Gold IRA expenses are generally higher than the expenses associated with conventional retirement accounts like 401(k)s. If you have a gold IRA, you will incur costs to manage and maintain the account, as well as to store and insure your gold. Precious metals prices can also be volatile over time.
There are a number of types and forms of precious metals the IRS has approved as IRA-eligible. Certain coins and bars manufactured by the U.S. Mint, the corresponding agency of certain other countries, or designated private minting companies, can be held in a gold IRA.
The IRS has extremely detailed regulations that dictate which coins and bars can be held in a gold IRThe aim of these precise requirements on size, weight, design and metal purity is to ensure that retirement savers are keeping investment-grade assets, rather than collectibles, in their accounts.
We evaluated gold IRA companies’ websites, along with consumer advocacy organizations the Better Business Bureau and Business Consumer Alliance, as well as consumer-review sites such as TrustPilot. We considered each of the gold IRA companies’ reputation, transparency and the quality of online education and resources they provide.
In addition, we compared the companies' respective fee structures and minimum balances, when available, as well as how easy it was to find this information from their websites. We also analyzed the user-friendliness and responsiveness of their customer service.
We regularly update our list of best gold IRA companies to ensure that our highlighted picks continue to meet these requirements.
gold IRA is a specific type of individual retirement account called a self-directed IRIt is similar to a traditional IRA that might hold stocks, bonds or mutual funds. A self-directed IRA confers the same tax benefits as a traditional IRA but allows you to hold precious metals and other alternative assets in compliance with IRS regulations.
Gold Etf In An IraLearn everything you need to know about what is a gold IRA in this guide, including how to open one, how to fund it and why you might want to invest some of your nest egg in precious metals using this method.
Surprisingly, a gold IRA doesn’t have to just hold gold — in fact, you don’t need to hold any gold at all in one. Given that you can also hold silver coins or bullion, platinum and palladium in a gold IRA, a more correct term is technically “precious metals IRA.”
But the phrase “gold IRA” is more commonly used as a kind of shorthand to refer to this kind of self-directed IRAs with a traditional IRA, your gold investments are purchased with pre-tax dollars. The alternative to the tax deferral a traditional or self-directed IRA affords is a Roth IRA, which is funded with money on which you have already paid taxes. For more detail, check out Money's best Roth IRA accounts guide.
The IRS rules that govern gold IRAs are extremely detailed. Your IRA gold coins and bars need to conform to regulations on size, weight, design and metal purity.
By putting strict parameters around what defines IRA gold, the IRS can ensure that people are holding investment-grade assets in their self-directed gold IRA, as opposed to collectibles, which are not eligible for any kind of preferred tax treatment.
A traditional gold IRA is the most common type of gold IRA (and the kind discussed throughout this guide unless otherwise specified). It is funded with pre-tax dollars, and you pay income tax on withdrawals in retirement.
Gold Etf For IraA Roth gold IRA is funded with after-tax dollars. The money grows tax-free and you do not pay taxes when you take distributions in retirement.
A SEP gold IRA is a type of IRA intended for people who are self-employed or small business owners. It is also funded with pre-tax dollars, but the contribution limits are different and business owners can contribute on behalf of their employees.
To establish a gold IRA, you have to work with a gold IRA company to set up an account and purchase the precious metals of your choice to fund it. Many people who open gold IRAs use funds from another IRA to do so — but it’s not a good idea to roll over your entire nest egg into a gold IRA.
A gold IRA company will guide you through opening your self-directed IRA account. Some, but not all, will let you open the account online.
The gold IRA company also sells you the gold bars and coins (or other precious metals) you choose to put in your gold IRA.
They also will coordinate the selection of an IRS-approved custodian, which is a requirement for all self-directed IRAs, in order to prevent illegal self-dealing. The custodian is a financial services provider that executes investment activities on your behalf. They also carry out the necessary administrative functions that ensure your gold IRA is in compliance with all IRS regulations.
How To Hold Gold In An IraIn addition to the account custodian, the gold IRA company will coordinate the functions performed by the depository, the facility where the precious metals in your IRA are physically held.
Most gold IRA companies either recommend or require that you work with a particular custodian and depository, although some give you a choice of two or more. Considerations when choosing a custodian and depository include what fees they charge for their respective services — including administration, storage fees and insurance for your gold — and how much they cost.
