Articles Categorized in: Blog
American equity annuities are a type of income annuity that provide you with a guaranteed stream of lifetime income, making them popular with consumers who are saving for retirement. This article does not provide legal, investment, or tax advice and should be read only as general information. For professional guidance in these matters please seek professional help from qualified advisors. What is an annuity? An annuity is a savings vehicle designed to provide you with a constant source of income...
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Self-directed IRA custodians are financial institutions that specialize in holding alternative assets like real estate, precious metals and promissory notes within retirement accounts. They must meet stringent IRS rules and guidelines. However, they may not always verify all information – financial or otherwise – found in alternative investment account statements. There are about 70 custodians. Self-directed IRA custodians are IRS-approved companies that perform many of the same functions as traditional retirement account custodians, yet allow their owners to invest their...
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Gold can be seen as an effective investment against inflation; however, investors must remember that its performance may differ depending on circumstances. Investors concerned about inflation should increase their allocations of stocks, Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), real estate investment trusts and commodities; these asset classes have proven more successful at protecting against inflation. It’s a physical asset Gold has long been perceived as an inflation hedge. Unfortunately, its returns during recent periods of rapid inflation have not been impressive; nonetheless,...
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Gold has long been seen as an investment that provides protection from inflation and financial turmoil, unlike stocks, bonds or mutual funds which pay out dividends or interest payments. Physical gold does not pay any such dividends or interest payments to its owner either. To invest in gold with your 401(k), it is necessary to rollover your retirement account to an IRA-compliant precious metals provider within 60 days in order to avoid tax complications and penalties. 401(k) Plans and Precious...
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Self-Directed Individual Retirement Accounts can hold various assets, including precious metals; however, the IRS outlines strict criteria regarding which coins and bars qualify as being approved IRA assets. Only coins, bars and rounds produced from national government mints can be held in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Furthermore, they must meet minimum fineness standards set by the IRS. Australian Lunar Series Coins The Perth Mint’s Lunar Series coins are eligible to be part of your precious metals IRA. First introduced...
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Custodial Roth IRAs allow minors to contribute earned income tax-free into an individual retirement account. This could include babysitting or lawn mowing jobs as well as regular jobs. When the child reaches adulthood, they will assume control of these assets. When selecting a custodian, take into account their fees and experience across various investment categories. Also look out for one with excellent ratings with the Better Business Bureau. Custodians are responsible for managing your IRA Custodians of your IRA account,...
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ETFs offer an easy way to diversify a retirement portfolio by trading like stocks during market hours. Furthermore, ETFs make great additions to IRAs as they create low-cost portfolios that are tax efficient. ETFs differ from mutual funds in that they track specific indexes or market segments; however, they still carry implicit costs such as commissions and bid/ask spreads. Low Expense Ratios ETFs offer many advantages over their rivals, one being their relatively low expense ratios – the annual fee...
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Solo 401ks offer business owners many of the same advantages found in employee-sponsored plans. While it’s often assumed that sole proprietors are eligible to create these retirement accounts, any legal entity can sponsor one as long as there are no non-owner full-time employees working full time for it. Your spouse could be an exception to this rule if they earn income from your business, enabling them to take advantage of elective deferrals up to the annual limit and receive employer...
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If you’re an investor in gold, be sure to select an IRA custodian who specializes in precious metals as they will handle additional fees such as storage and insurance fees related to physical gold assets. IRS rules restrict certain types of bullion and coins; those meeting purity standards and produced from national mints are only eligible to receive tax relief. What is a Gold IRA? Gold IRAs are self-directed retirement accounts that enable investors to hold physical precious metals as...
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Taxation can be an unfamiliar concept when it comes to commodity investing, so having an idea of which forms you must fill out and which rates apply can save investors plenty of headaches come April. Gold ETFs offer an easy way to invest in precious metal without dealing with physical bullion directly, but the IRS treats this form of investment differently than other assets. Long-Term Gains Gold can be an attractive investment option for those who think its prices will...
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