Forge Trust provides custody for self-directed retirement accounts holding alternative investments. It may appeal to investors seeking assets beyond conventional brokerage holdings who are prepared to evaluate investments independently and manage additional costs, documentation, and liquidity risks.
For prospective customers, the central questions are whether Forge Trust can custody the intended asset, what the complete account will cost, and how the investment fits the retirement plan. A broader investment menu does not automatically produce better returns or lower risk.
This guide explains Forge Trust’s current ownership, account options, published fees, investment procedures, tax rules, and practical considerations.
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What Is Forge Trust?
Forge Trust describes itself as a non-depository trust company chartered in South Dakota and regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking. Its company page identifies its former name as IRA Services Trust Co.
The company provides custody and administrative services for individuals, financial advisers, investment issuers, and platforms.
A non-depository trust company should be understood according to its custody agreement rather than assumed to provide all the services of a retail bank or brokerage.
For someone searching for a Forge Trust review, current account documents, supported assets, fees, and transaction requirements are more useful than a general description of the brand.
Forge Trust, Forge Global, and Charles Schwab
Forge Trust’s website identifies it as part of Forge Global. Charles Schwab completed its acquisition of Forge Global Holdings on March 2, 2026.
The relationship is relevant to ownership, but it should not be used to assume that a Forge Trust account has the same pricing, features, or investment protections as a conventional Schwab brokerage IRA.
Confirm the legal entity named in the agreement, the services provided, and the terms applicable to the individual account.
Forge Trust Account Options
Forge Trust’s forms page lists Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs, inherited IRA documentation, Coverdell Education Savings Accounts, and self-employed 401(k) accounts.
A Coverdell ESA and a self-employed 401(k) are separate structures rather than types of IRA.
Traditional and Roth IRAs
Traditional IRA contributions may be deductible, subject to eligibility and income rules. Distributions are generally taxable except for applicable after-tax basis.
Roth contributions are made with after-tax money. Qualified distributions are tax-free when the relevant requirements are met.
Self-direction changes the investment choices, not the account’s fundamental tax character.
Business Owner Accounts
SEP, SIMPLE, and self-employed 401(k) arrangements have different contribution calculations, employee eligibility requirements, and administration obligations.
Compare these using the actual business workforce, compensation, and other retirement-plan participation. A structure suitable for an owner-only business may need reconsideration after employees are hired.
Inherited IRAs
Inherited accounts have special distribution rules. Confirm beneficiary status and applicable deadlines before transferring an account or committing it to an illiquid investment.
What Can a Forge Trust IRA Hold?
Forge Trust identifies real estate, secured and unsecured notes, eligible precious metals, private equity, and crowdfunding investments among its asset categories.
Obtain written confirmation that the exact asset and ownership structure can be supported. Legal permissibility and operational acceptance are separate questions.
Real Estate
Assess rental income after vacancy, property taxes, insurance, maintenance, management expenses, and selling costs. Gross rent alone does not establish an investment’s economic value.
Maintain enough account cash for unexpected repairs or vacant periods. A purchase that uses almost all available retirement cash can create funding pressure later.
Direct property ownership and an interest in a real estate fund create different responsibilities, expenses, and exit options.
Notes and Private Lending
Review borrower finances, collateral, lien priority, maturity, payment schedules, and default provisions.
A high interest rate provides little protection if the borrower cannot pay or enforcement is expensive. Determine who handles collection and how the account would fund legal proceedings.
Consider whether cash flow arrives regularly or depends primarily on repayment at maturity.
Private Company Shares and Funds
Review financial statements, valuation methods, sponsor compensation, leverage, dilution, capital calls, and resale restrictions.
Holding a private asset in an IRA does not remove restrictions imposed by the issuer or investment agreement. Establish the expected exit mechanism before investing.
Crowdfunding
The platform’s accessibility should be distinguished from the underlying investment’s suitability. Review each offering’s economics, disclosures, fees, and redemption terms.
A portfolio containing several offerings can still have substantial concentration if they depend on the same market, sponsor, or financing conditions.
Forge Trust Fees
The linked fee schedule is effective December 1, 2025. It lists $0 setup for online applications and $50 for application forms.
Forge Trust’s standard maintenance fee is $85 per quarter, or $340 annually, before asset charges. Category A holdings, including securities, private shares, and private placements, incur an additional $15 per asset each quarter, while metals incur $15 per account each quarter.
Category B holdings, such as IRA LLCs, notes, deeds of trust, and non-recourse loans, cost $25 per asset quarterly. Category C holdings, including direct real estate and land, cost $50 per asset quarterly.
A single Category A asset held throughout the year therefore adds $60 in annual asset fees. The schedule also lists transaction fees of $50 for Categories A and B, $150 for Category C, and a $175 account termination fee. The standard minimum cash balance is $500, subject to the applicable account agreement.
How to Evaluate Total Cost
Ask for an estimate using the actual balance, assets, liabilities, and expected activity. Include purchases, sales, distributions, transfers, storage, valuation work, and professional advice.
Annualizing quarterly charges is useful for comparison, but actual billing depends on the schedule’s timing and account activity.
Also compare exit costs. An account that seems inexpensive to maintain may become more costly to move when several assets require re-registration.
Platform-Specific Pricing
Account terms obtained through an investment platform can differ from standard public pricing. Groundfloor, for example, says its Forge Trust arrangement generally has a discounted $50 quarterly charge and that users became responsible for direct payment beginning July 2026.
That rate should not be generalized to all Forge Trust accounts. Confirm the applicable arrangement and whether any sponsor subsidy or discount can change.
