What is a Gold IRA?

When it comes to saving for retirement, you have a lot of options to choose from. But one that you may not have considered is investing in gold — namely, a gold IRA.

A gold IRA is pretty self-explanatory. It’s an Individual Retirement Account (IRA), but instead of holding stocks and bonds, it holds gold. A gold IRA can also hold other precious metals, like silver or platinum.

If you want to invest in gold, an IRA may be a good choice as it can help protect you from an economic downturn and diversify your assets. However, it won’t be the right choice for everyone.

Here’s everything you need to know about gold IRAs.

What is a Gold IRA Account?

A gold IRA is also occasionally referred to as a precious metals IRA. That’s because this investment vehicle allows you to hold physical gold, silver, or other precious metals. This account can be set up with pre-taxed money, or as a Roth IRA with post-tax funds.

The way this works is that instead of investing your savings in stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, your account holds precious metal coins or bullions. Gold IRAs follow the same tax rules and procedures as other IRAs.

However, IRAs are not your only option when it comes to investing in gold and precious metals. Some gold investors prefer to purchase stocks and exchange-traded funds (ETFs) in gold mining companies or precious metals funds.

But most often, gold investors prefer to stick with physical investments.

4 Types of Metals That Are Eligible for Gold IRAs

The IRS has strict guidelines when it comes to the kinds of metals that can be included in a gold IRA. The only precious metals that can be included are gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

Here is an overview of each of the IRS-approved precious metals, as well as the requirements for each.

1. Gold

If you want to include gold coins or bars, then the purity grade must be at least 99.5% or higher. If a gold coin or bullion doesn’t meet these purity standards, it cannot be deposited into a self-directed gold IRA.

Assuming the gold meets the purity standards, then it must be deposited into an approved depository. An approved depository is a highly secure facility designed to house precious metals.

And finally, you must have an approved custodian as trustee of the IRA. Here is a list of some of the most popular IRA-approved gold coins and bars:

• American Gold Eagle coins
• American Gold Buffalo coins
• Australian Gold Kangaroo/Nugget coins
• Austrian Gold Philharmonic coins
• Johnson Matthey Gold bar
• Valcambi Gold CombiBar
• Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins
• Credit Suisse Gold bars

2. Silver

Silver coins must meet a purity standard of 99.9% or higher. Here is a list of IRA-approved silver coins and bars:

• American Silver Eagle coins
• Australian Kookaburra Silver coins
• Austrian Philharmonic Silver coins
• Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins
• Mexican Silver Libertad coins
• Johnson Matthey Silver bar
• Royal Canadian Mint Silver bar

3. Platinum

Platinum coins and bars must meet or exceed a purity standard of 99.95%. Here is a list of IRA-approved platinum bars and coins to consider:

• American Eagle Platinum bullion coins
• Australian Koala Platinum coins
• Canadian Maple Leaf Platinum coins
• Isle of Man Noble coins

4. Palladium

And finally, palladium must meet a purity standard of 99.95% or higher. Here is a list of IRA-approved palladium bars and coins:

• Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf coins
• Russian Ballerina Palladium coins
• Baird Palladium bars
• Credit Suisse Palladium bars

Metals That Are Not Eligible for a Gold IRA

There are many precious metal bars and coins that are popular among investors as collectibles but are not acceptable for gold IRAs. If you’re looking to invest in a gold IRA, you should begin working with a precious metals company you trust.

Always check with the IRA company before investing in precious metals that you aren’t sure about. Here is a list of metals that are not eligible:

Pros and Cons of Opening a Gold IRA

There are advantages and disadvantages to opening a gold IRA. Here are a few things you should consider before getting started.

Pros

Since the Financial Crisis of 2008, gold IRAs have become a popular investment option for people who are looking to diversify outside of the stock market. Many people believe that gold is a good way to protect yourself against inflation.

And gold IRAs are not as difficult to invest in as they were in the past. Due to increased demand, there are more legitimate IRA companies available that will help you buy and manage your gold and precious metals investment.

Cons

One of the biggest downsides to opening a gold IRA is that the startup costs can be high. Plus, gold doesn’t pay dividends or interest, which kind of defeats the purpose of putting it in a tax-advantaged investment.

Plus, many people find that it’s tricky to make withdrawals on gold IRAs since gold isn’t a liquid asset.

You also need to be certain that you’re working with a reputable company that knows what they’re doing. Otherwise, it’s easy to fall victim to scam artists.

How to Get Started With a Gold IRA

To get started with a gold IRA, you’ll have to set up a self-directed IRA account. A self-directed IRA is a special type of IRA that allows you to own a wider variety of investment products. As the name suggests, you’ll manage this account on your own.

However, you will need to find a broker to assist you in buying the gold and storing your assets. The right custodian could be either a bank, credit union, or brokerage firm.

Just make sure the broker you choose has been approved by a state or federal agency. You can ask your precious metals dealer to recommend a broker they trust.

Start-Up Costs for Opening a Gold IRA

Unlike traditional IRAs, a gold IRA comes with a few extra expenses. Here are some of the biggest expenses you’ll need to know about:

• The markup fee: When you buy gold or precious metals, you may have to pay a markup fee. This is a one-time upfront fee, and it will vary based on the vendor you choose.
• IRA setup fee: The setup fee is another one-time fee you’ll pay to set up your IRA account. Again, this will vary depending on the broker you choose. However, it will likely be more costly because not every firm deals with gold IRAs.
• Custodian fees: You’ll have to pay an annual fee for the custodian that’s managing your gold IRA.
• Storage fees: Your gold must be stored in a secure, approved location. For that reason, you’ll have to pay annual storage fees.

Bottom Line

If you’re looking for a way to diversify your portfolio outside of the stock market, then a gold IRA may be a good choice. Gold and other precious metals tend to be a safe investment and can serve as a hedge against inflation.

However, there are other ways to diversify your assets that may be more cost-effective and less of a hassle. Gold doesn’t generate income, so some people believe it’s a waste to put it in a tax-deferred investment.

If you do decide to go this route, just make sure that you do your homework and choose wisely when it comes to your metals dealer and custodian. This will help you protect your investment and avoid scam artists who might try to take advantage of you.