Next Generation Trust Company, a custodian of self-directed retirement plans, has announced a strategic partnership with KJLK & Co., LLC, to provide accredited investors with access to the Square One Fund platform. The collaboration allows investors to use funds from their self-directed IRAs to invest in a diversified portfolio of alternative assets, including private equity, venture capital, private credit, hedge fund strategies, real estate, and infrastructure.
The Square One Fund, operated by KJLK & Co., is a dual-track private investment platform utilizing parallel fund structures under Sections 3(c)(1) and 3(c)(7) of the Investment Company Act of 1940. This architecture accommodates both qualified purchasers and accredited investors through a dedicated parallel feeder vehicle, offering streamlined access to alternative strategies through a single, professionally managed ecosystem.
Jaime Raskulinecz, CEO of Next Generation Trust Company, emphasized the benefits for clients: "This strategic partnership allows our accredited investor clients to diversify their retirement investments via high-value alternative assets using funds from their Next Generation IRA, embedding a broadly diversified product into their overall portfolio." Eligible investors must open and fund a self-directed account with Next Generation and then deploy retirement assets to subscribe for a limited partnership interest in the fund. As a Rule 506(c) offering, all investors' statuses undergo mandatory independent third-party verification.
Joseph LaTurner, principal of KJLK & Co., explained the value proposition: "Square One Fund provides access to alternative strategies and private markets in a structure that systematically addresses the general lack of liquidity and the heavy due diligence burdens individual investors typically face. Our team consistently compares intrinsic value against cost, adhering strictly to our value-oriented investment philosophy, principles and fundamentals regardless of broader market cycles." He noted that the fund offers greater redemption flexibility than many comparable private funds.
LaTurner selected Next Generation as the strategic partner due to Raskulinecz's entrepreneurial spirit and the team's ability to think differently about investing. Next Generation Trust Company is now featured under "Products" on the KJLK website as the preferred self-directed IRA custodian for its alternative strategy and private market products.
The partnership also opens opportunities for registered investment advisors (RIAs). Many RIAs have expressed interest in the fund on behalf of high-net-worth clients, recognizing the potential to capture non-correlated alternative asset exposure through self-directed IRAs. Raskulinecz invited independent fee-based advisors to collaborate: "When their clients open a self-directed IRA at Next Generation, those advisors retain the client relationship and assets under management, and continue collecting their customary fees while helping their clients build a more eclectic portfolio through the many nontraditional investments self-direction allows."
This move reflects a growing trend of integrating alternative investments into retirement planning, offering accredited investors a way to diversify beyond traditional stocks and bonds. For Next Generation Trust Company, the partnership enhances its service offerings, while for KJLK & Co., it expands distribution channels for its investment platform. As the demand for alternative assets rises, such collaborations could become more common, providing investors with more tools to achieve long-term financial goals.
For more information about Next Generation Trust Company, visit NextGenerationTrust.com. To learn more about KJLK & Co. and the Square One Fund, visit convictionfunds.com.
