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Why Invest In A Gold IRA

Gold IRA could be a potential way of investing that is right for you. Learn all about the benefits, facts and advantages of a Gold IRA without bias and prejudice!

The Best Gold IRA Companies

Please select one of the top gold IRA companies below to learn more about their offerings

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Orion Metal Exchange Gold IRA Review

Are you looking to invest in precious metals? Perhaps you’re considering opening a Gold IRA.

You might want to take a look at Orion Metal Exchange. Named the top-rated full-service precious metals firm by Retirement Living in 2020, Orion Metal Exchange is a full-service precious metal investment dealer. It offers gold, platinum, palladium, and silver coins and bars.

The company also offers individual retirement accounts (IRAs) for gold and silver investments. According to Orion Metal Exchange CEO Jacob Blalock, recognition by Retirement Living is both an honor and a manifestation of a dedicated, coordinated team effort.

The company boasts a five-star rating by Trust Pilot. Consumer Affairs also recognized Orion Metal Exchange as a Top Gold IRA Precious Metals Company in 2017 and 2018. The company has 50 years of experience in the industry and focuses on helping investors find the best option for precious metals investments.

If you’re looking to diversify your investment portfolio with minimal financial risk, Orion Metal Exchange is can help you. The company doesn’t charge set-up or IRA transfer fees and offers precious metals storage for up to three years.

It offers a variety of storage options to suit your specific needs. In this Orion Metal Exchange review, we explore what this company has to offer so you can decide if it suits your needs.

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Lear Capital Gold IRA Review

Investing is a tricky business, primarily because there are too many choices. Since economy and consumer behavior drive stock prices, you could risk your savings by entrusting your money or precious metals to the wrong company.

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Patriot Gold Group Gold IRA Review

If you are looking to trade in precious metals, be wise and heed the advice of well-established investment companies. Consider a top-rated company with extensive experience in handling individual retirement accounts (IRAs).

Patriot Gold Group remains the leading IRA dealer in America. This company has gained prestigious awards and five-star ratings from Consumer Affairs from 2016 to 2019. Its parent company, Halt Gold Group, holds an A+ rating by the Better Business Bureau (BBB).

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Oxford Gold Group Gold IRA Review

Gold IRAs are a safe option for investing in gold without the dangers and inconvenience of owning actual gold bars. While there are various gold IRAs, the Oxford Gold Group IRA outshines the competition when it comes to reliability, cost-effectiveness, convenience, and more.

In our Oxford Gold Group review, we will explain the features that make this gold IRA the better investment option.

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Noble Gold Gold IRA Review

Gold IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) are one of the safest and most stable long-term investment options. While managing a gold IRA can be tricky, working with a professional can simplify the process. One such professional is Noble Gold Investments.

In our Noble Gold Investments review, we will reveal how the platform works, its benefits, and more.

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Augusta Precious Metals Gold IRA Review

If you’re looking to invest in precious metals to secure your future, it’s best to partner with a reputable company like Augusta Precious Metals.

Augusta Precious Metals is a full-service family-owned provider of gold and silver IRAs. Dedicated to helping investors achieve better savings and investments, the firm boasts more than five decades of experience in the precious metals industry.

The service-oriented company works directly with investors to build wealth and ensure a comfortable retirement with silver or gold IRAs. Augusta Precious Metals demonstrates its expertise and diligence as a gold IRA firm by participating in financial industry associations. Augusta Precious Metals has a Business Consumer Alliance AAA rating and a Better Business Bureau A+ rating.

The company also boasts a 5.0-star rating on TrustLink. Many investors recommend the company on social platforms like Facebook as well. In this Augusta Precious Metals review, we explore what the company has to offer, so you can decide if it suits your investment needs.

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Advantage Gold Gold IRA Review

Do you plan to invest in precious metals or convert your existing IRA or eligible 401(k) into a gold IRA?

Then you need to find a trustworthy gold IRA or precious metals investment company. You don’t want to lose your prized investment in this volatile economy. Advantage Gold is one of the leading precious metal investment companies you can partner within 2020.

While this California-based firm specializes in gold IRA, it can also deliver precious metals directly to your home. It holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and received the Best of TrustLink award for three successive years, from 2016 to 2018.

Advantage Gold also holds a five-star rating from the Business Consumer Alliance. The company has received favorable reviews and recommendations from previous and existing investors as well. If you decide to partner with this firm for your precious metal investments, you can be confident that you are working with a reputable company.

