Articles Categorized in: Blog

Can I Have Gold in an IRA?

Gold can be an attractive investment option when held within your individual retirement account (IRA), however there are certain important considerations you must keep in mind before investing. The IRS has set forth strict regulations regarding precious metal IRAs. One requirement is for gold bullion bars and coins to meet certain purity standards. Costs As with any investment, holding gold in an IRA comes with costs. These fees may include transaction and custodian fees that vary based on which custodian...
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What Invalidates an Elliott Wave?

Elliott Wave analysis was devised by one man who saw financial markets moving in repetitive cycles driven by crowd psychology (fear and greed). Since its creation, this method of market analysis has provided structure to markets worldwide and given traders some sense of security when trading them. However, not all Elliott wave interpretations are valid; other viewpoints could invalidate a wave count using various rules. 1. The wave count is wrong Elliott Wave Theory is founded on the notion that...
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Can I Buy QQQ in My Roth IRA?

The Invesco QQQ ETF tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index and invests in tech companies and transformative industries, while its low 0.20% expense ratio may boost your returns. Apple and Microsoft account for 19% of the portfolio, creating potential concerns among investors seeking broad-based diversification. Expense Ratio The PowerShares QQQ ETF (commonly referred to as triple-Qs) is an exchange-traded fund that tracks the Nasdaq 100 Index. Heavily weighted toward large-cap technology stocks, it boasts an affordable expense ratio and provides investors...
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What Are Some Drawbacks to Only Having Gold As an Asset?

Gold can provide investors with diversification benefits; however, like any investment it also carries its own set of drawbacks. Physical gold requires safekeeping in an approved facility, incurring overhead charges; moreover, unlike stocks and funds which offer passive income streams, physical gold doesn’t offer such returns. Gold can also be an effective hedge against inflation. Gold’s price typically increases during periods of increased purchasing power deficit. 1. It’s not a currency Gold may offer investors several benefits, such as its...
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Can You Own Gold in an IRA?

Gold can offer numerous advantages to an IRA account owner, including protecting against inflation and helping increase wealth over time. When selecting a gold-backed IRA provider, it’s essential to find one with an excellent industry and customer support reputation as well as competitive fees – these could include one-time account setup fees, annual custodian maintenance fees, seller markups or storage costs. Benefits Precious metals like gold bars and coins offer an excellent way to diversify your retirement portfolio and provide...
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Does a Self Directed IRA Need a Custodian?

Self-directed IRA providers differ from regular brokerage firms and banks in that they don’t act as custodians – instead acting as third-party service providers that can offer recordkeeping, tax reporting and higher fees than traditional custodians. Verifying information in self-directed IRA account statements, especially when investing in alternative investments that do not disclose financial details, is crucial in order to avoid missteps that could cost you taxes, penalties and the loss of deferred tax status. Custodians for self-directed IRAs Selecting...
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Are Gold IRAs a Good Investment?

Gold has long been considered an alternative asset class that provides a haven during economic hardship and serves as an effective hedge against inflation. Before considering adding gold to your retirement portfolio, however, there are a few essential considerations you should keep in mind. Start by opening up a self-directed IRA with an approved custodian, then purchasing IRS-approved precious metals from a reliable provider. Costs There are various costs associated with owning physical precious metals in an IRA, including one-time...
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What Is a Typical Management Fee for IRA?

IRAs can be powerful retirement savings tools that enable savers to compound interest more effectively; however, they don’t come free. Fees charged by IRA providers – be they transaction fees, management fees or some combination thereof – can have significant financial ramifications. So what are typical management fees for an IRA? Assets Under Management Companies offering IRA accounts usually make money through account maintenance fees or advisory fees, usually ranging from half-percentage up to two percent of your assets in...
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Can You Partially Rollover an IRA?

Rather, direct transfers between retirement plans do not need to be reported as income by the IRS; however, direct rollovers must take place within 60 days otherwise taxes and penalties could apply. Many individuals opt to move their retirement assets away from employer plans for various reasons, one being to avoid additional fees charged by some 401(k) plans. What is a Partial Rollover? When someone changes jobs, they may decide to transfer some or all of their old retirement account...
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Are Gold IRAs Safe?

Gold IRAs can provide an important hedge against inflation and diversify retirement savings, but investors should be wary of any possible drawbacks to this form of investment. As well as fees charged by dealers, custodians and depository service providers for precious-metals transactions, there are specific purity and production standards set out by the IRS that must be met before physical precious metals can be sold to dealers or depository services. Setup Establishing a gold IRA requires finding both an IRS-approved...
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