Gold in your IRA?

IRA rollovers are simple but sometimes getting the right information can be time consuming. You may have heard that it is legal to invest in gold, silver, and platinum using funds from your individual retirement accounts (401k, 403b, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, Sep IRA), but were unsure how to take advantage of this option.  Gold IRA transfers are in fact available since 1998. It is unlikely that your current IRA custodian has informed you of your choice to diversify within your IRA through the transfer of existing funds into gold (American Eagles & Proof Eagles) and other precious metals (Silver, Platinum & Palladium). 

If you have a self-directed IRA, you have the freedom to direct some of its funds into a great variety of tangible commodities of your choosing.  Including any gold, silver, platinum coins, or proof gold coins.  You can also put IRA money into gold, silver, platinum or palladium bullion, or precious metals purchased in bulk, as long as they meet the requirements of bullion traded through commodities contracts.  Rolling over your existing IRA to a gold backed IRA allows you to protect your investments by diversifying.

The main reason this information has been withheld from most individuals is because the majority of the IRA Custodians (by policy, but not by law) only allow investments that produce commission for themselves.  That typically only includes trades in public stocks, mutual funds or bonds.  A brokerage firm subsisting on commissions does not profit by allowing long term private investments.  As a result, they may choose not to disclose the opportunity of non-traditional (i.e. precious metals) investments from their clients, or they may not even be informed enough about such investments to educate their clients in the first place.  Many experts suggest diversified portfolios and investment grade gold has consistently been one of the top non-leveraged investments in the world. 

Be sure to choose an experienced custodian who is familiar with the requirements of trading precious metals, storing them, assigning the proper values for IRS reporting, and administering the paperwork and regulations.  Gold Coins & Bullion recommends two custodians: American Church Trust and Sterling Trust.  Both offer high quality service and reliability.