Gold IRAs have higher maintenance fees than other types of IRAs, which is due to the additional costs associated with investing in gold. In addition to brokerage fees and account setup fees, the investor must pay additional costs to store and insure the precious metal. Rules against holding collectibles Tax legislation prohibits IRA holders from investing in life insurance, S corporation stocks, or collectibles. Some types of gold coins are classed as collectibles and would break the rules
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What’s confusing and frustrating is that some gold coins and gold bars are allowed, but others aren’t. And it’s not like the IRS keeps a master list of what’s allowed and what isn’t. You’ll also need to choose a precious metals dealer who will make the actual gold purchases for your IRA (your custodian may be able to recommend one for you). Specialized custodian banks Standard depositories such as Fidelity, Schwab or TD Ameritrade
will not handle physical gold in an IRA.
Those considering a gold IRA must also have the time and knowledge to make good decisions about their SDIRA. People who don’t have the time or knowledge to plan, track, and do due diligence may find gold IRAs a bad choice. Thankfully, there are no limits on how much you can transfer from another IRA to your precious metals IRA. If you really think it’s a good idea, at least check the IRS rules and custodian fees before you deposit gold into your IRA
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According to IRS rules, your gold must be physically stored in a gold deposit. You may not keep the gold used for your IRA in your personal possession (but you can still schedule a visit to the depot to view and handle it). There are a few things you should consider before you decide to convert your savings into a gold IRA. A good Gold IRA firm will help you with the paperwork and will be available as your personal resource even after you complete your purchase (what is known as a “trade”). Gold IRA companies work with specialized custodian managers and precious metals warehouses, and they’ve usually already reviewed options and identified preferred companies and institutions that they
recommend.
For younger investors who have enough time to recover from stock market shocks, a gold IRA may not be a better choice in the future. A gold IRA offers many of the benefits of a physical asset as well as the tax benefits of an IRA. If you’ve already saved money from your employer in a standard IRA, you can easily transfer it to a precious metals IRA with the help of a precious metals IRA provider. A certified financial planner may be able to give you viable suggestions on how to best incorporate a gold IRA into your strategy and plan, but the final decision is up to you
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To invest in gold via a gold IRA, an investor must first open a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) that can manage gold. Since gold IRAs must be managed themselves, investors have ultimate control over their investments. So it’s important to understand the pros and cons
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