Articles provide an opportunity to engage with your target audience more directly than ads do, whether that means discussing investment fraud or how to expand a business – they’re powerful tools. Fraudulent investors often promote an artificial sense of urgency by telling investors their “investment opportunity” will soon close, creating an impression of urgency which leads people to make quick decisions without conducting due diligence first. 1. Unsolicited Approaches Unsolicited approaches from potential buyers may become increasingly frequent for private...
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Custodian banks protect both physical and electronic financial assets for customers, and also manage investment activities on their behalf. Pricing arrangements may differ between custodian banks. Whoever intends to use their individual retirement account (IRA) to invest in alternative investments such as real estate, private placement securities, precious metals and private notes requires a self-directed IRA custodian. Fees and customer service should both be considered when choosing one. Custody Custodian banks typically provide custody services such as safekeeping, transaction processing,...
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Gold is an attractive investment choice as its symbolic nature implies wealth and success. But investors should remember a few important considerations before investing in gold, specifically capital gains tax considerations. Though physical gold investments typically fall outside the purview of sales taxes, capital gains taxes (both long- and short-term) must still be paid upon selling them at a profit. Strategic tax planning may help minimize these taxes. Sales Tax Gold investing comes with certain tax repercussions. One is paying...
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Bank safety deposit boxes can be an ideal way to store precious metals, but they’re not the only choice available to you. Home storage presents its own set of risks such as treasure hunters armed with metal detectors or nosy neighbors looking for things. Holding gold at home requires additional protection as most homeowners insurance policies don’t cover its contents of personal safes. Insurance Bank safe deposit boxes do not qualify for FDIC insurance, meaning investors would be responsible for...
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Many individuals inquire whether or not it’s possible to buy physical gold with their IRA. The answer is yes; however, to do so you will require finding an established precious metals IRA company. These companies will assist in helping you navigate IRS rules, establish your account with an approved custodian/depository, purchase metals for storage purposes and store them. IRS Rules The IRS has specific rules regarding precious metals IRAs, so it’s crucial to work with an IRA company who can...
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Within 60 days of taking a distribution from an employer-sponsored retirement account such as a 401(k), you can use an IRA rollover to avoid income tax and an early withdrawal penalty. But the rules vary depending on how funds are transferred and which type of IRA it will go into. Direct rollovers Direct rollover is the process of moving funds between retirement accounts without third-party intervention, usually after someone leaves their job and wants to transfer any assets they’ve built...
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Saver who make early withdrawals before age 59 1/2 may incur a 10% early withdrawal penalty; however, there may be exceptions. The CARES Act eliminates early distribution penalties, but savers should still ensure they qualify. Some key exceptions to consider: terminal illness; medical expenses; IRS tax levies; adoption/birth of child and hardship situations. Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPPs) Rather, if you need to tap retirement savings before age 59 1/2, the IRS permits a penalty-free withdrawal if funds are distributed...
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If you have unused funds in a 529 plan, they may be converted to Roth IRA accounts with certain restrictions: for instance, your 529 account must have been open for at least 15 years, and any roll-over amounts cannot exceed $35,000 per beneficiary. Some individuals consider rolling over their 529 accounts in order to consolidate them or change beneficiaries, with tax benefits in mind as the main driver for such decisions. Contributions are tax-free If your current 529 plan falls...
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Gold IRAs provide investors with tax-advantaged retirement accounts where they can hold physical precious metals such as bars or coins in order to diversify their investment portfolio and protect themselves against inflation. However, these accounts typically incur higher fees than traditional IRAs, so investors should carefully evaluate this before investing. How do they work? Gold backed IRAs provide all of the same tax benefits of traditional retirement accounts while giving more control over your investments. These self-directed individual retirement accounts...
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Gold IRAs are self-directed Individual Retirement Accounts that enable investors to invest in precious metals. When setting up one, it is best to work with a company specializing in gold IRAs that will handle the paperwork for you and ensure it complies with IRS regulations. Be mindful that holding physical gold or silver in an IRA requires fees for storage, insurance and management that could quickly add up over time. What is a Gold IRA? Physical precious metal investments can...
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