Next Generation Trust Company, a custodian of self-directed retirement plans, has announced a strategic partnership with KJLK & Co., LLC, to provide accredited investors with access to the Square One Fund platform through their self-directed IRAs. The collaboration aims to expand investment options for retirement savers by incorporating alternative assets into their portfolios, a move that reflects a broader trend toward diversification beyond traditional stocks and bonds.
Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation Trust Company, emphasized the significance of the partnership, stating, “This strategic partnership allows our accredited investor clients to diversify their retirement investments via high-value alternative assets using funds from their Next Generation IRA, embedding a broadly diversified product into their overall portfolio.” The firm offers full account administration and asset custody for self-directed IRAs and other self-directed plans.
The Square One Fund, LP, operates as a dual-track private investment platform utilizing parallel fund structures under Sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. It allocates capital across a diversified group of vetted managers, spanning private equity, venture capital, private credit, hedge fund strategies, real estate, and infrastructure. This architecture allows KJLK to accommodate both qualified purchasers via its main fund and accredited investors via a dedicated parallel feeder vehicle, providing streamlined access to alternative strategies through a single, professionally managed ecosystem.
Joseph LaTurner, principal of KJLK & Co., LLC, explained the value proposition of the fund: “Square One Fund provides access to alternative strategies and private markets in a structure that systematically addresses the general lack of liquidity and the heavy due diligence burdens individual investors typically face.” He noted that their disciplined approach, which compares intrinsic value against cost, delivers strong long-term benefits with greater redemption flexibility than many comparable private funds.
LaTurner selected Next Generation as the strategic partner due to Raskulinecz’s entrepreneurial spirit and the team’s ability to think differently about investing. Next Generation Trust Company is now featured under “Products” on the KJLK website as the preferred self-directed IRA custodian for its alternative strategy and private market products.
The partnership also opens opportunities for registered investment advisors (RIAs). Raskulinecz invited independent fee-based financial advisors to work with Next Generation to expand their clients’ access to alternative assets. “When their clients open a self-directed IRA at Next Generation, those advisors retain the client relationship and assets under management, and continue collecting their customary fees while helping their clients build a more eclectic portfolio,” she said.
To participate, eligible investors must open and fund a self-directed account with Next Generation, then deploy retirement assets to subscribe for a limited partnership interest in the fund. As a Rule 506(c) offering, all investors’ statuses are subject to mandatory independent third-party verification.
This partnership underscores the growing importance of self-directed IRAs in providing access to private markets, traditionally the domain of institutional investors. By offering a professionally managed fund with built-in diversification and due diligence, it lowers barriers for accredited individuals seeking alternative investments within their retirement plans.
For more information about Next Generation Trust Company and the many alternative assets allowed through self-direction, go to NextGenerationTrust.com. To learn more about KJLK & Co. and its Square One Fund, visit convictionfunds.com.