A common way to fund a new gold IRA account is to use funds that are already held in another retirement account, such as another IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b) or Thrift Savings Plan, in accordance with IRS rules. The gold IRA company you choose will help you initiate that by contacting your plan administrator with a request to roll over funds into your new gold IRA.
You can choose to initiate the rollover yourself, but be aware: If you are younger than 59½ years old, you have just 60 days to complete the process, or you will be required to pay income tax on the withdrawn funds and incur a 10% early withdrawal penalty.
Many people seeking to avoid this risk instead let their gold IRA company facilitate this as an institution-to-institution transfer instead rather than taking it on themselves. The advantage in letting them handle your transfer is that the money is never in your hands, legally speaking, which removes the prospect of having to pay an early withdrawal penalty as well as income taxes (you’ll still pay taxes, of course, but only when you take distributions).
Before you initiate the transfer, it’s important to calculate how much of the value of your existing retirement savings you want to place in your new gold IRAs a rule of thumb, most financial planners recommend having a maximum of 5% to 10% of your portfolio allocated to precious metals for optimal diversification.
Can You Buy Gold Etf In IraWhile traditional IRAs, 401(k)s and the like are set up to make it easy for you to build a diverse retirement portfolio in order to mitigate risk, a precious metals IRA is dedicated to a single asset class. The value of those metals can grow tax-free while in the account, but you won’t benefit from the balance-building power of dividends.
• Choose a gold IRA company. You want to choose a gold IRA company that is transparent, straightforward about fees and has a good reputation. Check out our guide to the best gold IRA companies to learn more and compare different options. A gold IRA company will help you set up your account and sell you the gold (or silver) coins or bars that fund it.
• Choose your metals. The two most widely offered options to put in a precious metals IRA are gold and silver, and a number of gold IRA companies also offer platinum and/or palladium that you can buy and add to your IRA.
• Go elsewhere for investment advice. Gold IRA companies do not operate in an advisory capacity. As precious metals dealers, their role is strictly to sell, not offer investment advice — and keep in mind that they are not fiduciaries, meaning that they are not bound by a legal requirement to act in your best financial interests the way some retirement advisors (such as certified financial planners) are. If you need advice, you should seek out a trusted advisor rather than rely on representatives from the gold IRA company.
There are IRS-approved gold and other precious metals manufactured by the U.S. Mint, certain other governments’ official mints, as well as some private mints that are designated by the IRS as approved manufacturers of IRA-compliant bars and coins.
Your precious metals must be held by an IRS-approved depository. To conform with the many regulations around gold IRAs, you can’t store your gold at home or in a safe deposit box at a bank. If you want to hold gold outside of a retirement account (which means you can keep it at home), here is more information about how to buy gold outside an IRA.
A main selling point — which gold IRA companies like to tout in their marketing — is that when you own a gold IRA, you hold the physical precious metals. If this is not a priority for you, there are other ways to add precious metals exposure to your portfolio besides a gold IRWith a traditional IRA or other retirement account, you can invest in gold via the stock market by buying shares of mining companies or mutual funds that hold those stocks. Another alternative is a gold ETF, an exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of gold as an asset. If you want to know more, check out this guide to learn how to buy a gold ETF.
If you feel more secure holding physical gold in a gold IRA, keep in mind that you do pay for that peace of mind: A gold IRA is more expensive than a comparable traditional retirement account. Be aware of the following costs:
A main selling point — which gold IRA companies like to tout in their marketing — is that when you own a gold IRA, you hold the physical precious metals. If this is not a priority for you, there are other ways to add precious metals exposure to your portfolio besides a gold IRWith a traditional IRA or other retirement account, you can invest in gold via the stock market by buying shares of mining companies or mutual funds that hold those stocks. Another alternative is a gold ETF, an exchange-traded fund that tracks the performance of gold as an asset. If you want to know more, check out this guide to learn how to buy a gold ETF.
• Account setup fees: Not all gold IRA companies charge this, but some do, so be sure to ask what they charge.
