302. Self-Directed IRAs: The Retirement Strategy Nobody Told You About with Kaaren Hall
The Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Release Date: 10/14/2025
The Game On Girlfriend Podcast
There are three questions every human being is asking: Do you see me? Do you hear me? And do I matter? When the voice you're putting out into the world doesn't actually sound like you — when it's been sanded down into something professional and polished and unrecognizable — those three questions go unanswered for the very people you are trying to reach. In this episode, I sit down with Patricia Viscount — brand voice strategist, former Canadian Army Public Affairs Officer with NATO tours in Bosnia and Kosovo, and Communication Specialist in the international energy sector — to...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Parenting. Just that one word is enough to make your shoulders tighten, isn’t it? In this episode, I sit down with Randi Crawford — certified life coach, speaker, author, and mom — to talk honestly about what it actually takes to raise kids who can handle life when you’re not there to fix it for them. Randi spent years coaching young women before she realized the real work needed to happen one generation up — with the moms. What she found, over and over, was that the struggle these girls were experiencing traced directly back to one thing: parents who loved their kids...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
You did the hard part. You sorted through the closets, cleared out the garage, and made the piles. Now you are standing there looking at all of it, wondering what actually comes next. That is exactly the problem Jessica James built Madilyn James to solve. In this episode, I sit down with Jessica — serial entrepreneur, tech founder, and the woman behind a brand new e-commerce platform built specifically for people who want to sell secondhand items online without juggling multiple platforms, paying anything upfront, or figuring out a marketing strategy on top of everything else. Jessica walks...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Say the word "taxes" out loud. Did your shoulders just clench? Yeah. That's not an accident. In this episode, I sit down with Hannah Cole — artist, tax expert, author of Taxes for Humans, and founder of Sunlight Tax — to talk about why the tax industry profits from keeping you afraid, and what you can actually do about it. Hannah breaks down the three main IRA options available to self-employed women in plain, clear language that finally makes it click. She talks about why creatives, women, and anyone who doesn't fit the traditional financial mold has been left out of this conversation on...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Your success isn't scaring men away. But the energy you had to adopt to build that success? That might be creating a problem you didn't know existed. In this episode, Sarah talks with Laura Nagiel, a dating and confidence coach who works specifically with high-achieving women. Laura shares why being "twice as masculine as the men around you" at work can completely backfire when you're trying to build a romantic connection—and what to do about it. They explore the "second gear" successful women need to shift between work mode and dating mode, how to actually assess someone's level of ambition...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Ever walked into a room wondering if you really belonged there? Like they're going to find out you don't actually know what you're doing? Here's what Jen Mueller will tell you: If you're in the room, you're supposed to be there. Stop selling past the close. In this episode, Sarah welcomes Jen Mueller, founder of Talk Sporty to Me, to talk about the small wins that build unshakable confidence. They unpack why "hello" became Jen's measure of success, how bubble gum moments prove your small actions are stacking up, and why you need to stop over-proving yourself once you're already in the door....
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Ever felt like your business is technically moving forward—but you're still stuck in the "fine vortex"? Like you've traded your 9-to-5 for 24/7, your income swings from $2,000 to $8,000 to $3,000, and you're hustling harder but getting nowhere? In this powerful episode, Sarah welcomes Dr. LaChelle Wieme, entrepreneur, transformational speaker, and former anesthesiologist, to talk about the invisible "puppet strings" (limiting beliefs) that are running your business on autopilot—and how to cut them. They unpack what it takes to exit the fine vortex, rewire subconscious beliefs formed before...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Only 3% of venture capital funding goes to women-owned businesses. But here's the thing—it's not because your idea isn't good enough. It's because of foundational mistakes you're making before you even apply. Business strategist Ms. Cat (Catherine Mitchell) joins Sarah to break down exactly what keeps women entrepreneurs from accessing the billions in funding that's actually available. From choosing the wrong business name to using your personal Gmail account, these structural errors are disqualifying you before funders even look at your pitch. Ms. Cat walks through the NAICS code trap, why...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
Have you ever felt burned out? Not the "I don't feel like working today" kind—but the deep burnout where you're gaining weight you can't explain, nothing brings you joy, and you're hanging on by your fingernails just trying to get through each day? Former family law litigator Wendy Meadows knows this intimately. After years of fighting in courtrooms and bringing that combative energy home, she made a shift that changed everything. She became a health and wellness coach, discovered how coaching could transform her legal practice, and eventually left litigation for collaborative law and...
info_outlineThe Game On Girlfriend Podcast
You're posting consistently. Writing newsletters that take hours. You've got the degrees, certifications, and experience. But when someone searches for what you do? You're nowhere. If you've ever thought, "I've tried everything and nothing works," this conversation is for you. Sarah sits down with Carrolee Moore, founder of the Podcast Pitching Society, to unpack what it actually means to be visible—especially as a woman entrepreneur in a digital world full of noise. From the Currency of Visibility framework to using AI without losing your voice, Carrolee shares why authentic visibility...
info_outlineOnly 4% of people know about self-directed IRAs—accounts that let YOU control your retirement investments instead of a financial advisor.
