How do I open an IRA account?
IRA accounts on our platform are powered by Equity Trust, a seasoned self-directed IRA custodian.
If you are an existing Equity Trust client, please view this article to learn how to connect your IRA account.
If you are a Willow Wealth member wishing to open an IRA account, please follow the below steps:
Initiate account
Log in to your Willow Wealth account and go to your Accounts page.
Click the “+” button to add a new investor account.
Choose “Retirement Account” as the account type.
Select your IRA Type
Please choose the IRA type you’d like to open. We partner with Equity Trust to manage your retirement account. Inherited IRAs of these types are also supported:Roth IRA
SEP IRA
SIMPLE IRA
Traditional IRA
Provide your Personal Details
Enter the requested information and click “Submit” to initiate your account setup with Equity Trust.
Sign agreements
Within a few moments of opening your IRA account through Willow Wealth, Equity Trust will email you a DocuSign with your application packet.
Review the packet, then complete the digital signature.
Please note: Certain investors may require additional verification from Equity Trust. If this is the case, an Equity Trust representative will contact you.
Set up myEQUITY
myEQUITY is Equity Trust’s digital portal. You will use myEQUITY to connect your account to Willow Wealth, fund your account, and more.
After completing the DocuSign, you will receive an email from Equity Trust with your Equity account number.
Navigate to myEQUITY.com, select “Register for online access”, and follow the onscreen instructions to register.
Connect to Willow Wealth
Once your myEQUITY login is set up, the final step is to connect your Equity Trust account to Willow Wealth.
Navigate to the homepage of myEQUITY and select the “WealthBridge” tile. Select “Willow Wealth”, then click “Login to Willow Wealth”.
After logging in to Willow Wealth, your Equity Trust will be connected to our platform.
What are the fees on an IRA account?
IRA accounts on Willow Wealth are powered by Equity Trust, a seasoned self-directed IRA custodian.
To provide the best-possible experience for our investors, Equity Trust charges an account fee based on the total balance of your IRA. Willow Wealth has negotiated a reduced fee schedule with Equity Trust for our investors.
The annual fee will be assessed in the first quarter of each year and all accounts are charged a one-time $50 setup fee.
2024 annual fee schedule
IRA account size $0-100,000
Equity Trust fee: $250
IRA account size: $100,001-250,000
Equity Trust fee: $350
IRA account size: $250,001+
Equity Trust fee: $450
To view Equity Trust’s full fee schedule please click here.
The fee structure only applies to accounts created through Willow Wealth and invested in Willow Wealth products. Must not have established an Equity Trust account before joining Willow Wealth. Accounts holding assets other than Willow Wealth products will move to the standard Equity Trust fee schedule. See your Equity Trust Custodial Account Agreement for all terms.
What types of retirement accounts do you support?
Willow Wealth members can open the following retirement account types through our partner custodian, Equity Trust:
Roth IRA
An individual retirement account that offers tax-free growth and tax-free withdrawals in retirement.
Traditional IRA
A traditional IRA is a type of individual retirement account that lets your earnings grow tax-deferred. You pay taxes on your investment gains only when you make withdrawals in retirement.
Simple IRA
A Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees (SIMPLE IRA) is a retirement plan that allows small businesses to provide matching or non-elective contributions to employee retirement accounts, with simpler and lower-cost administration compared to other retirement plans.
SEP IRA
A Simplified Employee Pension (SEP or SEP-IRA) IRA is a retirement savings plan that allows employers, especially small businesses, to make tax-deductible contributions to individual retirement accounts (IRAs) set up for their employees.
Can I create multiple IRA accounts?
Equity Trust clients have the option to create multiple IRA accounts. You may create as many IRAs as Equity Trust permits, and you may invest with those accounts on Willow Wealth.
How to contact Equity Trust?
New customers are routed to specialized Account Executives and Onboarders. You should have received a welcome email with a representative’s contact information within the first 24 hours of signup.
Generalized questions can go to the CST Team at help@trustetc.com or 888-382-4727.
You can also use this link to schedule an appointment: ETC Calendar Link
How to verify accreditation?
You can verify your accreditation status by logging in to your account > click "Accounts" from the top ribbon > select the investor account > then submit accreditation.
You can verify your accreditation status in one of four ways:
Income: Submit W-2s for the past two years if earning over $200K individually or $300K jointly.
Net Worth: Upload bank/brokerage statements showing assets and a credit report if net worth exceeds $1M.
Third party verification: Have your CPA or lawyer validate your status.
CRD number: If you hold a Series 7, 65, or 82 license in good standing, provide your CRD number.
For more detailed information on how to qualify to verify your accreditation status, you can see our essential guide to becoming an accredited investor here.
How are funds transferred when I invest with my Equity Trust IRA investor account?
Funding for your Equity Trust IRA investor account is automatically wired to Willow Wealth by Equity Trust once you successfully submit an investment request on our platform. Please be sure you have adequate funds available in your self-directed IRA (SDIRA) account before submitting your investment request.
How do I track my investments?
You can see investments both on myEQUITY and on your Willow Wealth investments page.
You can access performance updates about your investments on the Willow Wealth activity feed.
How do I receive payments from my investments?
When your Equity Trust IRA investor account is set to receive a payment, funds will be automatically wired directly to your Equity Trust account.