Next Generation Marks 20 Years as Leader in Self-Directed Retirement Plans

Next Generation, a full-service administrator and custodian for self-directed retirement plans, is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. Founded by CEO Jaime Raskulinecz in 2014, the firm has grown significantly, navigating clients through various market fluctuations, including the Great Recession in 2008 and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Raskulinecz emphasizes that self-directed investors, whose portfolios include alternative assets, have been better positioned to weather economic storms due to the non-correlation of their investments with stock market performance. "I had a vision 20 years ago to create a platform for more people to invest in alternative assets they know and understand, and want to include in their retirement plans," she stated, expressing pride in her team's achievements and the firm's growth.

Unlike typical brokerage accounts that limit investments to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, self-directed IRAs, HSAs, ESAs, Solo 401k's, and other plans managed by Next Generation allow investors to diversify their portfolios with non-publicly traded alternative assets. These include real estate, precious metals, private equity, mortgages, and more. Raskulinecz noted that many people are unaware they can build tax-advantaged retirement wealth by including these assets within a self-directed IRA.

Since its inception in 2014, Next Generation has grown to approximately $700 million in assets under custody. In 2017, Raskulinecz established Next Generation Trust Company, a regulated financial institution, to enhance client convenience by providing custodial services under one umbrella.

Client education remains a top priority for Next Generation. The firm offers webinars on various alternative investments and complimentary educational sessions for investors interested in self-direction as a retirement strategy. Active in several real estate investment associations (REIAs), the firm has seen real estate and related assets remain popular among self-directed investors.

Several employees are marking significant milestones with the company in 2024, including Business Development Specialist Jack Malpass (five years), Client Service Supervisor Emma Olson (six years), Director of Finance Karen Jung (eight years), Operations Manager Kyle Schickram (10 years), and Compliance Manager Bill Wittler (11 years). Recent hires include Assistant Client Service Supervisor Lisa DeSimone, and Client Service Associates Robert Mathisen and Pamela Rodriguez.

"Our team is dedicated to always providing the highest level of client service," said Raskulinecz, highlighting that the firm's phones are always answered by well-trained staff during business hours, rather than by auto attendants. She also emphasizes professional growth for her team, with several members earning their Self-Directed IRA Professional (SDIP) designations from the Retirement Industry Trust Association (RITA) in 2020. Schickram, Wittler, and Olson are also Certified IRA Services Professionals (CISP), and Wittler recently earned certification as an anti-money laundering specialist from ACAMS.

Over the years, Next Generation has expanded its services to include special offerings for advisors and advisory firms, a robust platform for automatic rollover accounts and terminating pension plans, and qualified custody services for private funds. "We are known in the industry for our unsurpassed customer service that extends beyond our existing clients to anyone who reaches out for more education or information," Raskulinecz concluded.