• Seller fees: Most gold IRA companies tack on markups to the price of the precious metal coins and bullion they sell. These markups can vary considerably depending on the type of asset — say, a bullion coin versus a proof coin — so make sure you know what kind of markup is being assessed on your purchases.
Gold Etf Roth Ira• Maintenance fees: This annual fee might be charged by the gold IRA company or by the custodian. It can be a flat fee or it can vary based on the size of your account.
• Storage fees: This is what you pay the depository to store your gold. Sometimes it includes the cost of insuring your gold. If not, insurance will be a separate expense you have to budget for.
• Shipping fees: If you elect to take your required minimum distributions (RMDs) in kind — meaning, you will get the actual coins or bars you purchased — expect to pay both for shipping and for insuring those shipments.
• Buyback fees: Some gold IRA companies charge buyback fees. Others say they don’t, but be aware that the price they pay you when they buy back gold is likely to be lower than the price they set for gold they sell.
Gold Etf Tax IraBefore you open a gold IRA, make sure you know about the regulatory hoops you have to jump through to make sure that account doesn’t violate IRS rules. Making a mistake, even if inadvertent, can be very costly, so it pays to know what the IRS does and doesn’t let you do with your gold IRA.
Gold IRAs fall under IRA rules for self-directed IRAs, which allow for tax-preferred treatment of alternative assets, but the rules governing contributions are the same as for a traditional IRA: In 2022, you can contribute up to $6,000 if you are under the age of 50, and up to $7,000 if you are older.
As with other retirement accounts, if you take gold out of your IRA before turning 59½, you will have to pay income tax on the value of the gold, plus a 10% early-withdrawal penalty.
A gold IRA rollover involves taking funds from another defined-contribution account such as an IRA, 401(k), 403(b) or thrift savings plan. You can roll over all or part of the balance to fund a gold IRA without incurring a tax liability, provided you complete the rollover within 60 days. To avoid the possibility of having to pay taxes and penalties, your gold IRA company can handle the transfer on your behalf.
Unless you have multiple retirement accounts, it would be very risky to roll over your entire balance into a gold IRConventional retirement investment plans are structured to let you build a diverse portfolio including stocks, bonds and mutual funds that will grow in value over time and can generate income via dividends and bond yields. A gold IRA is comprised of a single asset class, and eliminating the diversity you get with a traditional investment portfolio leaves you more exposed to risk and takes away the opportunity to earn income. Be especially careful if you are nearing the age when you have to take RMDs. Volatility can be a problem with gold, and there is no guarantee that the price of gold will rise appreciably by the time you need to take distributions.
Gold IRAs function much like traditional retirement accounts, but your investment is backed with gold and other precious metals, including silver, platinum and palladium. Click below to get started.
• IRA-approved gold (and other precious metals) must meet exacting IRS standards for size, weight, metal purity and design to make sure they pass muster as investment-grade assets.
• A gold IRA company will help you open and fund a gold IRA, and will coordinate with the custodian and depository — both of which must be IRS-approved — to administer your account and store your gold.
While most IRAs consist of traditional assets such as stocks and bonds, the tax code permits you to use self-directed IRA accounts that allow you to hold precious metals such as gold and silver.
However, setting up a gold IRA can be an overwhelming process because it involves finding a gold IRA custodian, locating an approved depository to store your gold, and navigating the IRS tax rules on gold IRA accounts. That's why many investors are turning to reputable gold IRA companies to help facilitate the process for them.
The best gold IRA companies have experts that specialize in self-directed retirement accounts and can assist you with setting up your account, acquiring precious metals, and remaining compliant with the tax code.
Whether you're looking to purchase gold to diversify your investment portfolio or to convert an existing retirement into a precious metals IRA, here are the top gold IRA companies.
Goldco is a privately held firm that specializes in wealth and asset protection. This company can help you transfer assets from a tax-advantaged retirement account, such as an IRA, 401(k), or 403(b), to a precious metals IRGoldco also offers direct gold and silver sales to customers.
Goldco offers both gold and silver IRAs. If you choose to invest in a gold IRA, you can purchase a range of gold IRA-approved coins to fund your account. Goldco works with mints to source high-quality coins eligible for gold IRAs, including:
Goldco can make the process of opening a gold IRA quick and easy. First, you can initiate your IRA by signing an agreement on the Goldco website. A representative from the company can help you understand the service terms and walk you through each step.
