Equity Trust and STRATA Trust both provide custody for self-directed IRAs, including accounts holding alternative investments. The better choice depends on the assets you intend to hold, account value, transaction frequency, storage needs, and the service arrangement available to you.
Equity Trust’s Universal IRA uses account-value pricing and includes specified transaction services. STRATA’s current pricing separates a precious metals tier from a Flex tier, with additional holding charges for private assets and direct real estate.
Neither provider is automatically the lower-cost or more suitable choice. Compare written quotes for the same account and investment plan before deciding.
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What Does Equity Trust Offer?
Equity Trust supports self-directed accounts and promotes its Universal IRA as a way to combine alternative and traditional investments. Its linked brokerage services operate through affiliate ETC Brokerage Services.
The Universal IRA includes access to a digital-asset platform and certain services intended for real estate investors. Its commission-free trade allowance has limits, investment restrictions, and additional regulatory or contract charges.
The practical question is whether those services matter to your investment plan. Included features have limited value if you will not use them.
Equity Trust publishes multiple account schedules, including Universal IRA, legacy retail, enterprise, and precious metals pricing. Do not assume one schedule applies to every customer.
What Does STRATA Trust Offer?
STRATA supports Traditional, Roth, SEP, and SIMPLE IRAs and describes custody for private assets, direct real estate, precious metals, and public investments.
STRATA identifies itself as a Texas-chartered trust company regulated by the Texas Department of Banking.
For prospective customers, evaluate the procedures for the exact investment rather than relying on a broad supported-asset list. A property purchase, private fund subscription, and bullion transaction have different documentation and timing needs.
How Their Custodial Roles Compare
Both companies describe directed-custody roles and disclose that they do not provide investment, legal, or tax advice. STRATA also states that it does not perform investment due diligence or endorse sponsors.
A custodian’s acceptance of an asset should not be interpreted as a recommendation or assurance of returns.
Investors remain responsible for assessing financial projections, sponsor quality, conflicts of interest, liquidity, and tax consequences. Independent advisers can help evaluate these matters before retirement funds are committed.
Equity Trust vs STRATA Trust Fees
Equity Trust’s currently linked Universal IRA fee schedule, revised August 2026, lists annual maintenance fees based on account value. Accounts under $50,000 cost $350 annually, while accounts valued between $50,000 and $99,999 cost $500.
The annual fee rises to $750 for balances between $100,000 and $249,999, $1,000 for $250,000 to $499,999, and $1,500 for $500,000 to $749,999. Accounts valued between $750,000 and $999,999 incur a $2,000 annual fee, while balances of $1,000,000 or more cost $2,500 annually.
Setup costs $50 for an online application or $75 for a paper application. Specified alternative-asset purchases and sales are included, while full account termination costs $250. Additional charges may apply depending on the services requested.
STRATA Pricing
STRATA publishes a $150 annual metals IRA fee plus $115 commingled or $175 segregated storage, subject to depository exceptions.
Its Flex tier costs $395 annually, plus $50 per private asset or $150 per property, with respective caps of $500 and $1,500. Metals storage is additional when applicable.
Selected transaction charges are $50 for private assets, $150 for real estate, and $40 for metals. Closure is $250; electronic setup is waived.
Why the Base Fee Is Not Enough
The comparison needs to include holdings, transaction activity, banking services, transfers, storage, and third-party expenses. An account that is cheaper to hold may cost more to transact in or move.
Ask both providers to price the same assumptions. Confirm which schedule applies, how holdings are counted, what is included, and whether any dealer or sponsor subsidy expires.
| Comparison factor | Equity Trust | STRATA Trust |
| Primary role | Self-directed IRA custodian that administers accounts and processes investor-directed transactions. | Self-directed IRA custodian that administers accounts and processes investor directed transactions. |
| Investment options | Supports precious metals, real estate, private equity, private lending, cryptocurrency, and traditional securities through available account arrangements. | Supports precious metals, real estate, private market investments, and traditional securities through its applicable account tiers. |
| Gold IRA availability | Offers custodial services for IRAs holding eligible physical precious metals. | Offers a dedicated Precious Metals tier for IRAs investing exclusively in eligible physical metals. |
| Precious metals supported | Eligible gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. | Eligible gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. |
| Annual custodial fees | Uses different fee schedules depending on the account arrangement. Confirm the schedule applicable to a metals only or diversified account. | Publishes a dedicated Precious Metals fee schedule and a separate Flex schedule for broader investment holdings. |
| Storage costs | Annual storage charges apply to physical metals alongside account maintenance fees. Obtain a written breakdown. | Lists separate charges for metals transactions, depository handling, shipping, and other services |
| Holding multiple asset types | Offers arrangements for combining traditional and alternative investments within one account. | Its Flex tier supports a mix of investment types, with additional holding fees for certain assets. |
| Physical metals storage | Metals are held through supported depositories rather than in the investor’s personal possession. | Metals are held through supported depositories rather than in the investor’s personal possession |
| Investment advice | Acts as a directed custodian. Investment selection and due diligence remain the investor’s responsibility. | Acts as a directed custodian. Investment selection and due diligence remain the investor’s responsibility. |
| Potential fit | Investors seeking broad investment access and account arrangements covering several asset classes. | Investors comparing a dedicated metals account with a separately priced diversified account. |
Illustrative Cost Comparisons
The examples below apply the published schedules above. They exclude setup, special services, professional advice, and investment expenses.
$75,000 With One Private Asset
Equity Trust’s Universal IRA maintenance is $500. STRATA Flex plus one private holding is $445. One $50 STRATA private-asset transaction brings that illustration to $495.