Advantage Gold is ideal for beginning investors as they offer comprehensive education for gold IRAs and other investments. The company also offers a wide variety of IRA-approved coins and bullion. In this Advantage Gold review, we explore what the company has to offer so you can decide if it meets your investment needs.

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Goldco Gold IRA Review

If you’re looking to protect your retirement income, investing in a Gold Investment Retirement Account (IRA) can be ideal for you. A Gold IRA essentially works in the same way as a Traditional IRA. But instead of paper assets, a Gold IRA allows you to invest in physical gold and other authorized valuable metals like palladium, platinum, and silver.

If you’re looking for Gold IRAs, you may want to consider partnering with Goldco. Known as a full-service precious metals firm, Goldco protects individual retirement accounts for many years. In this piece, we’ll share some crucial information about Goldco so you can better assess your investment options.

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Birch Gold Group Gold IRA Review

A comfortable retirement is one of the things to which we look forward. We all deserve a retirement that’s free of worries.

One of the best ways to guarantee that you get that well-earned annuity is through an Investment Retirement Account (IRA). An IRA is a tool that allows you to invest a percentage of your earnings pre-taxes so your money can accumulate interest and provide you with funds for your retirement.

Bonds, stocks, and mutual funds are traditional investments covered by an IRA. However, many people are unaware of the Gold IRA that Birch Gold Group provides. Instead of bonds, stocks, or paper assets, this investment comes in the form of gold bars or bullion coins. It may also involve investing in platinum, silver, palladium, or other precious metals.

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Regal Assets Gold IRA Review

If you’re looking to invest in gold, a gold IRA can be the right place to start. It offers flexibility, affordability, and plenty of benefits for your retirement portfolio. However, it can also be confusing.

That’s where companies like Regal Assets come in. The company possesses a relatively sterling profile, including an A+ from the Better Business Bureau, with four resolved complaints over three years. Regal Assets has zero complaints with the Business Consumer Alliance.

For nearly a decade, Regal Assets has been acknowledged as a leader, particularly in the precious metal market. Inc. Magazine ranked the company 20th in the United States on its prestigious 500 list for the nation’s fastest-growing private companies. In 2014, Regal Assets was recognized by Forbes Magazine, who strongly recommended the company for those interested in protecting an “existing IRA or 401(k) with physical precious metals.”

Since then, the company and its CEO, Tyler Gallagher, have been featured in magazines like Forbes, Bloomberg, Bitcoin.com, The Huffington Post, and others. Regal Assets reviews from customers have similarly been strong, with almost unanimous five-star ratings on sites like TrustLink, Facebook, and YellowPages.

Regal Assets also touts endorsements from Dennis Miller, Laura Ingraham, and Lars Larson.

In light of all that, Regal Assets was ranked the top overall company by the Gold IRA Guide in 2020. The ranking specifically cited the company’s many positive reviews, an extensive list of alternative assets offered to customers, and a competitive pricing structure.

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Rosland Capital Gold IRA Review

If you’re looking to bring a bit more stability to your investment portfolio, you might want to consider a gold IRA.

Rosland Capital can help. The company helps customers invest in all sorts of precious metals, including silver, platinum, palladium, and gold. They also have a deep knowledge base regarding how to make your money go the furthest with your investment. They specialize in coins and bars as well as metal-backed IRAs for your portfolio.

The company’s slogan is “No Gimmicks,” which comes through in their web presence. Rosland Capital is known for a user-friendly interface that helps customers navigate their holdings and easily make purchases.

Rosland Capital also boasts an expert economist as part of their staff. Jeffrey Nichols advises both the company and its patrons, and works on the official newsletter to extend educational materials to your inbox.

Rosland Capital has unfortunately attracted a few negative reviews. The company has received 30 Better Business Bureau complaints in the last three years and resolved 12 in the last year. Most of the complaints pertain to the pricing, refunds, and delivery of precious metals.

That said, Rosland Capital still holds an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and an AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance. Trustlink has given the company four out of five stars, with 19 complaints filed against them.

Everything You Need to Know About Gold IRAs

The previous decade has been exceptionally rocky when it comes to investing and retirement planning. From the aftermath of a financial crisis that rocked the world and unstable stock market trends to unforeseen developments like the COVID-19 pandemic and its deep economic impacts, alternatives to traditional IRAs are gaining traction as investors seek a more stable and secure vehicle for their retirement investments.

More investors than ever are broadening the diversity of their portfolios by adding Gold IRAs.

Perhaps you have heard of Gold IRAs but do not really have a handle on what sets them apart from their traditional counterparts. In this guide, we offer some key facts and benefits of Gold IRAs, as well as advice on getting started. If you think your portfolio needs diversification and are considering other options, this guide is for you.

