I have been a CRNA for quite some time, as you might be aware. I have tended to keep my earnings and retirement away from the stock market. As many would chastise me for not taking advantage of tax sheltering, and even I wish I were a better saver.

I have always invested in real estate. For a while it was my own home. Then it was the start of rental property in Kansas. I am still invested in Kansas and started on my current home in Virginia.

I have avoided the stock market though. I have used an E-Trade account as if it were a casino. I haven’t been an investor but a speculator. I have invested over the years in the military Thrift Savings Plan ... 1% for 9 years... you know how little that is. I forget to take time to learn about those things. I know I need to shelter my taxable income so I am actually doing this.

I went for weeks totge website for Vanguard but then they said they couldn’t verify me. Then I had to fax things for the Solo 401K but... I missed 2017. So, I decided I would do a simple Sep-IRA if I could.

I was checking my E*TRADE to make sure my Roth IRA transaction went through and then I had an epiphany. Why not try to set up just an IRA. I saw the set-up a retirement account button and so I clicked on it. Bam, Sep-IRA option right there. Two minutes later i had $6k coming out of my account to fund a Sep-IRA for 2017. I have until my taxes are filed toget those dollars cought up. I would prefer a Solo-401k but I didn’t get it set-up in 2017 which means no $$$ can beplaced in it for 2017. So, i now have a sep and I’m working on saving a tax bracket or two by saving more pre-tax dollars toward retirement as my rentals are post tax.

Is it possible to invest in retirement with real estate? Yes, but have I done this... no.

Every year, I will try to be more active in my tax planning and save betterfor my family and child or children (someday).