Articles Categorized in: Blog

Who Can Be the IRA Trustee?

An IRA trustee or custodian, as it’s commonly known, is the institution responsible for administering your IRA account. It could be any number of banks, financial institutions or registered trust companies. A trustee can oversee your IRA investments and offer financial advice. A custodian acts solely as an administrator who does not give advice regarding investments. Who Can Be a Trustee of an IRA? An IRA trustee (also referred to as custodian) is the institution responsible for administering your IRA,...
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Is Gold a Good Investment to Protect Against Inflation?

No matter if you opt for physical gold coins and bars or invest in an ETF linked to gold, precious metal investments offer protection from inflation in the long run. Geopolitical uncertainty is often one of the primary motivations for investing in gold. But negative real rates also present compelling arguments to diversify with it in their portfolios. What is Inflation? Inflation is an economic phenomenon which arises when prices increase faster than wages, diminishing an individual’s purchasing power and...
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How to Get a Medallion Stamp

Finding a medallion stamp can be challenging, as most financial institutions that offer them prefer existing customers over potential ones. A medallion stamp serves as a high-security ink that verifies an individual’s signature and legal authority to transfer securities. Transferring securities between accounts can be necessary when moving them between accounts, giving them as gifts or transferring ownership after someone passes away. What banks offer medallion signature guarantee? Medallion signature guarantees are available through participating banks and credit unions in...
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How Does a Gold IRA Rollover Work?

There are two methods available to you for rolling over funds into a gold IRA. A direct rollover allows your money from an old retirement account to flow directly into your new one without being withheld for taxes by the IRS. An established gold IRA company can ensure your rollover goes smoothly from start to finish, from making sure all documentation is completed accurately to complying with IRS regulations. What is a rollover? Gold IRA rollover refers to the process...
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What is the Greatest Disadvantage of an Equity-Indexed Annuity?

EIA sales show an uptick, reflecting increased consumer interest for this packaged investment product. But do the promises made about EIAs match reality? Index annuities typically limit index-linked gains through participation rate and rate cap restrictions, and charge an early withdrawal penalty of 10% before their surrender period has concluded. Guaranteed Minimum Returns Contracts governing equity-indexed annuities include certain guarantees, including a minimum rate of interest that is set by the insurer that issues and backs the contract. Furthermore, guaranteed...
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Can I Buy Gold For My IRA?

A gold IRA allows you to diversify and protect against inflation with physical precious metals like silver and gold in your retirement portfolio. It’s an excellent way to add diversification while protecting against inflation. Gold IRAs don’t come cheap. There are setup and storage costs involved as well as special handling requirements to comply with IRS rules. Taxes An Individual Retirement Account, or IRA, allows you to invest for retirement with significant tax advantages. Your contributions and withdrawals are subject...
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Do Gold Sellers Report to IRS?

Gold coins can be an exciting and profitable venture to sell; however, it’s essential that both dealers and customers understand the tax implications. Failing to do so could result in fines, penalties or even criminal charges being levied against both. Under certain conditions, gold and silver coin dealers must file Form 1099-B with the IRS when selling 1-oz Gold Maple Leaf Coins, 1-oz Kruggerand Coins, or 1 oz Mexican Onza Coins in quantities of 25 or more. How Do Dealers...
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Should I Roll My 401k Into a Gold IRA?

Reputable gold IRA companies will guide you through every step of the process and act as your liaison between custodian and yourself, including helping select precious metals that comply with IRS rules and offering transparent pricing plans with competitive fees and an array of IRA-compliant products. Gold investments can provide your retirement savings with greater protection by shifting away from paper assets that track volatile stock markets and diversify. But you must do it properly to avoid taxes and penalties....
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What is a Gold IRA?

Physical gold IRAs (precious metals IRAs) are individual retirement accounts that hold physical gold bullion, coins or bars as their assets. Contribution and withdrawal rules for physical gold IRAs follow those used with traditional or Roth IRAs. Investors frequently turn to gold IRAs as diversifiers of their portfolio and an insurance against inflation, yet investors should also expect higher fees and storage costs than with other IRAs. The Custodian Gold IRAs are an individual retirement account type that allow investors...
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How to Avoid Paying Taxes on an Early IRA Withdrawal

Tax regulations surrounding Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are designed to encourage saving for retirement; however, should you need to use your IRA for short-term expenses there are strategies available which can minimize income tax and penalty costs. This article details several exceptions to the 10% early withdrawal penalty, such as: Hardship Withdrawals Following IRS guidelines can help you avoid penalties when withdrawing funds from an IRA for certain expenses such as medical emergencies, unreimbursed qualified medical expenses and home mortgage...
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