What is a Gold IRA?

A Gold IRA, or Gold Individual Retirement Account, is a self-directed retirement account that allows for investing in gold and other precious metals in the physical form of bullions and coins. Traditional IRAs mostly focus on investments in stocks and bonds, and IRS restrictions make it impossible for individuals to add precious metals to their portfolio in physical form.

The use of gold and other precious metals as securities become possible in 1997 when Congress passed legislation allowing for such practice. It was an effort spearheaded by Edmund C. Moy, the chief strategist for Fortress Gold. Previously in his career, Moy worked as the United States Mint Director, overseeing the largest production of gold and silver coins in the world.

Since then, financial institutions offering IRA solutions started to include a Gold IRA product as part of their portfolio of services. The product did not initially catch on as a mainstream retirement account option. These days, however, Gold IRAs are enjoying newfound popularity and are more viable than ever.

Gold IRAs: A Post-Financial Crisis Trend

The 2008 Global Financial Crisis triggered a massive avalanche of economic disasters. Millions of people were negatively affected by it, many of whom lost a significant portion of their investments intended for retirement. The sensitivity and caution of investors were at an all-time high, and the need for more stable and secure investment options was evident, especially concerning retirement accounts.

Gold IRAs were hardly new yet for many years failed to gain traction due to their complicated rules, which made them less attractive than traditional IRAs. The change started once long-term stability and crisis-proof investing became a significant factor in investor decision making.

In general, the price of gold has an inverse relation to the price of paper assets. Thus, Gold IRAs offer a safer way to invest funds without concern for the cost of inflation or general geopolitical situations around the world. With that in mind, financial institutions found ways to offer Gold IRAs to regular customers, along with sound advice on how to set them up and run them.

Increased economic instability and unpredictable risk factors still paint a somewhat tumultuous future for investing, with plenty of crisis periods of varying degrees still to come. Gold IRAs will continue to gain ground if this trend continues.

Benefits of a Gold IRA

Before deciding to go all-in on a Gold IRA, it is imperative to understand the primary benefits of having a Gold IRA account versus a regular IRA.

 

The Rising Price of Gold

Gold experienced a considerable growth spurt from 1999 until 2011, when it went from $255 per ounce to upwards of $1,800. A 700% growth rate over a decade is awe-inspiring and something neither the stock market nor other investment options could ever replicate. Even more impressive is the fact that none of the major investment crises that took place during the same period harmed the price of gold.

It is important to note that since 2011, the price of gold has leveled off. Since June 2020, it has been going for about $1,700 per ounce. Further growth is inevitable, especially once the long-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy become more apparent and the stock markets respond accordingly.

Long-term Safeguard and Protection

Because gold is a precious metal that comes with an inherent value, inflation does not erode the value of gold the same way it erodes the value of the dollar. This makes it a perfect safeguard against inflation. If we take into account that the price of gold goes in the opposite direction of paper assets, a future crisis might increase the value of your Gold IRA portfolio rather than hurt it.

Also, your investment in gold in the form of bullion and coins is safe even in the event of a stock market collapse.

Diversification

Probably the best advice you can ever get is to diversify your investment portfolio to minimize the risk of having a negative return on your investments in the long run. There are plenty of ways to diversify but investing in gold is becoming a new favorite among risk-averse investors. Gold IRAs allow investors to put away a portion of their investment funds into precious metals that have inherent value over paper assets.

Tax Benefits

Like all IRA products, a Gold IRA offers tax benefits to investors. As long as gold stays in your Gold IRA and you do not take physical possession of the bullion and coins, your investment will be safe from taxes and duties.

Things to Be Aware of Before Opening a Gold IRA

Gold IRAs do come with some significant challenges and procedures that may help determine whether they are the right financial option for you. Therefore, we believe it is vital to understand some of the challenges you might face when it comes to investing in a Gold IRA and how to deal with its idiosyncrasies.

Fees and Expenses

We already mentioned that Gold IRAs are quite specific and require a complicated procedure to set up and run. Unfortunately, that will always carry over to the cost of having a Gold IRA. On average, the fees and expenses for running a Gold IRA or purchasing and selling gold bullions and coins are higher than the costs associated with traditional IRAs.

This is understandable given that the Gold IRA holder needs to pay for the services of a custodian and other financial caretakers. The good news is that fees and expenses are going down as the Gold IRA gains more popularity.

