How We Ranked The Top Gold IRA Companies

Ranking gold IRA companies is always a challenging task since there are so many different factors to consider. The hardest step in the process is finding the appropriate criteria on which to base your research. We think that transparency and an emphasis on education are essential for making big financial decisions like investing in gold through an IRA account . As such, our rankings will help you understand what qualities your future retirement investments should have.

The first factor that goes into ranking gold IRA companies is their level of legitimacy or trustworthiness. We use this as the baseline common denominator when researching any gold ira company. It’s crucial that they follow government regulations, IRS rules and provide unbiased information about their products and services. We found that all of the best gold IRA companies we reviewed were very upfront.

We ranked the top gold IRA companies to give people a resource for making tough decisions. Diversifying your portfolio will help you sleep better at night, knowing that you’ve done all that you can to protect yourself and your family’s future by choosing a reputable gold ira company.

Gold IRA F.A.Q.

What is a gold IRA?

The simplest definition is that a Gold IRA is an individual retirement account in which you can invest in physical pieces of gold, also known as “bullion.” A gold IRA is a type of Individual Retirement Account (IRA) where the account holder invests in physical precious metals, such as coins and bars. The account can be used to supplement retirement income by generating interest on the assets held inside.

Gold and silver IRAs can also serve as an investment vehicle for those who want to hedge against inflation or protect their finances from market volatility.

How does a gold ira work?

You are able to purchase gold through your investment account, either directly or through a third party like Goldco Precious Metals Corp. Your gold IRA custodian will require proof that the metal you purchase is a .995 fine or greater before it’s deemed acceptable for your IRA. Once you have the precious metals, you can store them yourself or have your IRA custodian keep them for you.

When you request the purchase of physical precious metals, the gold is purchased by your Gold IRA investment company on your behalf. The metal is stored in a secure depository until distributions are made to meet your specific instructions. Your Gold IRA investment company does all purchases and sales, and the purchase price is based on the current market value.

Pros and cons of investing in a gold IRA account 

Pros:

• Gold IRAs can help you to diversify your retirement portfolio in a way that other investment vehicles don’t provide.
• You have the option of storing your bullion yourself or having a third party, such as Goldco Precious Metals Corp., store it for you at one of their facilities.
• The precious metals in gold IRA accounts as well as silver iras cannot be confiscated by any government entity, bank, or private business during times of economic crisis.

Cons:

• The price of the precious metal ira you invest in may not keep up with inflation during your accumulation years.
• You’ll have to pay annual fees such as gold ira fees to maintain your precious metals IRA, including any fees charged by the custodian or depository where your gold is stored.

Different types of Gold IRAs to choose from

Self-Directed:

This is a type of IRA where you have complete control over your investments with no governmental oversight or input on what you invest in. This type of IRA offers investors greater flexibility than traditional IRAs do but also comes with more risk as there are fewer protections for your money if things go wrong. In a self-Directed account, once the metals are purchased via your Gold IRA company, you can either store them yourself or have them stored at a secure depository that meets IRS standards.

Traditional:

A traditional IRA is simply a savings vehicle that invests exclusively in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or other securities approved by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). The purpose of these accounts is to defer taxation until after retirement age. In a traditional IRA, your money gains interest, and this interest is taxed as you earn it. All fees from the metals holding company are paid from your IRA account.

Choosing the right type for you.

As a self-directed IRA investor, you have total control over investments and what to buy/sell with no governmental oversight. This allows you to make decisions about Gold IRAs based on where the investment will provide the best return on investment for your retirement needs. A traditional IRA does not give you the same level of control over your investments as a self-directed one does, but it offers a number of tax advantages and is less risky than a self-Directed account.

Should I Buy Gold Bullion or Gold Coins?

Though gold prices have gone up considerably over recent years, it is still not too late to start buying gold. It’s a good investment because the value of gold and other precious metals will increase as economic conditions worsen.

Gold bullion can be bought in bars, ingots, or even wafers, while you can purchase gold coins like Krugerrands, Canadian Maple Leafs, and Austrian Philharmonics.

Some people prefer investing in gold and silver coins rather than bullion for several reasons like added security against theft or duplicity, tax benefits (in some countries), a wider variety of options (with regards to weight and purity), ease of distribution (to sell), etc. However, gold and silver coins are more expensive than bullion because they must pay for minting, design, and production.

What’s the difference between bullion and coins?

The main difference between these two (other than their form) is that gold and silver bullion comes in large quantities while coins are more suited for small-scale investments. For example, you can buy 100 grams of Gold Krugerrands, but you cannot get them for 100 ounces! Either way, you must be aware of any storage or insurance fees before investing your money into either of these gold types. Read on to learn more about buying gold.

Investing in gold iras is still a good idea no matter how high the market gold prices are, so if you have some extra cash lying around, don’t hesitate to pick up some gold and silver coins or ingots. It is widely accepted as a means of payment, so you are guaranteed to have it when push comes to shove!

Gold bullion and gold coins are both excellent choices for your portfolio of gold investments. No matter what form you choose, you will be adding value to your portfolio with these two precious metal iras. The main difference between the two has to do with quantity. Coins go up in higher denominations, making them better for smaller-scale investments where you can buy one coin rather than a large block of bullion suited for larger-scale investments like buying an ounce here, half-ounce there, etc.

