Expand retirement investing beyond traditional assets.
Empowering investment freedom. Our mission is to give investors the freedom to self-direct their retirement planning approach while providing greater value and expanded service offerings, and unlocking more sophisticated retirement strategies. With our solutions, you can expect: Investment control Account owners control all investment decisions, allowing them to invest in assets that align with their interests and experience. Broad accessibility Diversified retirement portfolio with competitive flat fees, regardless of total assets under custody. Knowledgeable support A dedicated team committed to a positive service experience. Streamlined platform Simplified account opening, funding, and investing through a secure, powerful portal. Compliance-focused reporting Delivery of applicable IRS tax reporting forms for client accounts. Specialized solutions Sub-custodial accounts for retirement plans, allowing for alternative asset investments not typically available in fund lineups.
Provident Trust Group, an Ascensus company, delivers secure, technologydriven custodial services—offering flexibility to self-direct investments.
Ascensus is the largest independent recordkeeping services provider1, retirement plan third-party administrator, and government savings facilitator2 in the United States.
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Pensions & Investments. Based on number of retirement plans in the DC Record Keepers Ranking. December 2025. ISS MI 529 Quarterly Update Q4 2025 & Georgetown University Center for Retirement Initiatives, State Program Performance Data as of 12/31/25.
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Invest differently. Invest with Provident Trust Group. We provide investors with access to tailored custodial services. Unlike traditional custodians limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, our qualified accounts support IRS permitted alternative assets, including real estate, private equity, and other eligible investments. With taxdeferred earnings, investors gain flexibility and may potentially save on taxes if their retirement tax bracket is lower compared to their working years. However, it’s important to consider that deferring taxes could also lead to a higher tax bracket in retirement.
WHY CHOOSE A SELF-DIRECTED RETIREMENT ACCOUNT WITH PROVIDENT TRUST GROUP? • Investment control: Investors direct investment decisions based on their own objectives and due diligence. • Portfolio diversification: Alternative assets may provide exposure to asset classes not typically available through traditional investment lineups. • Tax advantages: Earnings may grow tax-deferred until withdrawal. Explore the possibilities of alternative asset investing with Provident Trust Group and gain opportunities beyond conventional retirement investing.
TYPES OF ACCOUNTS THAT WE SUPPORT • Traditional IRA
• Roth IRA
• Sub-custodial 401(k)
• SEP IRA
• SIMPLE IRA
• Individual 401(k)
• Inherited IRA
Common investment options Real estate
Partnerships
Real property, such as vacant or raw land, pre-developed property, and commercial or residential property.
Partnerships made up of two or more partners, including general and limited partners.
Private company stock Stock offered exclusively by a private company to its employees and investors, including common and preferred shares.
Limited liability companies (LLCs) Single-member and multi-member LLCs.
Promissory notes A form of private money lending that may be secured or unsecured.
Other investments Examples include precious metals, private equity, timber rights, and other IRS-permitted alternative assets, subject to our acceptance policies.
We currently do not support cryptocurrency investments, life settlements, or foreign entities. Certain assets, including collectibles and life insurance, are prohibited investments for IRAs under the Internal Revenue Code.
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Specialized solutions: Sub-custodial 401(k) At Provident Trust Group, we offer a sub-custodial solution for 401(k) plans, enabling retirement plans to offer access to certain alternative investment opportunities with alternative and nontraditional assets. This designated account structure provides greater flexibility and access to investment opportunities beyond conventional options—like stocks and bonds—typically offered in employer-sponsored plans. Our structure allows for: • Expanded retirement plan offerings which helps you avoid the need to build infrastructure for alternate asset custody. • Greater investment freedom and control for investors. • Broader participant engagement through access to more diverse investment options.
PTG custodies specific assets based on the direction of the account owner and the plan administrator.
Plan administration and compliance responsibilities remain with the plan sponsor/administrator.
Used for alternative assets within a broader 401(k) investment lineup.
PTG provides transaction reporting to the plan’s administrator for use in plan administration and reporting activities. 4
What is Provident Trust Group’s role?
