Precious Metal IRA Guide 2024: How To Invest?

Explore top-rated precious metal IRA companies for 2024. Secure your retirement with expert-approved gold, silver, and other precious metal investments.

Spotlight Desk

Updated on: 17 February 2024 10:24 am

Precious Metal IRA

During turbulent times in the stock market, certain investors opt for safe-haven investments such as precious metals. Although gold, silver, and palladium have their levels of volatility, they are often regarded as top-notch options for long-term investments that maintain and increase in value.

It’s not possible to possess physical precious metals within a standard individual retirement account (IRA). Nevertheless, there exist specially curated precious metal IRAs that enable individuals to invest in gold, palladium, silver, and other valuable metals to save for retirement.

>> Best Precious Metals IRA Company – Goldco >>

What Is a Precious Metal IRA?

A unique type of individual retirement account, known as a precious metal IRA, allows investors to diversify their portfolios by investing in unconventional assets such as precious metals, real estate, and cryptocurrency.

Unlike traditional IRAs, which typically do not permit direct ownership of these assets, self-directed precious metal IRAs allow individuals to include them in their retirement plans. It’s worth noting that contribution limits for self-directed precious metal IRAs are the same as those for regular IRAs.

Kelli Click, president of STRATA Trust Company, a custodian specializing in gold and other metals, explains that some people opt for precious metals IRAs as part of their retirement strategy due to the historical growth in value of gold, silver, and palladium over extended periods.

"By adding gold or other precious metals to your retirement account," she suggests, "you can safeguard your wealth through various means. This includes reducing potential investment volatility and risk while hedging against economic downturns. Additionally, it can provide a tax-efficient shelter for potential gains."

How Does a Precious Metal IRA Work?

Regarding Precious Metal IRAs, one important aspect is selecting a custodian in addition to the IRA management company. The custodian's role is to securely store the physical precious metals in a storage facility. It's crucial to note that you cannot keep these metals at home if they are part of your IRA.

Once you have chosen a provider for your precious metals IRA, selected a custodian, and funded your account, you can decide on the type and quantity of metals you wish to invest in. The account provider will typically offer guidance and advice on which options best suit your specific goals.

The custodian acts on your behalf by purchasing precious metals and storing them in a secure depository. These metals are typically held separately from other investors' holdings within segregated accounts.

Understanding that regulations the IRS sets govern precious metal IRAs is crucial. These regulations include limitations on the types of metals that can be owned and how they should be stored.

Selecting a trustworthy custodian who can assist you throughout the process and guarantee compliance with IRS regulations is essential.

>> Best Precious Metals IRA Company – Goldco >>

What Precious Metals Can You Invest in for Retirement?

Investing in precious metals like gold, silver, platinum, or palladium is possible through using precious metal IRAs.

However, it’s essential to note that there are specific standards set by the IRS that these metals must meet to be eligible for investment. It’s only possible to invest in these metals by meeting these requirements.

Gold must be 99.5% pure
Silver must be 99.9% pure
Platinum must be 99.95% pure
Palladium must be 99.95% pure

If you're looking for products that meet the specified criteria, consider options like Canadian Maple Leaf coins, Australian Koala bullion coins, and PAMP Suisse bars. It's worth mentioning that even though American Eagle coins don't meet the 99.5% purity standard for gold, they are still allowed by the IRS.

However, it's important to note that rare or collectible coins such as Swiss Francs, British Sovereigns, and German Marks cannot be held in a self-directed IRA. Look at our comprehensive list for more information on the best gold IRAs available.

How Much of Your IRA Should Include Precious Metals?

If you opt for a precious metals IRA, it’s advisable to approach it cautiously. Depending on your financial circumstances, reputable sources suggest allocating 5% to 10% of your retirement savings towards precious metals.

The rationale behind this conservative approach is multifaceted. Firstly, well-constructed investment portfolios are characterized by diversification, wherein the risk associated with solely investing in one asset or asset class is mitigated.

In simpler terms, no credible financial advisor would counsel placing your assets into precious metals investments. Firstly, it's worth considering that although gold and other metals have traditionally retained their value in the long run, they may not perform as well as other assets like stocks.

This is especially true when taking into account the growth of reinvested dividends. If you hold too many precious metals in your investment portfolio, you could hinder the growth of your retirement funds.

It's important also to remember that these so-called "safe haven" metals may not be as safe as they appear. While investors often turn to them during economic uncertainty, historical data shows they can be just as volatile as stocks.

Furthermore, while metal prices tend to rise when the stock market struggles, they typically fall once stocks recover. For those looking for security and protection against inflation, alternative investments such as high-quality bonds or Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) may be more suitable options.

