For many Americans, retirement accounts become something you set aside, check occasionally, and hope will be enough one day.

But what if those dollars could work harder?

That’s the question Sue and Dan McCarthy asked themselves years ago. Instead of letting retirement savings sit untouched, they developed a long-term strategy that allowed those funds to grow through investment in real estate, one property at a time.

Today, that strategy is opening doors they never imagined.

It Started With a Different Way of Thinking

Back in 2015, Sue began investing retirement funds she had accumulated throughout her career with the school district. But rather than leaving those savings in traditional investments, they used cash from her IRA to purchase a rental property in Indianapolis.

Then after retiring in 2017, Sue and Dan rolled her school district retirement account into a Solo 401(k) account. With those funds, they purchased two Jacksonville rental properties through JWB, financing each with approximately 50% down.

The goal wasn’t to get rich overnight.

It was to create long-term wealth while positioning themselves for retirement on their own terms by following a few simple rules: “Have a long-term plan to get out of 401(k) chaos. Pay off your partner, the U.S. Government, and get into tax-free distributions and tax-free growth.”

Then the Strategy Began Compounding

Over time, something powerful happened.

The properties appreciated in value.

Instead of simply celebrating the increased equity, Sue and Dan asked a different question.

How can we put this equity back to work?

By doing cash-out refinances on the two existing properties within Sue’s retirement account, they unlocked enough capital to purchase two additional investment properties.

The result?

Those refinances are expected to create $428,000 in additional portfolio value over the next 10 years, all without starting over or making dramatically larger contributions.

“Leverage what you have. Review every six months at a minimum.”

It’s a patient, deliberate approach built around decades, not months.

Rather than letting equity sit idle, they used it to expand their portfolio and accelerate long-term wealth creation.

Small Improvements Can Create Big Opportunities

Market conditions also played a role.

The couple refinanced their existing properties from a 7.9% rate they secured years earlier down to 6.69%.

Combined with higher property values, the improved financing allowed them to capitalize on their equity to purchase the two additional homes in a still-growing market.

It’s a reminder that successful investing isn’t always about timing the market perfectly.

Sometimes it’s about regularly reviewing your portfolio, recognizing opportunities, and taking action when the numbers make sense.

Trusting In Their Team

No long-term investment journey happens alone.

Throughout the process, Sue and Dan credit the guidance and support they received from the JWB team.

“Working with Kate and everyone at JWB has been a real pleasure. Win-win at its finest.”

That kind of partnership matters, especially when retirement planning, financing, and real estate investing all intersect.

Could Your Retirement Account Do More?

Every investor’s situation is different. What worked for Sue and Dan may not be the right strategy for everyone.

But their story highlights an important question many people never ask.

Is your retirement account positioned to simply preserve wealth, or could it help build more of it?

For investors willing to think beyond traditional retirement investing, real estate can become more than just another asset class. It can become a vehicle for growing equity, generating income, and creating options later in life.

If you’ve accumulated funds in a 401(k), IRA, or other qualified retirement account, it may be worth exploring whether those assets could play a role in building your real estate portfolio.

Sometimes the next opportunity isn’t found by saving more.

It’s found by making what you’ve already built work harder.