Almost any type of investment is allowed in an IRA, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, pensions, mutual funds (UITs), exchange traded funds (ETFs), and even real estate. An IRA can hold investments in certain precious metals that are permitted under the Internal Revenue Code. Initially, only physical gold and silver coins were eligible for storage in an IRA. Coins or gold bars that are not specifically allowed are considered collectibles and are not eligible for IRAs
.
Every IRA is legally entitled to buy gold and precious metals. However, the majority of major custodian banks, such as Charles Schwab, Merrill Lynch and JP Morgan Chase, do not offer physical precious metals as an investment option. Most traditional custodian banks are structured to only hold paper assets, and they are structured as managed funds. Physical precious metals are a self-directed investment and generally require a custodian bank that
offers self-directed IRA investments.
If your custodian bank doesn’t offer precious metals as an investment option, we can help you initiate a rollover or direct transfer to a custodian bank that does. A rollover or direct transfer is a tax-free event. Furthermore, Gold IRA companies make their money by essentially calculating a so-called “spread,” a two-tier pricing structure, meaning that the Gold IRA company will sell you gold at a higher price than it will pay you if you sell that gold. It’s important to work with a custodian that understands the complexities of investing in precious metals within an
IRA account.
When you store precious metals in a gold IRA, you also need to think about where you’re going to store them. A self-directed gold IRA can give you peace of mind if you want to hold physical assets. However, if you want to diversify precious metals without the hassle and expense of a gold IRA, you can also invest in gold ETFs, gold mutual funds, and stocks of gold mining companies. As mentioned earlier, a gold IRA gives you the same tax benefits as a regular IRA, with pre-tax contributions that can lower your taxable income, and there’s no tax until you make withdrawals. A custodian can set up a self-employed IRA, manage the transfer of money to the precious metals dealer, and simplify the transportation and storage
of your physical precious metals.
Because IRA gold must be stored in an IRS-approved depository by law, there are also storage fees for storing and insuring your precious metals. Therefore, they must charge a fee to stay in business and provide the required custodial services, including preparing IRA account statements. A silver IRA is also a traditional IRA, a ROTH IRA, a SEP IRA, a SIMPLE IRA, or an inherited IRA that is managed by the account holder himself and has valid forms of physical silver coins or silver bars. If you’re planning to open a Gold IRA, make sure that your time horizon is enough to survive these fluctuations
.
As with most important financial decisions, opening a Gold IRA isn’t a decision you should make lightly or before you do some thorough research. This company helps you open and fund your account and connects you to an IRA custodian and a depository institution, both of which must be approved by the IRS. Some employers offer workers the option to convert part of their retirement savings to an IRA while they’re still employed. Although gold has an intrinsic value, there is no guarantee that the price of gold will rise between the time you buy it and the time you have to sell it
..