If you want to include physical precious metals in your Individual Retirement Account (IRA), several choices are available.

>> Secure Your Future With Goldco >>

Special Considerations for Precious Metal IRAs

When considering precious metal IRAs, there are additional factors to consider due to the nature of purchasing and storing valuable physical metals.

One crucial aspect is the cost associated with precious metal IRAs, which is higher than other investment options. Drew Feutz, a financial planner at Market Street Wealth Management Advisors, emphasizes this point.

He explains that precious metal IRAs entail various fees such as setup, transaction, custodial, and physical asset storage fees. Unfortunately, these fees cannot be avoided.

The IRS has strict rules regarding storing precious metals invested in an IRA. Storing them in your home is not permitted and can lead to additional taxes and penalties if you choose to do so.

How to Open a Precious Metal IRA

Getting started with a self-directed IRA and investing in precious metals is slightly more intricate than opening a traditional or Roth IRA. Let's go through the necessary steps:

1. Select a Self-Directed IRA Custodian

Your self-managed IRA is under the custody of a custodian. These custodians can be banks, trust companies, or entities that have received approval from the Internal Revenue Service (IRS).

By working with self-managed IRA custodians, investors gain the ability to invest in non-traditional assets such as precious metals and real estate.

2. Choose a Precious Metals Dealer

Firstly, you need to choose a dealer who specializes in precious metals. Instruct the IRA custodian to send money to the dealer so that you can purchase gold, silver, platinum, or palladium. According to Click, conducting your research before selecting a dealer and using your IRA funds to buy precious metals is essential.

Look for dealers who are members of industry trade groups such as the American Numismatic Association (ANA), Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA), or Professional Numismatists Guild (PNG) as they can assist in your search.

It's also worth verifying if your IRA custodian already has established relationships with specific dealers; however, thorough research is necessary to ensure their credibility.

3. Decide What Products to Buy

To make a purchase, it’s necessary to collaborate with the dealer and decide on which items to acquire. Among the popular options available are the American Eagle Bullion Coins produced by the U.S. Mint.

4. Choose a Depository

Investing in precious metals within a self-directed IRA necessitates the utilization of an authorized depository, like the Delaware Depository.

While your IRA custodian can suggest a suitable depository, you can choose one that complies with the stipulations outlined in the Internal Revenue Code. It’s crucial to note that storing precious metals for your IRA personally is not permissible.

5. Complete the Transaction

After securing a custodian, dealer, and depository, you can finalize your purchase. The IRA custodian will take care of the payments while the dealer arranges for the shipment of your valuable metals to the designated depository.

>> Use Goldco – Best Precious Metals IRA Company >>

How Do You Make a Withdrawal from a Precious Metal IRA?

When you take a withdrawal, you have two options:

In-Kind Distributions: You can receive the physical precious metal directly to your location after the distribution.
Depository Purchase: You can choose for the depository to repurchase the metal from you, providing you with the monetary equivalent of your investment.

In either scenario, initiating the transaction requires contacting your custodian. It's important to note that precious metal IRAs are governed by the same regulations as regular IRAs.

While your investments can increase in value within the account without incurring taxes, withdrawing them will potentially result in taxes and penalties depending on your account type and age.

Similarly, once you reach 72, you must take the required minimum distributions (RMDs). These withdrawals may become more complex because they must align with the portions of precious metals you possess. Individual precious metals can retail at thousands of dollars per ounce.

Consequently, this could require withdrawing a higher value than if solely based on U.S. currency. Opting for in-kind distributions will necessitate selling your metals promptly or having readily available cash to cover any taxes owed on shipped precious metals.

>> Consider Goldco >>

Top 5 Precious Metals IRA

Goldco Precious Metals - Best Precious Metal IRA Company Overall

Goldco Precious Metals

Star Rating: 4.9/5

Goldco Precious Metals stands out as one of the top precious IRA providers in the market. They offer a range of precious metals IRA investment accounts, including cryptocurrency, gold, or silver IRAs, all with a user-friendly website.

Furthermore, they provide instructions on establishing self-directed precious metals IRAs, along with their "white-glove" customer service, which assigns a specialist to each client to help with transactions.

The only downside is their lack of disclosure of precious metals IRA fees. They also provide clients with a gold IRA rollover kit and manage investments to a gold rollover IRA account, making investing with Goldco easy and secure.

Read our Goldco review for more information on this Gold IRA provider.

