"We administer a self-trusteed 401(k) plan that offers self-directed investment accounts to all participants. I believe each can purchase mutual funds through their American Funds account. The plan does not restrict each of these participant to just mutual funds but also allows for private investments.
"One of the participants wants to purchase a small Almond Ranch. He would like to personally invest $400,000 and invest
$600,000 from his plan account. There would be strict accounting splitting the income and expenses each year for both the individual portion (40%) and the plan portion (60%). If this is followed we do not think there would be a prohibited transaction.
"We know somebody needs to run the Almond Growing entity. They could get 3 leased employees from a PEO. Correct me if I am wrong here (I very well could be). I believe that after
this potential transaction, they would need to cover these leased employees in their plan if the leased employees are substantially full time. I believe substantially full time is 1,500 hours or more per year. What if they had 3 Leased employees who would be restricted to only 1,200 hours per year? I would think the leased employees would ever become eligible for the plan.
"Another Issue might be UBTI. Does anyone think UBTI
would apply in this case?"