Can I Buy Physical Gold With My IRA?
IRA accounts that invest in physical gold must store it at an IRS-approved depository that meets security and insurance standards, with additional storage fees applied as necessary for each precious metal purchased.
Investors who store their gold IRA investments at home or in personal safes may incur distribution penalties, so take some time to research this investment opportunity and its limitations at NerdWallet.
What is an IRA?
Individual Retirement Accounts, or IRAs, provide tax-advantaged savings accounts that allow individuals to invest and save for retirement with funds that won’t incur penalties like workplace 401(k) plans do. They’re an important tool for the 33% of private sector employees without access to such plans.
Your options for opening an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) include brokerage firms, mutual fund companies or banks. Compare fees, minimum opening requirements and educational resources before choosing one of these providers. Or consider opting for a robo-advisor which selects low-cost investments suitable to your risk profile automatically.
An Individual Retirement Account (IRA) allows your money to grow tax-deferred until withdrawals become taxed once you reach the required distribution age of 72 (5912 for those younger). There are two kinds of IRAs – traditional and Roth. While you can open both kinds, traditional is more often the preferred choice among investors.
SEP and SIMPLE IRAs are employer-sponsored IRA accounts that allow employers to contribute a percentage of employees’ wages into an IRA account, similar to how traditional IRAs work but simpler for small-business owners and self-employed people to establish. Withdrawals from such an account are taxed as ordinary income with possible 10 percent penalties applied if taken before reaching age 59 1/2.
Why do I need an IRA?
Physical gold investment offers retirement investors an attractive prospect. Although you could purchase an ETF or mutual fund focused on gold within their IRAs, a gold IRA offers tax breaks and diversification benefits that could enhance your portfolio.
Gold has long been considered an investment with significant purchasing power that remains secure against economic instability and inflation, so much so that billionaires and central banks alike possess gold as part of their portfolios.
Your investment goals and the type of account that best meets them may dictate whether a Roth or traditional gold IRA is best. With a Roth gold IRA, contributions made using after-tax dollars are tax-free when distributed during retirement; with traditional gold IRAs contributions are made using pre-tax dollars but taxed at withdrawal time. It would be wise to consult a financial advisor for advice regarding which gold IRA is appropriate for your specific circumstances and objectives.
How do I open an IRA?
Gold has long been seen as an effective means of protecting against economic uncertainty, offering more stability than currencies or stocks – its value can never reach zero! Unfortunately, however, gold also typically yields lower returns than many other investments; so before opening a gold IRA it is important to assess both your investment goals and risk tolerance beforehand.
To establish a physical gold IRA, you must first find a custodian who will allow you to purchase precious metals. Some custodians offer true self-directed IRAs; others limit your options to publicly-traded assets like stocks, bonds and mutual funds; while still others provide special gold IRA accounts where physical metals such as coins and bullion may be purchased directly.
Once you have chosen an IRA custodian that allows for gold investment, it’s essential to compare their costs. Some providers charge annual maintenance fees, while others may incur greater storage and insurance expenses for physical precious metals.
After that, you must locate an IRS-approved third-party depository who charges only a nominal storage fee to store your gold IRA. When selecting an IRA custodian, make sure you factor in all costs associated with storage to choose the most cost-effective solution for your specific investment goals. Also be mindful that gold must be stored safely, so it is vitally important that they offer safe deposit boxes as part of their service offering.
Comments are closed here.