You can't own physical gold in a normal IRA, although you can invest in a variety of assets exposed to gold, such as the stocks of gold mining companies or gold exchange-traded funds (ETFs). If you want to keep physical gold in an IRA account, it can't be your regular account. It has to be a special, independent account, called a golden IRA. You can pay one or two points more by buying gold with them than with an online discount broker, but you'll also get free storage for a year and someone to talk to.
When you turn 72, you will be required to accept the minimum distributions (RMDs) required from a traditional gold IRA (but not from a Roth account). Physical metals must meet the IRS fineness standards for purity and weight, and be stored in an IRS-approved insured warehouse. This company will store or preserve its real ingots, says John Johnson, president of GoldStar Trust, based in Canyon, Texas. Keep in mind that not all self-managed IRA custodians offer the same investment options, so make sure physical gold is one of your offerings before opening an account.
I've already studied gold IRAs for American readers, and most of them only offer Brinks storage in Salt Lake City. Even so, an IRA with gold may be a good option for investors who want to diversify their retirement accounts and also take advantage of the hedging benefits offered by the yellow metal against other financial assets, such as paper money and stocks. Then you have to buy the gold or other approved precious metal and transfer it to the depositary so that the depositary can account for it, Moy explains. However, in order to qualify for gold IRA accounts, custodians must be insured, which would protect their investment as long as their account does not exceed the value declared by the custodian in the accounts.
Money Reserve's Gold Standard IRA program for precious metals combines the traditional protection of gold and silver with the modern convenience of an IRA. Congress created the possibility of using gold and other materials as securities in an IRA in 1997, says Edmund C. In addition, if the IRS determines that the day the gold of your anger entered your home was the “distribution” date, you could end up paying additional fines and back taxes due from the time of distribution. During his tenure as director of the Mint, Moy says that there was little demand for gold IRA accounts because they involved a very complicated transaction that only the most persistent investors were willing to make.
If you're not sure that owning physical gold is the best use of your funds, consider talking to your financial advisor or accountant. If you're interested in owning gold or investing in its future value, a self-directed gold IRA might be a good way to do so. If you're considering an IRA in gold, consult a financial advisor to determine how the metal would fit your overall portfolio objectives.
