Precious Metals in an IRA
Physical precious metals offer IRA holders an excellent way to diversify their retirement portfolio with alternative assets that may perform well during times of economic volatility.
IRS regulations stipulate that Individual Retirement Arrangements (IRAs) may hold gold, silver and platinum coins and bars that meet its purity standards – this includes bullion coins such as American Eagles.
What is a Precious Metals IRA?
Precious Metals IRAs can be defined as Traditional, Roth, SEP, SIMPLE or Rollover accounts that invest in physical precious metals such as gold, silver, platinum and palladium as an alternative investment portfolio component.
Self-directed Precious Metals IRAs offer an ideal way to diversify retirement accounts. While traditional IRAs are heavily tied to stocks and bonds, precious metals have historically performed exceptionally well during periods of inflation or economic turmoil.
As with any investment option, Precious Metals IRAs require more due diligence and work from investors than regular IRAs do, while they’re typically more costly as a result of higher setup fees, transaction fees, custodial fees and storage fees than standard accounts. Most reputable precious metals IRA providers use only one or two IRS-approved depository locations as storage spots; using multiple depository locations may add unnecessary expenses and be inconvenient logistics-wise.
How do I get started?
Precious metals IRAs can be opened by both new and existing retirement accounts, including traditional pre-tax IRAs, Roth IRAs, SEP IRAs and more. Like any retirement account, precious metals IRAs adhere to similar rules, including contribution limits, early withdrawal penalties and required minimum distributions at age 59 1/2.
As part of the setup process, your Birch Gold Specialist will guide you in how to transfer or rollover funds into a self-directed IRA for precious metals (SDIRA). Once this account has been created, you can choose any dealer and depository as long as they adhere to IRS purity standards and secure storage requirements.
In most instances, dealers will deliver your metal directly to an IRA custodian for safekeeping. If you prefer, however, an all-in-kind distribution may provide more convenient and secure storage solutions for you and your family. All-in-kind distributions typically carry a higher premium but offer greater peace of mind for both of you.
What are my options?
Precious metals offer an effective hedge against inflation, currency devaluation and geopolitical instability. Individual Retirement Accounts (IRA’s) can invest in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum and palladium through an established self-directed custodian with whom there is a mutually beneficial relationship with a precious metals dealer.
Your dealer will assist in helping you identify which products meet IRS-eligibility and meet IRA guidelines, before you contact your IRA custodian to purchase metals or precious stones and have them stored by depository on your behalf. While early distributions may incur taxes and penalties, later distributions can be easily rolled back over into another IRA account without additional taxes and penalties being assessed against early distributions.
An IRA allows investors to hold physical gold, silver and platinum coins and bars (bullion), certified as NYMEX/COMEX approved assayers with 24k or higher purity levels and silver bullion that meets 0.999+ fineness standards like the 1 oz U.S. Silver Eagle. You may also select from various rounds and bars approved for storage within an IRA account.
How do I know I’m making the right decision?
Physical precious metal investments require additional steps and knowledge of working with dealers, custodians and depository to complete the investment process successfully.
Before investing, it’s essential to select an asset: eligible precious metals include gold bullion bars hallmarked by either NYMEX or COMEX-approved refiner/assayers and coins with 0.999+ fineness such as U.S. Gold Eagle coins. When researching dealers, it is crucial that prices are fair.
Precious metals carry capital risk just like any investment, and Rosland Capital cannot guarantee their value will appreciate. Customers should make their own decisions based on research and prudence when investing IRAs with precious metals; customers must also prepare to take their required minimum distributions (RMDs) when turning 7012. An IRA holding precious metals can help diversify retirement portfolios while protecting savings against market volatility.
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