Book excerpt: Through this simple, effective tour of the world of Self-Directed Retirement plans, Thom Garlock shows you the steps that wealthy investors have used for years to gain control of their retirement accounts and diversify their assets into real estate, precious metals, private business ownership and much more.You%u2019ll discover:%u2022Why less than 3% of investors are aware of Self-Directed IRA or 401(k) plans%u2022How to pass on more of your wealth to your family%u2022Why your retirement accounts seldom grow when owning stocks, bonds and mutual funds%u2022How to legally invest your retirement plan into income properties, raw land or vacation homes%u2022Why the coming wave of inflation and higher tax rates will destroy most retirement savings%u2022How to finance your business or real estate projects with IRA or 401(k) investors%u2022Why our politicians would like to end the IRA and 401(k) benefits now availableWith most Americans facing a large gap between what they have in their retirement savings and what they need to retire on, this book is a must read for anyone seeking financial freedom.