Can I use my coorporate pension and profit sharing money to invest in real estate?

I have money in a pension and profit sharing plan of a company that I own and want to invest in real estate without having to pay penalties. I currently live in California (if it is an issue or not).

If "corporate pension" indicates a defined benefit pension plan then the answer is no. Assets in these plans are invested in a trust where the investments are directed by the plan trustees. Participants have a right to a benefit payable under the terms of the plan but no right to any set portion of the assets.

If "profit sharing" is a defined contribution plan, like a 401k, the answer is maybe. Contributions in these plans go into your individual account which you then have the right to invest any way you want subject to the options available under the plan. You are in charge of your own money but you can only invest in funds available under the plan.

So, if the plan offers a Real Estate Fund, or a REIT(Real Estate Investment Trust) as an investment option you could decide to allocate some of your assets to that fund. You will want to look over the plan's investment options carefully, to ensure that you understand what you are investing in.

If, instead, you were thinking: "I have $300,000 in my profit sharing account. I think I'll withdraw it and buy a vacant lot in Santa Barbara." You can't do that. The money in the plan must stay in the plan. The closest you can come to that is to take a loan out against your profit sharing plan balance (some plans offer these) and use the money to put a down payment down.

Hi I have helped folks who have done that but there are different pensions and I believe some you can some you can't so I don't know what kind you have.

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