Following the rules set forth by the IRS will protect against the losss of the tax-deferred status of your account.

What investments cannot be made?

The following comes from IRS Publication 590:

"Prohibited Transactions"

Generally, a prohibited transaction is any improper use of your traditional IRA account or annuity by you, your beneficiary, or any disqualified person.

Disqualified persons include your fiduciary and members of your family (spouse, ancestor, lineal descendant, and any spouse of a lineal descendant).

The following are examples of prohibited transactions with a traditional IRA:

Borrowing money from it.
Selling property to it.
Receiving unreasonable compensation for managing it.
Using it as security for a loan.
Buying property for personal use (present or future) with IRA funds.

IRS Publications

The following is a list of relevant IRS publications regarding IRAs:

• IRS Publication 560 - Small Business Retirement Plans
• IRS Publication 590 - Individual Retirement Accounts
• IRS Publication 575 - Pensions and Annuities
• IRS Publication 529 - Miscellaneous Deductions
• IRS Publication 550 - Investment Income and Expenses
• IRS Publication 598 - Tax on Unrelated Business Income
• IRS Publication 3125 - The IRS Does Not Approve IRA Investments

Who's Not Disqualified

• Your brothers and sisters
• your spouse's brothers and sisters
• your spouse's parents
• your spouse's grandparents
• your stepchildren
• your spouse's stepchildren
• your grandparent's spouse, if not your natural grandparent
• your aunts, uncles, and cousins

 Who's Disqualified

• you
• your spouse
• your parents and/or your adoptive parents
• your natural grandparents
• your natural children and/or your adopted children
• The spouse of your natural children
• your grandchildren
• Any fiduciary
• Any people providing services to your IRA