$300,000 With One Direct Property
Equity Trust’s Universal IRA maintenance is $1,000. STRATA Flex plus one property is $545, before transactions. One $150 STRATA property transaction brings the illustration to $695.
These calculations illustrate how balance and activity affect costs. Confirm actual asset classification and applicability before relying on them.
Metals-Only Accounts
STRATA’s published custody-and-storage totals are $265 with commingled storage or $325 with segregated storage, before transactions and other charges.
Equity Trust lists a separate metals-only schedule, but its linked document could not be verified during this review. Obtain that quote before declaring either provider cheaper for a Gold IRA. Universal IRA pricing is not a substitute for metals-only pricing.
Which Is Better for a Gold IRA?
A Gold IRA comparison should focus on complete custody and storage costs, accepted products, depository arrangements, transaction procedures, and dealer independence.
STRATA describes working with Delaware Depository and Texas Precious Metals Depository. Storage options differ by location and metal.
Equity Trust’s Universal schedule lists $110 non-segregated and $160 segregated storage. Confirm the depository and whether those rates apply to the quoted metals account.
Dealer Costs Can Matter More Than Custodial Differences
The custodian administers the IRA; the dealer determines purchase and sale terms. Request a current buyback quote alongside the selling price to understand the spread.
Buyback availability and pricing are not guaranteed. Include dealer premiums, shipping, custody, and storage when assessing the investment.
IRS rules generally restrict collectibles but permit specified coins and qualifying bullion. Eligible gold bullion generally requires 99.5% fineness, subject to statutory coin exceptions such as American Gold Eagles, and must meet trustee-possession requirements. The IRA owns the metal. Investment control does not authorize personal possession.
Which Is Better for Real Estate?
Both providers support direct real estate, so compare the workflow as well as the cost.
Ask who signs closing documents, how expenses are paid, how rent is recorded, what happens when funding instructions are incomplete, and what valuation evidence is required.
An inclusive transaction arrangement may become more valuable as activity increases. A holding-fee structure may be attractive for a property retained with limited transactions. Those are pricing considerations rather than proof that one provider offers better service.
Maintain account liquidity for property taxes, repairs, insurance, and vacancies. A property that uses almost all retirement cash at acquisition can create operational pressure later.
Which Is Better for Private Lending and Funds?
Review note and fund documentation requirements, valuation procedures, payment handling, and the process for defaults or impaired assets.
For notes, evaluate borrower finances, collateral, lien priority, repayment capacity, and enforcement costs.
For funds, assess sponsor compensation, leverage, capital calls, redemption restrictions, and financial reporting. Custodial fees should be considered after determining that the investment itself is appropriate.
Obtain confirmation of the exact structure before moving funds. A broad asset category does not guarantee every offering can be administered.
Technology and Customer Service
Equity Trust’s public materials describe myEQUITY for account management and online transaction requests. STRATA describes digital onboarding and online documentation.
Assess the tasks you will actually perform: uploading investment documents, following a transaction, paying expenses, updating beneficiaries, and retrieving statements.
Avoid ranking service quality solely by provider claims or general review scores. Ask the same practical questions of both teams and evaluate the clarity of their answers.
For time-sensitive investments, confirm processing requirements and allow a buffer for the outgoing institution, sponsor, and closing parties.
Valuation and Retirement Distributions
Private investments may require owner or sponsor cooperation to establish annual values. Ask about evidence, deadlines, late charges, and unresolved valuations.
STRATA publishes detailed requirements for private-asset valuations, including consequences for missing updates.
Reported account value and realizable proceeds are different measures. A property or fund may have substantial value but limited liquidity.
Plan for distributions, including required minimum distributions where applicable, before concentrating in illiquid holdings. Any in-kind distribution or plan involving other retirement accounts needs account-specific tax review.
View the Best Gold IRA Companies in the USTax Rules Apply With Either Custodian
Changing custodians does not change the underlying IRA restrictions.
IRS examples of prohibited transactions include borrowing from an IRA, selling property to it, using its assets as loan security, and buying property for personal use. A prohibited transaction by an owner or beneficiary can cause the affected account to lose IRA status and trigger a deemed distribution.
Certain operating-business investments and debt-financed assets can also create unrelated business income tax obligations.
Obtain independent legal and tax advice before entering related-party arrangements or using leverage. A provider’s processing of instructions does not replace that review.
Are Either Provider’s Investments Guaranteed?
No. The custody arrangement should be evaluated separately from investment performance.
Investor.gov warns that a legitimate custodian does not establish that an investment is legitimate. Self-directed investments may involve fraud, limited disclosures, illiquidity, and higher costs.
Review cash arrangements, custody safeguards, and investment risks separately. Company insurance or regulatory oversight should not be interpreted as protection against ordinary market or investment losses.
How to Transfer Between Equity Trust and STRATA
Before initiating a transfer, confirm that the receiving provider accepts the assets and account type. Determine whether holdings can move in kind, need re-registration, or must first be sold.
Request outgoing and incoming cost estimates. Include sponsor, title, transfer-agent, and depository requirements where applicable.
Coordinate the transfer directly through the providers and verify tax compatibility. Taking a personal distribution can create different requirements from an institutional transfer.
Keep copies of instructions, confirmations, and final statements. Ask when the outgoing account is formally closed and whether further fees remain due.
Conclusion
Equity Trust and STRATA Trust can both support self-directed IRA investors, but their pricing structures create different outcomes. Account value, number of holdings, transaction activity, and metals storage are central to the comparison.
Choose the provider whose full costs and procedures fit the investment plan. Confirm current terms in writing, review investments independently, and maintain sufficient liquidity for expenses and retirement distributions.
