Self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts can include alternative assets from the private space and defense sectors, offering investors new opportunities for portfolio diversification in growing industries. Next Generation Trust Company recently outlined these investment options in a blog article, noting that space infrastructure has become both a national security priority and economic opportunity.
Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation, explained that with space infrastructure growing as a vital national security and economic priority, there are many ways for self-directed investors to build portfolio diversity with these growing investment opportunities. The article lists a range of aerospace-related investments available through self-directed IRAs, including private equity funding in private aerospace companies and specialized platforms that focus on venture-backed defense tech startups.
Specific alternative assets that can be included in self-directed IRAs encompass satellites and missile-defense systems, AI integration into space hardware and defense intelligence, cybersecurity and data analytics, and companies involved in the research, manufacture or sale of products or services related to the defense or aerospace industries. Additional options include dual-use technologies that have military and civilian applications and on-airport real estate and aviation infrastructure.
Industry growth supports these investment opportunities, with Reuters reporting that investments in the sector hit record levels in 2025, with private investment growing 48% to $12.4 billion, including $3.8 billion in the final quarter. Morgan Stanley's Space Team, which tracks the space economy, estimates that the global space industry, currently estimated at around $350 billion, could skyrocket to over $1 trillion by 2040. Investors can read the full article at https://shorturl.at/WvJDu for detailed information about these investment options.
Raskulinecz emphasized the importance of thorough research, noting that investors are wise to research all governmental regulations thoroughly before choosing an aerospace-related investment. As with any self-directed investment, due diligence is the watchword for any private placements or private equity firms under consideration as well. More information about Next Generation Trust Company is available at https://www.NextGenerationTrust.com.
The expansion of self-directed IRA options into aerospace and defense sectors represents a significant development for retirement investors seeking exposure to high-growth industries. This comes at a time when private investment in space and defense technologies is accelerating rapidly, creating new wealth-building opportunities outside traditional stock and bond markets. The ability to include these assets in tax-advantaged retirement accounts could reshape how investors approach long-term portfolio construction while supporting critical national infrastructure development.