Gold In IraNext, you'll need to fund your IRA by rolling over assets from an existing 401(k) or another eligible account. Typically, IRA rollovers can take place without any tax penalties. You can also set up a brand new precious metals IRA, if you don’t have an existing retirement account to transfer funds from.
Once you've funded your precious metals IRA, you can choose the gold or silver you would like to purchase with your funds.
If you'd prefer to invest in your retirement savings directly, you can buy physical gold and coins on the Goldco website and ship them to your preferred depository or your home. Some customers also qualify for free storage through Goldco.
Goldco offers a wide range of precious metal products for direct sale. You can purchase these coins by first signing an agreement on the Goldco website, and then funding your account with a bank wire or mail-in check.
If you're on the fence about working with Goldco, you can request a free kit to learn more about the company. This kit includes a printed guide, an audio guide, and a video guide that answers questions about:
Birch Gold Group is a physical precious metals dealer that has been in business since 2003. Since its beginnings, the company has worked with over 13,000 customers and has built up an impressive reputation, garnering an A+ Better Business Bureau rating.
Gold Ira InvestingBirch Gold Group sells gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in coins, bars, and rounds. You can purchase precious metals directly through the company or open a precious metals IRA.
If you're looking to open a gold or silver IRA, you can start by opening your account and choosing your funding source. You can fund your account by transferring funds from an open IRA or rolling over a 401(k) into a new, self-directed IRA precious metals specialist can help you review your accounts, transfer funds, and answer any questions you may have.
Once you fund your precious metal investment account, you can choose the precious metals you would like to purchase and decide how much of each to buy. After you purchase your precious metals, your specialist will review your order and send you a final confirmation. Additionally, your specialist can walk you through your storage options.
Birch Gold Group works with reputable depositories that you can use to store your gold, silver, platinum, and palladium coins within your IRThe company most commonly works with Brink's Global Service and Delaware Depository, which offers up to $1 billion in insurance.
You can talk to your precious metals specialist at any time to review your precious metals' performance or make any changes to your account. These specialists are incredibly helpful in walking you through the entire process and helping you maintain a profitable investment portfolio.
If you'd rather not invest in a gold IRA, you can also purchase gold, silver, platinum, and palladium directly through this company. You'll simply need to fund your account via wire or a personal check. Birch Gold Group will then ship your metals to your desired location in discreet packaging with fully insured delivery methods.
Buy Gold With IraIf you're interested in learning more about Birch Gold Group, you can request a free info kit through the company's website. This kit includes a booklet with information about diversifying your savings with precious metals.
Overall, we recommend Birch Gold Group as the best gold IRA company offering specialized guidance and assistance from knowledgeable professionals.
American Hartford Gold, which sells precious metals and precious metal IRAs, has been in business since 2015. The company maintains an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and has near-perfect ratings on Trustpilot and Google—4.9 and 4.8, respectively. In terms of credibility and reputation, American Hartford Gold passes merit.
The Los Angeles-based company offers people the chance to invest in precious metals through a direct purchase or a retirement account. These include:
American Hartford Gold allows investors to purchase precious metals and receive delivery at their doorstep. However, precious metal IRAs require storage at a third-party depository, such as Delaware Depository Service or Brinks Global Services, for which you'll have to pay storage fees.
American Hartford Gold offers price matching and a buyback commitment. The buyback program lets you sell your gold bullion back to American Hartford Gold (or another company) and save on liquidation fees.
Rollover 401k To Gold IraAmerican Hartford Gold has no charge for establishing a gold IRA nor fees for shipping your gold to the depository. It covers insurance and tracking, but you'll likely need to pay annual maintenance fees and storage fees if your investment is in a depository. Since the company’s online precious metals catalogs do not list prices, you’ll need to consult with a representative.
So, what's the final verdict in this American Hartford Gold review? With a great reputation, a range of gold and silver investments to choose from, and a buyback commitment, this company is popular among investors. You will need to pay some depository fees, and you'll have to contact the company’s customer service to discover the gold prices. American Hartford Gold is a good choice for investors who want to diversify their wealth portfolio with gold investments.