View the Best Gold IRA Companies in the USForge Trust Gold IRA and Storage Considerations
Forge Trust supports certain precious metals through self-directed accounts.
Its fee disclosure names Delaware Depository and BlueVault. Delaware’s standard storage is $1 per $1,000 of asset value, with a $100 minimum. Segregated storage uses a $190 minimum or $1.60 per $1,000, whichever is greater. Confirm eligibility and shipping charges.
Storage is additional to custody charges. Obtain a complete quote for the specific arrangement.
IRS rules generally prohibit collectibles but allow certain coins and qualifying bullion. Eligible gold bullion generally requires 99.5% fineness, subject to statutory coin exceptions such as American Gold Eagles, and must satisfy trustee-possession requirements.
The IRA owns the metal. Directing purchases does not authorize treating IRA-owned bullion as personal property.
Compare the dealer’s purchase price with a current buyback quote. Buyback availability and pricing are not guaranteed, and the trading spread can materially affect the investment result.
IRA LLC and Checkbook Control
Forge Trust publishes forms for initial and subsequent investments in IRA-owned LLCs, an LLC agreement, expense requests, and valuations.
An IRA-owned LLC can change transaction mechanics, but it adds legal, banking, and recordkeeping responsibilities. Checkbook access does not waive prohibited-transaction rules or eliminate the custodian.
Obtain independent advice about ownership, management authority, operating agreements, payments, and state requirements. Compare formation and ongoing expenses with the operational benefit.
The structure should solve a concrete need rather than be selected solely because it offers faster transaction access.
How to Open and Fund an Account
Forge Trust offers online applications and application kits that can be completed using PDF or DocuSign. Begin by selecting the appropriate account type and confirming eligibility, then review the current custody agreement and fee schedule.
Before transferring funds, confirm that Forge Trust accepts the proposed asset and ownership structure, and evaluate the investment independently. Complete the required identification and beneficiary information, then choose an appropriate funding method, such as a contribution, transfer, or eligible rollover.
Once funds have cleared, submit complete investment instructions, verify that the transaction has been completed, and retain the supporting records. For employer-plan rollovers, customers should initiate the process with their current plan administrator.
Account establishment, the arrival of funds, and investment completion are separate stages, so allow sufficient time for the outgoing provider, investment sponsor, and other transaction parties.
2026 IRA Contribution Limits
For 2026, the combined annual contribution limit for Traditional and Roth IRAs is $7,500, or $8,600 for someone age 50 or older. Eligible compensation and additional account restrictions also apply.
An eligible transfer or rollover of existing retirement assets is distinct from a new contribution. Confirm the funding classification and tax compatibility before moving assets.
Business-owner plans use different contribution calculations. Do not apply the individual IRA limit indiscriminately to every retirement arrangement.
Valuations and Ongoing Account Management
Forge Trust states that owners must provide annual valuations. Depending on the investment, information may come from the issuer or sponsor, while real estate may need independent third-party evidence.
Ask what valuation evidence is accepted, when it is due, and how uncertain or unavailable values are handled.
A reported value is not necessarily the amount obtainable in a prompt sale. Distinguish accounting and tax reporting from liquidity.
Keep beneficiaries, contact details, and authorized representatives current. Regularly review statements, incoming payments, expenses, and pending requests.
Tax and Compliance Rules
Prohibited Transactions
IRS examples include borrowing from an IRA, selling property to it, using its assets as loan security, and buying property for personal use.
Disqualified persons include a spouse, ancestors, lineal descendants, and spouses of lineal descendants, among others. An owner or beneficiary’s prohibited transaction can cause the affected account to lose IRA status from the first day of the year, creating a deemed distribution and possible additional taxes.
Have related-party arrangements reviewed before signing. A market-rate contract does not automatically resolve the issue.
Unrelated Business Income Tax
Certain operating-business investments and debt-financed assets can generate taxable income inside an IRA. IRS Publication 598 explains unrelated business and debt-financed income rules.
An IRA with at least $1,000 of gross unrelated trade or business income must file Form 990-T.
Estimate tax and filing costs before using leverage or purchasing a pass-through business interest.
Distributions and Liquidity
Plan for retirement distributions before committing heavily to illiquid holdings. Private funds and real estate may be difficult to sell on a required timetable.
Any required minimum distribution, inherited-account obligation, or proposed in-kind distribution needs account-specific tax review.
Is Forge Trust Safe?
Custody safeguards and investment safety are separate matters. Forge Trust’s disclosures state that investments are not FDIC insured and may lose principal.
Investor.gov warns that using a legitimate custodian does not establish that an investment is legitimate. Self-directed investments can involve limited disclosures, illiquidity, higher costs, and fraud risk.
Evaluate the investment independently. Ask for written information about uninvested cash, custody controls, and any insurance arrangements rather than assuming the corporate owner protects against investment losses.
Who May Find Forge Trust Suitable?
Forge Trust may be worth evaluating for investors with a researched alternative-asset strategy, adequate liquidity, and access to independent professional advice.
It may be less suitable for someone seeking discretionary investment management, frequent access to retirement cash, or a simple account holding only conventional public securities.
The decision should begin with retirement purpose, time horizon, diversification, and cash needs. Custodian selection follows that plan.
Conclusion
Forge Trust offers self-directed custody for investors seeking alternative assets. Its suitability depends on the proposed investments, current account terms, complete costs, and the owner’s ability to manage liquidity and compliance.
Before opening an account, obtain a written fee estimate, confirm asset acceptance, and review the investment independently. A sound decision connects the custody arrangement with a diversified retirement plan and realistic expectations for after-tax returns.
