Most people think of retirement investing as a narrow lane. You open an account, pick a few mutual funds, and hope the market does the rest. Adam Bergman saw how limiting that was. He built IRA Financial to prove that retirement money can do much more than track an index.
IRA Financial helps individuals use their IRAs and 401(k)s to invest in assets they actually understand, such as real estate, private companies, gold, or even cryptocurrency. All of it is allowed under IRS rules. The concept has existed for decades, but access and awareness have been missing. Bergman decided to fix both.
A Lawyer Who Saw the Opportunity
Before founding IRA Financial, Bergman worked as a tax attorney in New York City. The turning point came when a client asked about using retirement funds to invest in his own hedge fund. Researching the request, Bergman discovered that the tax code already allowed it. Investors simply never heard about it because traditional firms built their business around keeping retirement money tied to public markets.
That realization set him on a new path. He left the law, built IRA Financial from scratch, and focused on educating people about the full potential of their retirement savings. Today, the company manages over $4 billion in assets for more than 25,000 clients.
Building a Smarter Platform
When Bergman entered the space, the self-directed IRA industry was outdated. It relied on paperwork, high fees, and slow processes. He saw an opportunity to modernize it with technology and better service. His background in tax law gave him the confidence to navigate regulation while building a compliant and efficient business.
IRA Financial acts as a custodian and recordkeeper rather than a financial advisor. The company does not tell clients what to buy or take a share of their returns. It handles the structure and reporting that make alternative investing possible within retirement accounts. This allows investors to maintain control while following the rules.
Learning How to Scale
Bergman often points to the time it took to build IRA Financial into a stable, growing company. It was not quick or easy. He started without outside investors and learned through trial and error. One of the most important lessons was about people.
Early on, he held on to employees who were loyal but no longer the right fit as the business expanded. Letting go was difficult, but it showed him that smaller, stronger teams can achieve more than large groups that lack the right skills. Hiring top talent became one of his nonnegotiables as the company grew.
Technology as the Game Changer
Bergman believes every industry faces a point where it must evolve or disappear. For retirement services, that time is now. Technology has already changed how people open accounts and transfer funds. Artificial intelligence is now reshaping education and client support.
Rather than resist it, IRA Financial uses these tools to simplify a complex process. Its platform helps clients open accounts, move funds, and make investments that once required piles of paperwork. Bergman sees AI as an extension of that mission, a way to make financial knowledge accessible and help people make smarter decisions faster.
The Case for Control
The company’s growth reflects a broader shift toward independence. Many of IRA Financial’s clients are entrepreneurs and professionals who prefer to invest in assets they can evaluate directly. They use their retirement funds to buy rental property, invest in private companies, or add exposure to digital assets.
Bergman was early to recognize the potential of cryptocurrency inside retirement accounts. He views blockchain as part of a larger evolution in how people hold and transfer value. His focus remains diversification, not speculation, using every available tool to build steady, long-term wealth.
A Mission About Empowerment
At the heart of IRA Financial’s success is education. Many investors are surprised to learn they can use retirement savings this way. The company’s goal is to make that knowledge mainstream and remove the barriers that keep people tied to conventional options.
Bergman’s own journey mirrors that message. He left a comfortable legal career to help others find financial independence. Fifteen years later, IRA Financial has become a trusted name for those who want more control over their future.
In an industry built on limitation, Bergman’s work is about freedom. IRA Financial gives investors a way to take ownership of their money and their choices, creating a future that belongs to them.
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