Can You Have Gold in an IRA?
Owning physical gold and other precious metals within an IRA account comes with some strict regulations. Purchase and storage must be authorized by an IRS-approved custodian; keeping these metals at home would constitute distribution and could incur penalties.
Precious metals do not generate income through dividends or interest payments and thus do not offer yield, so investors must carefully diversify their portfolios.
Self-directed IRAs
Self-directed IRAs give you the flexibility to invest in assets outside the traditional stock market, including real estate, private company equity and precious metals.
However, these IRAs can be riskier. According to the Securities and Exchange Commission, investors in alternative assets typically do not receive full financial information and may not be audited by an independent public accounting firm – leading them into making inadequate due diligence checks which increases fraud risks and the possibility of losing your retirement savings.
Self-directed IRAs may involve extra fees, including account setup, transaction and annual fees. It’s essential that you understand these costs prior to making a decision and familiarise yourself with any applicable IRS restrictions on prohibited transactions that could incur significant penalties should any breach occur.
Traditional IRAs
IRAs are the preferred retirement savings vehicle of choice for the 67 percent of individuals with access to workplace retirement plans, offering tax-deferred growth and often allowing contributors to deduct contributions from taxable income, though these deductions may be reduced or eliminated at certain income thresholds. Self-employed individuals and small business owners also have additional options with SEP and SIMPLE IRAs which also offer tax-deferred savings plans.
Traditional IRAs can help investors save for retirement, education or any number of other goals. Funds may be invested in stocks, bonds and alternative investments like crypto currency. Many brokerage firms and robo-advisers offer target date funds which dynamically adjust their portfolio based on when you plan to retire.
Roth IRAs
Roth IRAs are tax-advantaged retirement accounts that permit contributions made from earned income to accumulate and grow tax-free, eventually enabling investors to withdraw their original investments as well as any gains. Roth IRAs can be especially useful for people who anticipate being subject to higher income tax brackets in future.
Roth IRA contributions have annual contribution limits that vary based on your income level, which are set by the IRS and can be found online.
Roth IRAs can be opened at virtually any financial institution and you have the flexibility of investing in whatever kind of investments suit you best – some institutions provide more investment options, while others may limit them. Furthermore, self-directed Roth IRAs give you even greater investment freedom with fees potentially being charged depending on what investments you choose to put in.
Rollovers
Rollovers involve moving retirement funds from one account to another, which can be an advantageous strategy if you transition between jobs or wish to diversify beyond what your employer offers.
Direct or indirect rollover are your two options for moving to a new IRA, with the latter potentially creating more tax complications. When using indirect rollover, your plan administrator will liquidate your holdings and send you a check with 20% withheld for taxes; within 60 days you must deposit this money with your new IRA.
The one-IRA-rollover-per-year rule does not apply to Roth conversions, direct rollovers, or transfers between Traditional and SEP IRAs. Before making your retirement fund decisions it’s advisable to consult a financial professional. Having an in-depth knowledge of transfer/rollover rules could save money in the long run and our team is available to guide you through these complex topics.
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