Costs associated with each type of account.

The annual fee charged by your gold IRA company is determined by the type of IRA. A traditional account requires an annual minimum fee to maintain, while a self-directed Gold IRA only requires you to pay an annual fee if you choose to use a third party that provides storage for buying and selling metal.

Who Holds The Gold In A Gold IRA?

Wondering where the gold used to purchase your IRA actually lives? Where is it stored?

Gold coins and bars are typically held in an approved depository. Those who have their gold stored at home, for example, will not be able to use a Gold IRA rollover service. A third-party custodian must hold your precious metals for you to establish or transfer into an IRA that invests in them.

The depository provides the safety of the metals while giving you access when you want it. These services often offer storage for IRAs as well.

Where Should I Store My Gold?

Let’s assume for a moment that you’ve decided to invest in gold bullion. Congratulations! You are about to participate in an incredibly fascinating, rewarding, and potentially profitable endeavor.

But you’re just getting started. Before you buy anything, you’ll need to decide where you wish to store your precious metals, i.e., whether in the form of bullion bars or coins or as “paper” assets in the form of ETFs or unallocated accounts at a brokerage firm. 

Before we continue, let me explain what I mean by “bullion bars” vs. “coins” vs. “paper assets.” When I talk about bullion, I mean metal bars valued solely by their weight and purity. Coins, otherwise known as numismatic coins or rare coins, have a collectible value in addition to the metal’s intrinsic worth. Paper assets include ETFs (Exchange Traded Funds) and unallocated accounts at a brokerage firm.

When you buy precious metals for investment purposes, whether through an individual dealer or a trusted online source, you can expect to pay anywhere from 5% to 15%, the latter being exceptionally high. Keep this in mind when making your decision regarding where to store your gold.

In regards to physical storage of bullion/coins…

If you live outside of the United States, there are very few reasons why you would want to store your gold in a bank safe deposit box. To put it simply, what you save in storage fees will be eaten up by the higher purchase price of metal bars/coins. The bullion dealer that you buy from should offer some sort of storage program for an annual fee (usually around $150). For instance, ScotiaMocatta (the gold trading division of Scotiabank) offers “Gold Storage” to Canadian customers. If you’re planning on stacking 100-oz bars, then this could be worth looking into. I use Provident Metals’ customized storage program, which includes insurance and free shipping when selling your metal back to them. This is especially helpful during a run on metals when premiums reach 25% to 50%.

If you live in the United States and want to store your gold in a bank safe deposit box, it will have to be at a privately-owned bank or institution or a public storage facility. In my opinion, private ownership is the only way to go. Not only are banks required by law to report cash deposits greater than $10,000 (and any form of precious metal sales over $5,000), but they also typically don’t provide insurance for coins/bars.

If you’re wondering the difference between a bank and a public storage facility, think of it as renting an apartment vs. buying a condo. When renting an apartment, you receive all the benefits of having access to the building/city/neighborhood without any long-term commitment (read: flexibility). With a condo, not only do you accrue equity as time goes on but there are also upfront costs — namely that large down payment — and monthly fees for upkeep and insurance.

Helpful tips when choosing an IRA company

After deciding whether to go with a traditional or self-directed investment account, it’s important to find the perfect custodian for your retirement investments. Research your options thoroughly before committing to one firm over another. Compare fees charged by each custodian and make sure you understand all costs involved in using the services provided. It’s always important to do as much research as possible on a potential gold investment company.

Can You Fund An IRA With Gold?

If you’re looking to fund your existing IRA into gold, here are a few things to consider.  

To put IRA funds into gold, you have to establish a self-directed IRA, a kind of IRA that the investor manages directly and is permitted to own a wider range of investment products than other IRAs. Next, you need a broker to buy the gold and a custodian to create and administer the account.

Can I Keep IRA Gold At Home?

Keep in mind that the IRS won’t allow IRA gold to be stored at your house or in a local security deposit box (and no, it can’t be part of a home safe). Since 1969, with few exceptions, IRA-eligible bullion must be kept in the physical possession of a bank or an IRS-approved nonbank trustee.

And there’s little chance for change anytime soon. “This is not going to change,” says David J. Sheehan Jr., partner, and chief investment officer at accounting firm Marcum LLP . “Gold has intrinsic value — it doesn’t have counterparty risk — but the IRS views it as a collectible.”

How Can I Transfer My 401k To Gold Without Penalty?

Purchasing physical gold, gold bars, gold iras, and other precious metals can be a good investment for anyone who wants to protect themselves against the fluctuations in the economy. A 401k is a retirement savings plan set up by an employer that allows employees to save money tax-free until they reach retirement age. Like any other type of asset, there can be tax and penalty consequences when you try to transfer your 401k to gold or other precious metals.

The quickest method to turn all or part of your current 401(k) into gold is to create a self-directed IRA with a precious metals broker-dealer as the Trustee. Then, by requesting a Trustee-to-Trustee transfer, you may move money from your existing 401(k) to the self-directed account.

Precious Metals IRAs