I took a class on the stock market for my masters and it's actually what turned me onto RE investing.

We're not exactly spring chickens, so our assets are reflective of many years of stock market returns.I also bought an investment house (not in an IRA) for myself with 25% down ($33,000) and the NOI is about 20% and cash-on-cash return is about 15%.

Everything else counts: stocks, bonds, RE, gold, silver, collectibles, retirement accounts, etc.

@Ashley W.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;Both are prohibited from investing in assets listed under I.R.C. 408(m); andNeither may be invested in your own business.  

@Adam Bennett,A tax accountant is considered a financial professional, not to be confused with a bookie ... err, I mean, stock/bond/etc. broker or a CFP.If yours won't take the time with you that you need, time to find another.

I don't remember all the rules off the top of my head but worth looking over since many people are looking for alternatives to the stock market at this point. 

I started in stocks and bonds and have tilted much more toward real estate the past 3 years or so.  

Very similar to stocks; by the time the trend is visible on the charts, JoeDoe is too late.  

There are three of them in the metro area, Taylor, Lavonia, and Novi, and you can check the stock online.

In the stock market buy and hold dollar cost averaging beats out market timing in most models but stocks don't generate cash flow and stocks tend to have far more volatility which means being out of the market on the wrong day can destroy your chances of ever beating the buy and hold investor.