Can I Buy GLD in My IRA?
Gold is an increasingly popular asset to use for retirement planning. Many IRA investors utilize physical precious metals in their accounts to diversify their portfolios.
But buying physical gold can be costly and risky; for a safer investment option in gold ETFs.
Gold ETFs like GLD track the price of gold and are easily accessible for investors, while also typically offering lower expense ratios than physical gold investments.
What is GLD?
GLD is an exchange-traded fund (ETF) that tracks the price of gold bullion. Its sponsor, SPDR Gold Trust, holds physical gold as collateral backing its ETF shares; investors can buy and sell GLD shares on exchanges around the world just like any stock.
GLD has quickly become one of the easiest ways to invest in gold without dealing with storage, insurance or any other hassles – but ownership does not grant access to actual physical gold.
As opposed to a typical investment company, GLD does not fall under the purview of either the 1940 Act or Commodity Exchange Act (“CEA”). Instead, under U.S. tax law it is considered a collectible, and therefore investors must pay a higher capital gains rate of 28% on any profits earned by investing. Any potential investor must bear this in mind; expenses incurred daily by the fund can quickly reduce potential returns over time.
How does GLD work?
GLD provides investors with an easier and less-expensive way of benefitting from gold’s rising market price, without all of the hassle and expense associated with buying, storing, insuring and trading physical bullion themselves.
Like all ETFs, GLD presents its own set of risks. One such risk is that retail GLD shareholders remain unsecured creditors of the fund if it ever collapses or declares bankruptcy; as a result, retail shareholders could likely lose all their money if GLD ever collapses or declares bankruptcy.
GLD shares aren’t directly backed by physical gold; rather they’re held by their sponsor’s trustee and custodian, currently HSBC. Furthermore, HSBC may use sub-custodians to store or source gold from GLD holdings – creating counterparty risk in the fund.
How can I buy GLD in my IRA?
As a general rule, physical gold and bullion aren’t permitted in retirement accounts, although certain precious metal coins and bars that meet purity standards may be included under an exception clause. Furthermore, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) holding precious metals like GLD may qualify under this exception clause and the IRS has issued Private Letter Rulings supporting this type of ETF held within an IRA account.
Even though IRA owners can use this investment strategy to safely and efficiently purchase gold, it’s still wise for them to compare all available options in order to determine what best meets their personal goals and circumstances. Regular evaluations allow investors to adjust their portfolio assets in response to market fluctuations for maximum gains while mitigating risks.
As is true with any investment opportunity, gold and other assets may change their value over time depending on market conditions. Therefore, it’s crucial that you regularly assess your IRA holdings to ensure they meet your financial goals while mitigating risks.
How can I sell GLD in my IRA?
While it is possible to own physical precious metals in an IRA, this is not typically used or recommended as an effective means of diversifying an investment portfolio. Instead, many advisors suggest investing in an exchange-traded fund (ETF) which tracks a gold index or mutual funds that hold gold mining stocks as better ways of diversifying one’s investments portfolio.
GLD is one of the numerous funds traded on the New York Stock Exchange Arca that can be purchased through any broker. Its underlying assets consist of physical gold bullion stored in vaults managed by HSBC; therefore, the price of GLD can fluctuate along with actual gold prices.
Investors can buy or sell GLD shares during any trading day on the exchange and place market, limit, and stop-loss orders. As with any asset held within an IRA, short-term gains and losses are taxed at ordinary income rates while long-term capital gains may qualify for lower capital gains rates. Anyone selling any approved IRA asset – GLD included – must maintain thorough records to meet IRS reporting requirements.
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