Kaaren Hall, CEO of UDirect IRA Services, explains how your IRA can invest in real estate, private lending, local businesses, and things you actually believe in. For women entrepreneurs struggling to access capital, this $40 trillion pool of retirement money changes everything.
Learn what self-directed IRAs are, how to get started, and why this matters for your financial future.
Pop in those earphones. Let's talk retirement.
What You'll Learn
-
What makes a self-directed IRA different from a "regular" retirement account
-
Why only 4% of retirement funds are self-directed—and how you can join the movement
-
How to invest in real estate, gold, crypto, and private deals tax-advantaged
-
Where women entrepreneurs can find capital for their businesses
-
Why legal compliance matters when raising funds—and how to do it right
Related Episodes You Might Love
-
Ep. 95: When Your Life Falls Apart Because of Money (And Your Career Is Born) https://sarahwalton.com/michelle/
-
Ep. 227: How to Clear a Money Fog with Mikelann Valterra https://sarahwalton.com/clear-money-fog/
-
Ep. 109: Help! I'm Trapped In a Job I Hate! https://sarahwalton.com/trapped-job-i-hate/
Free gift from Kaaren Hall
Grab Kaaren's free report on self-directed IRA asset classes and start taking control of your retirement today! https://udirectira.com/free-report/
Connect with Kaaren Hall
About Kaaren Hall
Kaaren Hall is the founder and CEO of uDirect IRA Services, LLC, a leading provider of self-directed IRA accounts since 2009. With over two decades of experience in real estate, mortgage lending, and property management (and especially Self-Directed IRAs), Kaaren has empowered thousands of people to take control of their retirement funds and invest in alternative assets, such as real estate, private lending, precious metals, and more.
Her expertise in self-directed retirement accounts has made her a sought-after speaker, and she has been a featured panelist and presenter at industry-leading conferences, including BiggerPockets' BPCON22, 23 & 24.
Kaaren is also the founder of OCREIA (Orange County Real Estate Investors Association), where she fosters a vibrant community of real estate investors through education and networking since 2012.
Adding to her accolades, Kaaren is now the author of the newly published Self-Directed IRA Investing: A BiggerPockets Guide, the definitive resource for investors looking to unlock the power of self-directed IRAs to build wealth. Published by BiggerPockets Publishing, this comprehensive guide combines actionable insights, real-world examples, and Kaaren's extensive industry knowledge to help investors confidently navigate the world of self-directed retirement accounts.
Beyond her professional achievements, Kaaren's entrepreneurial journey has enabled her to support meaningful charitable giving and inspire others to take control of their financial futures. She also serves on the Board of Directors for The Council on Aging Southern California as well as the board for RITA (the Retirement Industry Trust Association), where she continues to advocate for transparency and education in the retirement industry.
Free gift from Sarah
Book a free 15-minute call to explore working together: https://app.acuityscheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=13047670&appointmentType=34706781
Ready to shift from chasing to receiving in your business? Book your call with Sarah today and discover how The Abundance Academy can help you scale with soul, strategy, and sanity.
Want to go deeper?
Join us inside The Abundance Academy — where high-achieving, heart-led women scale their dreams without burning out. (link: https://sarahwalton.com/abundance-academy/)
Connect with Sarah
-
Website: https://sarahwalton.com/
-
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thesarahwalton/
-
You can check out our podcast interviews on YouTube, too! http://bit.ly/YouTubeSWalton
Thank you so much for listening. I'm honored that you're here and would be grateful if you could leave a quick review on Apple Podcasts by clicking here, scrolling to the bottom, and clicking "Write a review." Then, we'll get to inspire even more people!
(If you're not sure how to leave a review, you can watch this quick tutorial.)
About Sarah Walton
Sarah Walton is a business coach specializing in helping women entrepreneurs overcome internal barriers to success. With a background in trauma-informed coaching and nervous system regulation, she takes a holistic approach that addresses both mindset and tactical business skills. Featured on The Today Show and speaking at women's conferences worldwide, Sarah has helped hundreds of women build profitable, sustainable businesses aligned with their values while healing the deeper blocks that keep them playing small. She's the creator of The Money Mindset Course, The Abundance Academy, and Effortless Sales, and the host of the 5-star-rated Game On Girlfriend® Podcast, becoming the go-to source for women who want to build businesses that honor both their ambition and their nervous system's need for safety.