Buying gold for retirement is an investment strategy Americans have begun to use commonly to protect their retirement accounts. A gold IRA is an IRS-approved way to get both the benefits of investment in a physical asset AND the benefits of a tax-advantaged plan.
How exactly is this done (and why)? What pitfalls are there to avoid?
This article explains the advantages of a gold IRA, outlines the steps and provides tips on buying precious metals for a gold IRA account the right way. The article is designed for those who are looking into buying gold for retirement—but it’s also a great refresher for those who already own one.
For more about gold IRAs and the process to open one, call Augusta Precious Metals (a specialized gold IRA dealer with a stellar reputation) and ask to speak with one of their customer success agents: 866-726-2155. You can also get more information about gold IRAs for retirement by clicking on the link you’ll find at the top of this article.
Why Should You Buy Gold for Your Retirement Portfolio?
With the economic and geopolitical stressors currently in play both globally and nationally, many investors are looking for methods to stabilize their retirement investments. One option many are considering is physical gold. Throughout history, gold and silver have served as unique complements to traditional retirement investments.
Buying gold for retirement has helped many Americans’ IRAs, 401(k)s, and other retirement savings accounts in the following ways.
- Hedges Against Inflation: When the U.S. dollar has lost power, physical gold (a commodity as opposed to a paper-based asset) often has either retained its value or thrived. This quality of physical gold protects the purchasing power of your retirement dollars.
- Protects Against Market Volatility: Because gold has often acted differently from stocks and bonds over time, this physical asset can provide desirable potential for diversification, an element of stability that can help retain savings value.
- Diversifies to Reduce Portfolio Risk: The role of gold in diversifying a portfolio (particularly coins and bullion), is to make it possible to reduce an investor’s overall portfolio risk and at the same time offer potential for growth over time.
Who Is Eligible for a Gold IRA?
Traditional retirement accounts by law can’t contain physical assets such as gold and silver. However, a special type of retirement account sanctioned by the IRS does allow physical gold and silver in an IRA. The gold and silver must be in allowable, approved forms (more about that below).
It’s important to follow the right steps to open one of the special accounts to properly diversify your retirement savings with precious metals. (Always consult your own retirement, legal, and tax professionals to determine if a gold IRA is right for you.)
To get the information you need to make this decision confidently and to open a gold IRA the right way, work with a specialized gold IRA dealer, such as Augusta Precious Metals. The dealer will help you understand the process, navigate any pitfalls, and streamline the transfer of your funds.
Moving Your Retirement Savings into a Gold IRA
To include physical gold in your retirement savings, you will first need to open what is called a self-directed IRA. This is the special fund the IRS allows, where investors can include physical gold (as well as silver) in an IRA.
Depending on your personal situation, this is done as a...
Direct rollover: Moving funds directly from your current retirement-account custodian to your new gold IRA custodian. This helps avoid taxes and penalties—as with any movement of retirement account funds.
Or as an...
Indirect rollover: Withdrawing funds yourself from your current custodian and redepositing them in your new gold IRA account with your new custodian within 60 days to avoid taxes and penalties.
Following the Rules to Properly Open a Gold IRA
As you can imagine, the IRS is very strict about what types of precious metals a gold IRA can contain and how the precious metals are managed. It’s critical to understand these rules to make sure you get the tax advantages of your IRA and avoid what could be expensive penalties if the rules aren’t followed. A reputable gold IRA dealer knows the rules well and can help you work within them.
Here are a few of the rules (ask your gold IRA dealer about more):
1. Any precious metals held in a gold IRA must meet 99.5% purity standards.
2. Not all collectible coins are approved.
3. All metals in a gold IRA must be stored in an IRS-compliant facility.
4. With a gold IRA, you can’t store the metals yourself at home or in a bank.
Steps to Open a Gold IRA the Right Way
Step 1: Choose a trusted gold IRA dealer specialist to help you add physical gold to your retirement savings. Look for a company with an inarguable positive reputation. Ask a lot of questions to determine what they know about purity, documentation, regulations, etc. Finally, check out consumer reviews to see if there have been any problems with other customers.
Step 2: Open a gold IRA account with an IRS-compliant custodian that specializes in administration of gold IRAs. Your gold IRA dealer can recommend the best custodians and will often suggest one with which they are most familiar. Transfer money from your existing custodial account to your new one.
Step 3: Purchase gold (and/or silver) for your new account. Your gold dealer can help you ensure that your gold meets IRS requirements and arrange storage in a secure facility designed especially for this purpose.
Buying Gold for Retirement with Augusta Precious Metals
The process for moving part of your retirement savings can be complicated if you don’t get transparent, thorough facts about self-directed IRAs, IRS rules, and the steps for moving your money over to a gold IRA successfully.
One of the keys to doing this well and feeling confident about a gold IRA strategy for your retirement is finding a trustworthy, reliable gold IRA company to help you get the information you need and move through the steps of buying gold for your retirement, navigating the rules and finding the best custodian and storage facility.
Augusta Precious Metals specializes in assisting American investors with buying gold for retirement savings within a gold IRA. To learn more, visit Augusta Precious Metals at the link found at the top of this article.
Buying Gold for Retirement — FAQs
Can I Buy Physical Gold for my 401(k)?
The 401(k) plans most retirement investors are familiar with don’t allow physical gold or other precious metals. However, you can move a portion of your retirement savings out of a 401(k) to an IRA specially designed to hold physical precious metals. To make this move with confidence, first find a reliable specialized gold IRA dealer to help you learn the details of gold IRAs and then help you navigate the steps and ensure your account is compliant.
How Can I Make Sure My Gold IRA Follows IRS Requirements?
In addition to the rules related to fineness and storage noted in this article, there are other regulations that must be followed. For example, all of the precious metals you buy for your retirement must be purchased at fair market value. You must work with a custodian rather than administering or storing the gold yourself. A knowledgeable and trustworthy gold IRA dealer can help you understand what these rules are and take you through the steps to open and maintain your account.
How Do I Transfer My Existing 401(k) to a Gold-Backed IRA?
When many investors buy gold for retirement, they prefer a direct transfer from an existing 401(k) custodian to a new gold IRA custodian because it reduces the chances of the IRS assessing penalties and taxes. It works like any other retirement account transfer, but the new custodian must specialize in gold IRAs to ensure that all rules and regulations are followed. Your gold IRA dealer can recommend a trusted gold IRA custodian, as well as reputable facilities that specialize in storing physical precious metals.
If you are looking for details on gold IRAs