Book excerpt: For decades, banks and brokerage houses effectively convinced us that IRA holdings could be invested only in stocks and CDs. Few people knew that there was a viable alternative that offered both safety and growth. That alternative is real estate. In IRA Wealth, investment expert Patrick W. Rice first teaches you how to turn your IRA into a self-directed account, and then details the many ways in which real estate products can make you rich. The author offers a wide variety of strategies for both the aggressive investor interested in high returns and the conservative investor looking for a steady stream of income—all tax-deferred or tax-exempt. Although it may be a little late to avoid the volatility of the stock market, the lesson has been simple: Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Patrick Rice now offers you an entirely new basket that holds golden eggs for a bright and rewarding future.