If you’re looking for a safe, low-risk investment, look no further than gold. But before you go out and buy some, let’s talk about what a gold IRA is and how it can work for your retirement savings.
What is a gold IRA?
A gold IRA is a retirement account that invests in gold, typically through coins and bars. Because it’s an IRA, contributions to your account are tax-deferred. That means you don’t have to pay taxes on your investment until you take distributions from the account during retirement (or otherwise).
This type of retirement plan lets investors own physical bullion like coins or bars and certain gold-related financial products such as futures contracts and call options. The gold can be kept in a custodian’s vault or stored at home; however, most self-directed IRAs require an independent third party to hold the precious metal for security purposes.
How to buy gold
If you are looking to buy gold, keep these tips in mind:
Always buy small amounts of gold. Investing all your savings in one place or with just one vendor is not a good idea. That way, if the company goes out of business or has any problems, you won’t lose all your money at once. For example, if you want to invest $10,000 into gold coins and bars, find a reputable dealer who can sell them for fair market value. Only use that amount as your IRA contribution limit for the year (or use another method).
When buying from a new source or with less experience, look for companies that offer insurance coverage on their products. That will protect against theft and accidental product loss while being shipped or stored by an outside party (like FedEx). It also means they’re accountable should anything happen during shipment!
Stay away from risky investments like options trading. Instead, focus on more straightforward methods like buying stocks through mutual funds directly.
Who can purchase a gold IRA
To purchase a gold IRA, you must be a US citizen, at least 18 years old, and have a valid social security number. You’ll also need a checking account that accepts direct deposits from your custodian.
Gold IRAs are regulated by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and must follow strict guidelines set forth by the Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
Where to buy gold
Now that you know how to open a gold IRA and what it is, it’s time to determine where you can purchase the actual gold. The first place to look is an online dealer, such as APMEX or JM Bullion. These companies offer competitive prices on bullion coins and bars, but they don’t hold any inventory. So instead, they will order your requested product from one of their suppliers once you make your order.
You can also consider going with a local coin dealer if you want more personalized service. We recommend visiting one in person so that someone can walk through the process with you and answer any questions that come up during the sale.
It may be worth doing to get some face-to-face advice about investing in precious metals (and potentially making some new friends).
Who not to buy from
- Don’t buy from a company that is not registered with the SEC.
- Don’t buy from a company that has no physical location.
- Please don’t buy from a company that is not transparent with its pricing.
- Don’t buy from a company that has no customer service.
How to store your gold
You can store your gold in a variety of ways. In this section, we’ll talk about some of the most popular options and how they work.
Gold bars: These are one of the simplest ways to store gold. They’re often sold by weight (1 oz, 10 oz, etc.) but sometimes by purity (99.9% pure gold). The price per ounce will vary based on the current market value and what type of bar you choose. However, it’s important to note that not all bars are created equal!
Gold bars should always be stamped with an official hallmark from a reputable mint or refinery company such as LBMA-approved refiners like PAMP Suisse or Engelhard Corporation US Holdings Inc., affiliated with De Beers Group Ltd.
Bullion coins: This is a common way to buy physical gold bullion. American Eagle and Canadian Maple Leaf are the most popular bullion coins, but many others are out there (including Credit Suisse).
Bullion coins are sold by weight and are often cheaper than gold bullion bars. But there is a catch: because they’re smaller, it can be hard to sell them back if you want to cash in! That said, if you plan to store your bullion coins for a long time, this isn’t an issue.
A gold IRA can be a great way to invest in retirement
You should consider a gold IRA if you’re looking for a way to diversify your portfolio, save for retirement, or avoid paying taxes on investments.
Gold is a good investment that has historically retained its value better than other assets. It’s also one of the few commodities that can be used as money—a rare quality in the financial world—and it’s more durable than most physical goods. Buying gold through an IRA allows you to invest in a highly liquid asset while keeping your money protected by law from creditors and lawsuits until retirement age (although there are exceptions to this rule).
Conclusion
Investing in a gold IRA can significantly grow your retirement savings, especially if you already have other IRAs. The best part is that it’s easy to get started—you need to find an investment company that offers Gold IRAs and complete the application process.
Disclaimer
Please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. FintechMode is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.