No Yield, No Dividends, No Interest

Unlike regular stocks in traditional IRAs, gold does not pay dividends or interest. On the one hand, you might be missing out on the additional value that interest, yield, and dividends offer (albeit at a much higher exposure to risk).

Fraud and Theft

By deciding to open a Gold IRA, you are primarily hiring a custodian whose role is to take care of the transactions, records, and storage of gold bullion and coins on your behalf. This leaves a lot of room for potentially fraudulent behavior on the part of the custodian. The best way to avoid getting caught up in any theft or other fraudulent proceedings is to do your homework and carefully choose the right custodian to insure all of the transactions made in your name.

No Yield, No Dividends, No Interest

Unlike regular stocks in traditional IRAs, gold does not pay dividends or interest. On the one hand, you might be missing out on the additional value that interest, yield, and dividends offer (albeit at a much higher exposure to risk).

Fraud and Theft

By deciding to open a Gold IRA, you are primarily hiring a custodian whose role is to take care of the transactions, records, and storage of gold bullion and coins on your behalf. This leaves a lot of room for potentially fraudulent behavior on the part of the custodian. The best way to avoid getting caught up in any theft or other fraudulent proceedings is to do your homework and carefully choose the right custodian to insure all of the transactions made in your name.

No Yield, No Dividends, No Interest

Unlike regular stocks in traditional IRAs, gold does not pay dividends or interest. On the one hand, you might be missing out on the additional value that interest, yield, and dividends offer (albeit at a much higher exposure to risk).

Fraud and Theft

By deciding to open a Gold IRA, you are primarily hiring a custodian whose role is to take care of the transactions, records, and storage of gold bullion and coins on your behalf. This leaves a lot of room for potentially fraudulent behavior on the part of the custodian. The best way to avoid getting caught up in any theft or other fraudulent proceedings is to do your homework and carefully choose the right custodian to insure all of the transactions made in your name.

There are six major factors to consider when evaluating potential custodians for your Gold IRA:

 

  • License: The IRS requires that all custodians handling SDIRAs such as Gold IRAs have a special license to perform that job on behalf of clients. If you are considering a custodian who does not have the necessary license and credentials, you risk not only losing your investments but also the possibility of facing legal action and suffering further financial consequences.
  • Fees: This is the most important and most challenging factor to evaluate. Most custodians have differing price lists spelling out their fees and expenses. Transparency is a must in this area. If a custodian does not clearly outline all of their fees and expenses, and you cannot understand them, it might be a good idea to look elsewhere. Things like custodian fees, storage fees, and cash-out fees are something that can significantly affect the outcome of your investment, so study them wisely.
  • Track Record: Make sure that the company you are hiring as a custodian has a stellar record when it comes to providing custodial services in the past. The Better Business Bureau or Business Consumer Alliance can provide you with valuable information in this regard.
  • Flexible: Custodians willing to go out of their way to accommodate your needs and offer customizable services and options are much better suited for individual investors. A one-size-fits-all approach is more often a sign of weakness.
  • Expertise and Knowledge: By choosing the right custodian, you can be confident in working with a company that excels in dealing with Gold IRAs. Plenty of brokerage firms will try to bundle a Gold IRA custodian service in their portfolio. It is far better to trust your money with people who specialize in these types of investments.
  • Proactive Approach: Finally, you need a custodian that will take an interest in your Gold IRA, try to provide reliable advice, and point out any potential problems and issues you might encounter. To be sure, custodians are passive overseers, but those that take an active interest and try to offer something more to their clients are usually keepers.

How to Purchase Bullion

With your SDIRA set up and a custodian in place, it is time to start investing. Before you can purchase any gold, you need to fund your SDIRA. The procedure, in this case, is identical to what regular IRA products require. You will deposit the funds into your SDIRA in preparation for investing.

This next part is crucial. Under NO CIRCUMSTANCE should you make purchases from a precious metal dealer directly! This is strictly prohibited by the IRS and your custodian should be more than equipped to handle it. You need to inform the custodian about the purchase you would like to make, at which point they will use your SDIRA and available funds to make a purchase.

Custodians often have metal dealers they work with frequently and can recommend with confidence. Do your research and make sure that you are getting the best value by using them. Once your bullions or coins are ready, the custodian will store them accordingly.

How to Store Bullion in Gold IRA

The storage of gold and other precious metals is another key issue in need of handling. The IRS strictly prohibits the personal storage of gold and precious metals. The gold needs to be moved and stored in an IRS-approved storage facility. Your custodian in most cases already has several IRS-approved facilities they use to store gold and other precious metals.

