the best tenants.let me explain a little and I am stealing this one from Chris Clothier.rents 600.. to qualify you need 3X  that's 1,800 a month.. that leaves 1,200 for the rest of your bills. so they are living week to week on little upset and your not getting your rent.now take 1,200 rent  3X is 3,600  now they have 2,400 to live on for the month.. we all eat the same food pay basically the same in UTLS.. and gas is gas etc etc. who do you think long term will be more stable.

*note: My goal isn't to retire at 35 and be lazy for the rest of my life.I am going to build up capital over the next couple decades through networks, connections, real estate, stocks, and pretty much everything else.

My name is Corey, I am about 4 years away from retiring from the Marine Corps and want to start laying a solid foundation now for when that day comes.

The more doors the merrier.The market in general up here is pretty stable, sans the upper market in single family homes.

I am in the process of setting up a self directed IRA/LLC so I can invest retirement funds and the advertised price was one thing, and the final price was less.  

I was looking around for a way to enhance our retirement funds & I read a few books on financial freedom.

It's a lot easier to get financing when you have stable employment and you can always fall back on the job if you try and decide full time investing is not for you.