We’re Alto, a self-directed IRA platform on a mission to provide everyday Americans the same investment opportunities long favored by wealthy and institutional investors.
It used to be that if you wanted to invest in startups or other private investments with an IRA, you were pretty much on your own. Then you had to pay a custodian to execute the paperwork you likely spent weeks completing—if you could find a custodian willing to consider it.
That was the situation Alto founder and CEO Eric Satz was in nearly a decade ago. At the time, he was managing a venture capital fund and wanted to personally invest in a business alongside the fund. But it wasn’t until he noticed his IRA statement lying on the kitchen counter that he wondered, “Can I use my IRA funds to make this investment?” The answer was yes, but the process was anything but easy. Buried in a mountain of paperwork, with little guidance, he realized just how inequitable alternative investing was and set out on a mission to make it accessible for all.
Eric found investing in alternatives with his IRA to be a long, tedious process that took months.
With Alto, it can now take just minutes.
Our work, and the spectacular team members who carry it out, are guided by these key ideas.
Changing the future of retirement is a big idea and requires doing things that haven’t been done before. It also means doing the small things well because details matter. Yes, we will stumble and sometimes fail. And that’s ok because real success comes when you start by asking, “What if we did?”
In the world of investing, the clock is always ticking. To achieve our goals, we must go fast. We value quick execution. We encourage teams to take calculated risks, experiment and focus on what truly matters.
We take initiative and make decisions that we believe will drive the company forward. We value a deep sense of ownership. See something, say something, do something.
Building trust with our team, our customers and our partners is everything. We believe in good intentions, being reliable and doing what we say.
Our work is intense. We don’t always agree, and rightfully so. Our team is kind, joyful and full of good humor. We wouldn't have it any other way.
