Since the creation of the IRA in 1974, countless Americans have taken advantage of this investment vehicle. Although a traditional IRA certainly has some advantages, including a significant tax break while saving for retirement, there are also some drawbacks.

For many individuals, trees are a natural resource that do not appear to be in short supply. For those in development, engineering or construction, however, it can immediately become apparent just how vital timber is for our global society.

There is no shortage of reasons to invest in gold today. The element has an intrinsic value, has been an asset for thousands of years, is desired around the globe and isn't linked to any one specific country or banking system, as other currencies are.

To protect your hard-earned wealth and preserve your assets for the future, a corporate structure is often the best course of action. These corporate structures limit your individual liability, creating a level of protection between you and the real estate, cash or investments you have worked so hard to earn. 

Both the Limited Liability Company, or LLC, and the International Business Company, or IBC, are corporate structures that can be a smart choice for the savvy investor. 

For an LLC or an IBC to be corporate structures in more than name only, they need to contain assets of some kind. When establishing either a Limited Liability Company or an International Business Company, it is standard to bring to the table capital contributions, or an initial investment.

Setting up international structures such as an International Business Company or a Limited Liability Company can feel like a long process, and often it is easy to get caught up in the differences between the two.

To protect wealth, international asset protection structures are a top choice for many of the savviest investors. While these structures come in many forms, it is up to each individual to determine which opportunity will be the most advantageous to their current financial situation.

If you're most interested in a long-term financial plan that will protect and preserve your assets, then physically owning gold may be a high-value investment that also carries low relative risk.

For many individuals, an IRA is one of the biggest sources of available capital. However, using a traditional IRA custodian limits your investment options and prevents you from making non-standard investments.