To invest retirement assets in alternative investments, a custodian is required to execute the account owner’s directions, administer the account investments, and hold the assets on behalf of the account owner. That’s where we serve as a directed custodian. It’s important to understand Provident Trust Group’s role.
WHAT A CUSTODIAN DOES • Establishes your account and holds title to the underlying alternative assets. • Coordinates and executes account actions based on the account owner’s explicit instructions. • Works with the plan’s primary custodian to move cash between traditional assets and alternative assets. • Performs applicable tax reporting and custodial administrative duties. • For sub‑custodial accounts, Provident Trust Group works with the plan’s primary custodian to move cash between the plan and participant accounts at PTG, and from there to the alternative investment. • Provides tools and technology to review account information.
WHAT A CUSTODIAN DOES NOT DO • Provide investment, tax, or legal advice or recommendations. • Determine the suitability of investments. • Monitor investment performance.
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Why choose Provident Trust Group? At Provident Trust Group, we strive to deliver exceptional value to our clients. Here’s what sets us apart: • Expertise you can trust: Decades of experience in self-directed IRA and 401(k) custodial services.
5 star Google reviews
• Alternative asset investing: Empowering investors to diversify their retirement portfolio with real estate, private equity, metals, and more—while staying IRS-compliant.
“Provident Trust Group has provided excellent service managing my self-directed IRA for 10+ years. I have never had any issues and the individuals who I have worked with have always been efficient, knowledgeable, and professional.”
• Personalized support: Seamless account setup and administration with dedicated guidance. • Reliable compliance: Providing educational resources related to applicable IRS rules. • Proven excellence: Thousands of satisfied clients and a trusted reputation.
$14B+ assets under custody
86% of our associates have IRA professional designations
Serving 26,000+ clients
Provident Trust Group has a +72 Net Promoter Score® (NPS)
“Excellent service. Tanya was extremely helpful and friendly in administration. All the staff and advisors have always been service-oriented in solving the few questions and problems I have had to make sure the account was trouble free. I highly recommend this company.” “I’ve used Provident for 5 years and they have always been wonderful. They strive to improve the customer experience and have only grown more efficient and user friendly. My husband and I enjoy the quality of service, responsiveness of the support team, the transparent fee schedule, and account dashboard that is easy to navigate.” Testimonials reflect the experiences of specific clients and may not be representative of the experiences of all clients. Testimonials are not a guarantee of future results, performance, or success.
Move beyond traditional investment limits with Provident Trust Group. National Sales Representative Heather Radino 949-325-6707
General inquiries selfdirect@trustprovident.com
Website Visit us online for more information and resources.
heather.radino@ascensus.com This information is provided for general educational and informational purposes only and should not be relied upon as a primary basis for decisions. Information is subject to change, and no representation is made as to its completeness. Consult your own advisor. You are responsible for decisions regarding retirement planning, plan design, administration, and compliance. This material is not intended to provide fiduciary advice or serve as a primary basis for any decision. Provident Trust Group, LLC, is a non-discretionary, passive, directed custodian that does not provide investment advice or recommendations, is not responsible for reviewing and does not endorse any investment or investment advisor, and does not guarantee the performance of any investment. Alternative investments involve risks that may differ from those associated with traditional investments. Such investments may be illiquid, speculative, difficult to value, subject to limited regulatory oversight, and may result in the loss of principal. Investors are solely responsible for evaluating the suitability, risks, and merits of any investment prior to investing. Tax benefits depend on individual circumstances and may be affected by future changes in tax law. Provident Trust Group and Ascensus do not provide tax advice. You should consult your own tax advisor regarding your specific circumstances. Ascensus, LLC provides administrative and recordkeeping services. It is not a broker-dealer or an investment advisor and does not provide tax, legal, or 6 accounting services. Ascensus® and the Ascensus logo are registered trademarks of Ascensus, LLC. Copyright ©2026 Ascensus, LLC. All Rights Reserved. 3009150-PTG-3009151 (08/2026)