California-based Oxford Gold Group has been operating since 2018, and the company's founders have over two decades of experience in the precious metals industry. The firm sells investment-grade precious metals and offers precious metal IRA retirement accounts. Oxford Gold Group also maintains BBB accreditation and an A+ rating, with thousands of positive customer reviews.
Oxford Gold Group offers investors two different options for storing a precious metal IRYou can choose between the Brinks Depository in Salt Lake City, Utah, or the Delaware Depository in Wilmington, Delaware.
What's the outcome of this Oxford Gold Group review? The firm is relatively new, but it offers convenient investment services and a great selection of precious metals. Expect higher fees than other companies, and you only have the option of two different IRA custodians. However, it does have an excellent reputation and BBB rating. Ultimately, the Oxford Gold Group is a good choice for investing in precious metals and diversifying your wealth portfolio.
Augusta Precious Metals is a premier gold IRA company founded by Joe Montana, a hall of fame quarterback, and his team of financial advisors. This company has received thousands of five-star rankings since 2012 and has won several awards for its IRA services.
Augusta Precious Metals offers gold IRAs and cash purchases. Like the other companies on our list, Augusta Precious Metals requires you to have a qualifying IRA and roll over your funds to your new gold or silver IRA.
First, you'll have the opportunity to talk to a live agent who can guide you in your gold or silver purchase. Your agent can also give you helpful economic guidance to educate you about precious metals IRAs.
Augusta Precious Metals offers gold IRAs and cash purchases. Like the other companies on our list, Augusta Precious Metals requires you to have a qualifying IRA and roll over your funds to your new gold or silver IRA.
Next, you can create your new IRA with the help of your live agent. You'll need to have at least $50,000 available to invest in order to qualify for an Augusta Precious Metals IRA account.
Once you've created your account, you'll need to fund it with money from your existing retirement account. Then, you can buy gold or silver by submitting an order from Augusta's order desk.
Self Directed Gold IraAugusta also allows you to buy physical gold and silver outside of an IRIf you choose to go this route, you can still receive guidance from the company's gold and silver professionals, free and secure delivery, and complete control over your precious metal assets. You'll simply need to follow these steps to buy gold or silver directly:
Augusta sells a range of gold and silver bullion and coins that you can purchase directly or use to fund your IRThese gold and silver products include:
Augusta works with trustworthy custodians such as Equity Trust, Gold Star Trust Company, and Kingdom Trust who can administer your new IRAdditionally, Augusta can serve as your liaison with your custodian, giving you access to the custodian at any time.
The Augusta Precious Metals website also includes a video resource library filled with helpful videos from Delvyn Steele, a Harvard-trained economist. If you're looking for insight into what's going on in the economy, these videos are an excellent resource to review.
Ira GoldOverall, we recommend Augusta Precious Metals for anyone looking to open a precious metal IRA with a reputable company.
Noble gold sells gold, silver, palladium, and platinum coins along with valuable rare coins. You can purchase these precious metals through an IRA or buy them directly through the Noble Gold website.
This company follows a simple process to help facilitate gold IRAs for its customers. You can get started with Noble Gold by filling out an online IRA setup form. This form only takes about five minutes to complete. If you aren't sure of all the answers, the company can call you to guide you through the process of finding the necessary information.
Next, the Noble Gold IRA team will call your new custodian to set up your account and acquire any additional paperwork you may need to complete. The company will also email you your new self-directed IRA account number.
With Noble Gold, you can either transfer assets directly from an existing custodian to your new IRA or roll over funds into your new account. You shouldn't face any tax penalties when transferring funds from one custodian to another.
Once you fund your account and purchase your precious metals, you can check their status at any time through Noble Gold's custodian, Equity Institutional. This custodian offers online access to your account 24/7/365.
If you'd rather buy precious metals directly, you can take advantage of Noble Gold's Royal Survival Packs. These packs include hand-picked selections of precious metals with high levels of liquidity and recognizability. Purchasing these packs is especially helpful if you're unsure which metals to buy.
Noble Gold offers several features that set it apart as one of the best gold IRA companies. First, this provider offers some of the best gold prices on the market and provides fast, secure shipping. Noble Gold has also received hundreds of five-star reviews from satisfied customers, allowing you to feel confident in its practices.