No home safes or lockboxes! This can only land you in trouble and lead to financial and legal penalties. A licensed custodian is the only one qualified to purchase, handle, and supervise your physical assets.

IRS Fineness Standards

Traditional IRAs used to allow for the purchase of bullion or coins of gold and silver. The 1997 legislation passed by Congress expanded the options with regard to precious metals, resulting in the addition of platinum and palladium to the list of precious metals for IRA investments.

This does not mean that individuals can purchase gold or platinum in any form they like or from any particular dealer. It is much more complicated than that. The IRS has a stringent policy and fineness standards that all metals are required to meet. Below are the general rules that all precious metals should fulfill for use in Gold IRAs.

  • Gold of 99.5% purity and above.
  • Silver of 99.9% purity and above.
  • Platinum and palladium of 99.95% purity and above.
  • Bars, rounds, and coins must come from an accredited/certified list of refiners and manufacturers, such as NYMEX, COMEX, NYSE/Liffe, LME, LBMA, LPPM, TOCOM, ISO 9000, or national government mint, and meet minimum fineness requirements.
  • Proof coins should be in new, unopened, mint packaging, which includes a certificate of authenticity.
  • Small bullion bars should meet the manufacturing required dimension.
  • Proof coins should be in perfect condition and show no signs of damage.

Approved Precious Metals in a Gold IRA

We already mentioned that aside from gold and silver, platinum and palladium are also eligible for investment under a Gold IRA model. We also covered the fineness standards required for each of these precious metals. Still, the IRS will allow only approved valuable metal coins and bullion. Here is the list of approved coins and bullion:

 

IRS-Approved Gold and Silver

  • American Gold Eagle bullion coins
  • American Gold Eagle proof coins
  • American Silver Eagle bullion coins
  • American Silver Eagle proof coins
  • Canadian Silver Maple Leaf coins
  • Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins
  • British The Queen’s Gold Beasts
  • British The Queen’s Silver Beasts
  • Mexican Libertad Silver coins
  • British gold Shēngxiào Lunar Series
  • British silver Shēngxiào Lunar Series
  • Canadian Gold Maple Leaf coins
  • Austrian Gold Philharmonic coins
  • Austrian Silver Philharmonic coins
  • Chinese Gold Panda coins
  • Chinese Silver Panda coins
  • Australian Gold Kangaroo/Nugget coins
  • Australian Silver Kookaburra coins
  • British Gold Britannia coins
  • British Silver Britannia coins
  • American Gold Buffalo uncirculated coins
  • NYMEX or COMEX-approved gold bars and rounds
  • NYMEX or COMEX-approved silver bars and rounds

IRS-Approved Platinum and Palladium

 

  • American Platinum Eagle proof coins
  • British The Queen’s Beasts Platinum coins
  • Isle of Man Noble Platinum coins
  • Australian Platinum Koala coins
  • American Platinum and Palladium Eagle coins
  • NYMEX or COMEX-approved platinum and palladium bars and rounds
  • Canadian Platinum and Palladium Maple Leaf coins
 

Gold IRA Rollover

If at any point you decide that you would like to roll over your traditional IRA account into a Gold IRA, this is possible. There are two ways to do it: one direct and the other indirect. A direct rollover connects the custodian of your traditional IRA and the custodian of your Gold IRA, and they complete the transaction by transferring the funds from one IRA to another.

The second option is to use an indirect rollover. This means that the custodian of the original IRA will send you a check (performing a cash-out for you from the previous IRA). You can then take the check and deposit the funds into your Gold IRA.

This procedure has a 60-day deadline. If an investor fails to complete the transaction within that period, then the transaction will not count as a rollover but rather as an IRA withdrawal. IRA withdrawals automatically catch the attention of the IRS, and you will be subject to taxes and fees.

Conclusion

We hope this guide managed to answer your burning questions about Gold IRAs and to help you understand whether they are the right option for you.

On the one hand, they offer unparalleled security and safeguarding of your funds and are therefore an excellent option for diversifying your portfolio. Global trends show that the price of gold is on the rise, and that this is not likely to change anytime soon. Although certain other options might offer higher returns, interest, dividends, and yield, they do come with significant risk compared to Gold IRAs.

To make sure that your Gold IRA is in good hands, you need to choose your custodian wisely. You should be looking for a custodian with an impeccable reputation that specializes in Gold IRAs and has a proactive approach to working with investors.

If you would like to know more about Gold IRAs and how they can further diversify your investment portfolio, please don’t hesitate to contact us!

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