Mat Sorensen
CEO, Directed IRA
& Tax Attorney

Mat Sorensen is the Founder & CEO of Directed IRA and a tax attorney. He has worked in the self-directed IRA industry since 2006 and is the author of The Self-Directed IRA Handbook, the #1 book on self-directed IRAs, with over 60,000 copies sold.

Mat Sorensen, Founder & CEO of Directed IRA
In the Self-Directed IRA Industry
0 + YRS
Handbook Copies Sold
0 K+
Retirement Accounts at Directed IRA
0 K+
Placed in Alternative Assets by Clients
$ 0 B+

About Mat Sorensen

Mat Sorensen has spent his career helping investors use their retirement accounts to invest in what they know. He has worked in the self-directed IRA industry since 2006. As a tax attorney, he held more than 10,000 consultations and set up thousands of LLCs, IRA/LLCs, Solo 401(k)s and S corporations for clients.

In 2018, Mat co-founded Directed IRA in Phoenix with Mark J. Kohler, a CPA and attorney, to make self-directing simpler for investors and their advisors. Directed IRA is a Tradename of Directed Trust Company, an Arizona-licensed trust company. Today it serves more than 25,000 retirement accounts and has helped thousands of investors place more than $3 billion into alternative assets. Directed IRA has been named an Inc. 5000 company for four consecutive years.

Mat is the author of The Self-Directed IRA Handbook, the #1 book on self-directed IRAs. He co-hosts the Directed IRA Podcast with Mark, founded and hosts the Self-Directed IRA Summit and the Alternative Asset Summit, and speaks to investors and professionals on self-directed accounts, wealth building, and tax and legal strategies. His work has been featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, The Guardian and Bloomberg, and he has appeared on Fox and ABC.

He writes and speaks most often about self-directed IRAs, Solo 401(k)s, Roth IRAs and Roth conversions, IRA/LLCs (checkbook control), real estate and crypto in retirement accounts, prohibited transactions, and the unrelated business income tax (UBIT) and unrelated debt-financed income (UDFI) rules.

His approach is simple: invest in what you know, learn the rules, and remember that your IRA owns the investment, not you.

Credentials & Recognition

• Founder & CEO, Directed IRA by Directed Trust Company.
• Author of The Self-Directed IRA Handbook, with over 60,000 copies sold.
• J.D., University of Maryland School of Law. B.S. in Economics, University of Utah.
• Investment News, Top 100 most influential people in self-directed IRAs.
• Featured in The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Yahoo Finance, The Guardian and Bloomberg. VIP Contributor at Entrepreneur.
• Guest appearances on Fox, ABC and other networks discussing self-directed retirement strategies.
• Founder and host of the Self-Directed IRA Summit and the Alternative Asset Summit.
• Co-host of the Directed IRA Podcast and the Main Street Business Podcast, with over 2.5 million downloads combined.
• Board member or former board member of the Individual Retirement Rights Association, the Coalition for American Retirement and the Foundation for Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy.
• Former instructor in the Retirement Industry Trust Association (RITA) self-directed IRA professional certification program.

Learn from Mat through his book, podcast and events.

For two decades, Mat has taught investors and their advisors how the self-directed rules work. Pick the format that suits you.

The Self-Directed IRA Handbook

The #1 book on self-directed IRAs, with over 60,000 copies sold. It covers the rules, IRA/LLCs, real estate, UBIT and Solo 401(k)s.
Download a digital copy.

Directed IRA Podcast

Mat and co-founder Mark J. Kohler break down self-directed IRA news, strategies and listener questions.
Listen and subscribe.

Self-Directed IRA Events

Mat founded and hosts the Self-Directed IRA Summit and the Alternative Asset Summit for investors and professionals.
Learn more.

Latest from Mat

Articles, videos and podcast episodes from Mat Sorensen.

Articles & Videos

Thanks to SECURE 2.0, up to $35,000 of leftover 529 money can now be rolled into the…

November 10, 2026

Articles & Videos

Buying real estate with an IRA can be a powerful way to use retirement funds in an…

August 14, 2026

Articles & Videos

Millions of Americans have used self-directed IRAs for decades to invest beyond the stock market, yet many…

August 7, 2026

Articles & Videos

Lawmakers in Washington, D.C., have introduced legislation that would place new limits on certain large retirement accounts,…

July 23, 2026

Articles & Videos

Choosing a self-directed IRA custodian is one of the most important decisions you’ll make when opening a…

July 23, 2026

Articles & Videos

Learn how to buy and sell cryptocurrency tax-free inside a self-directed Roth IRA. This article explains how…

July 15, 2026

Not sure where to start?

We can help! We want everyone who self-directs their IRA to feel confident that they’re doing it right, whether you’re brand new or a seasoned investor. Schedule a 15-minute chat with Directed IRA and we’ll help you invest in what you know.

Our office will be closed on Wednesday, November 11, in observance of Veterans Day.

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Self-Directed IRA Getting Started Resources

New to self-directed retirement accounts? These resources are designed to help you understand the fundamentals and get started the right way.

 

Access curated webinars, guides, and educational content covering investment options, account structures, and the rules that govern self-directed IRAs.

 

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Get Access to SDIRA Handbook Resources

Mat Sorensen, Attorney, CEO, and Founder of Directed IRA, wrote the #1 book on self-directed IRAs – selling over 50,000 copies nationwide. The Self Directed IRA Handbook is a comprehensive guide written for both investors and advisors alike. Get access to your SDIRA Handbook resources today!

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Beginner's Guide:
How to Self-Direct Your IRA

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#1 Book
on Self-Directed IRAs

Mat Sorensen, Attorney, CEO, and Founder of Directed IRA, wrote the #1 book on self-directed IRAs – selling over 50,000 copies nationwide. The Self Directed IRA Handbook is a comprehensive guide written for both investors and advisors alike. Download your free copy today!

By downloading The Self-Directed IRA Handbook, you opt-in to receive marketing communications from Directed Trust Company. Unsubscribe at anytime.