Self-directed IRAs can include alternative assets in the private space and defense sectors, which encompass a range of aerospace-related assets and defense technologies, according to a recent blog article by Next Generation Trust Company. The company, which provides full account administration and asset custody for self-directed IRAs and other plans, outlined the opportunities available to investors seeking to diversify their retirement portfolios.
Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation, noted 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 by including investments in the private space and defense technology sectors. The article lists a variety of aerospace-related investments, such as private equity funding in private aerospace companies, specialized platforms focusing on venture-backed defense tech startups, space infrastructure and hardware, and other alternative assets. These include satellites and missile-defense systems, AI integration into space hardware and defense intelligence, cybersecurity and data analytics, companies involved in research, manufacture, or sale of products or services related to defense or aerospace industries, dual-use technologies with military and civilian applications, and on-airport real estate and aviation infrastructure.
Growth in the industry and growing interest among investors are driving these opportunities. As shared in the article, Reuters reported 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 around $350 billion, could skyrocket to over $1 trillion by 2040.
Raskulinecz emphasized that investors should research all governmental regulations thoroughly before choosing an aerospace-related investment. As with any self-directed investment, due diligence is crucial for any private placements or private equity firms under consideration. The full article is available at https://shorturl.at/WvJDu. More information about Next Generation Trust Company can be found at https://www.NextGenerationTrust.com.