Pros:

Offers the best customer service
One of the most established and well-known gold IRA suppliers
Offers the highest buyback fee and a wide variety of silver and gold IRA coins

Cons:

There isn't perfect openness when it comes to pricing
Options for bullion, platinum, and palladium are limited

Features

Precious Metal IRA: Goldco is an industry leader in providing IRAs that include precious metals such as gold IRA, silver IRA, platinum, and palladium as investment options.
Gold and Silver Bullion: Goldco sells gold and silver IRAs that may be stored in an Individual Retirement Account. This paves the way for retirees to access real assets in their accounts.
Custodial Services: The corporation may provide custodial services to safely keep and manage the precious metals IRA, such as gold and silver IRA. This safeguards the property and guarantees compliance with IRS rules.
Retirement Planning Assistance: Goldco may advise and help people plan their retirement, including teaching them how to utilize precious metals IRA as an investment portfolio diversifier.
IRA Transfer and Rollover: Goldco may make it easier to convert your current IRA or 401(k) into a gold IRA by facilitating transfers or rollovers. This paves the way for people to pool their retirement funds and diversify their portfolios by purchasing precious metals IRAs.
Educational Resources: To assist investors in understanding the potential advantages and hazards of investing in precious metals IRAs, the firm may provide educational materials, articles, and tools.
Experienced Professionals: Goldco may use a staff of seasoned experts, such as account executives and advisers, who can provide clients with counsel at every investment stage.

Disclaimer: The authors of this post may be paid to recommend Goldco. The content on this website, including any positive reviews of Goldco may not be neutral or independent.

American Hartford Gold - Best for Small Investments

American Hartford Gold

Star Rating: 4.7/5

American Hartford Gold is a highly esteemed company in the precious metals IRA industry, with its customers giving it a 5-star rating on various review platforms such as Trustpilot and Google.

This dealer has been in business since 2005 and has earned an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Their services enable people to safeguard their wealth by investing in IRAs like silver and gold.

These involve gold IRA rollovers, Silver IRA rollovers, and buying gold and silver IRA coins/bars directly (minimum investment for direct purchases is $5,000, and for gold IRA rollovers is $10,000). American Hartford Gold promotes gold IRAs, but customers can also add silver IRA investments to their retirement accounts.

Here are the steps to invest in a gold IRA with American Hartford Gold:

Contact American Hartford Gold to talk with a representative and finish signing up
Transfer a current IRA account to a new, independently managed gold retirement account
Pick the gold or silver IRA items you want to invest in your IRA
Invest in precious metals such as gold and silver IRA

Equity Trust, an established silver and gold IRA custodian, facilitates IRAs in American Hartford Gold's precious metals. Secure storage companies like Brinks, Delaware Depository, and International Depository Services Group are available after you decide which precious metals IRA to add to your account.

This gold IRA provider provides various gold and silver IRAs for outright purchase. Some of the company's gold products include:

1-ounce gold bar
Valcambi Combibar
Saint Helena Sovereign Gold coin
Canadian Gyrfalcon Gold coin

Meanwhile, its silver IRA includes products like:

1-ounce rounds
Pre-64 circulated coins
10 oz and 100 oz bars
Valcambi Combibar
Australian Wildlife Silver IRA coin
South African Krugerrand

Investing in gold and silver IRA through American Hartford Gold will provide you with a dedicated account representative to keep you up to date on your investments. If you want more information before investing in a gold or silver IRA, request the company's free 25-page guide from their website.

This guide details taking charge of your savings with a precious metals IRA such as a gold and silver IRA. The contact number can also be found on the website.

Pros:

There are no usage fees
A fantastic collection of coins and gold
Just a $5,000 minimum is needed to invest
Give maintenance, insurance, and storage discounts
Teamed up with professionals in the field to provide storage choices

Cons:

Opening a gold IRA requires at least $10,000
Products made of palladium or platinum are presently unavailable

Features

Precious Metals Portfolio: With assets including platinum, palladium, silver, and gold IRA, American Hartford Gold assists clients in creating and diversifying their precious metals portfolios.
IRA Services: They provide precious metals IRA services, enabling consumers to purchase actual metals inside of their retirement accounts to benefit from tax benefits and diversify their portfolios.
Secure Storage: Customers of American Hartford Gold who want to keep their precious metals IRA, such as silver and gold IRA, in a facility that’s both reputable and insured may take advantage of the safe storage alternatives the company offers.
Transparent Pricing: The organization is dedicated to providing clear pricing, which helps customers better comprehend the expenses involved in acquiring and maintaining precious metals IRAs such as gold and silver.
Buyback Program: They allow customers to sell their precious metals IRA, such as silver IRA, back to the firm at comparable rates.
Expert Guidance: American Hartford Gold provides its clients with counsel from knowledgeable specialists with years of industry expertise in silver IRA. These professionals give individualized suggestions and support based on the client's investment objectives.
Market Insights: They provide their customers with market analysis and up-to-date information on precious metals IRA, such as silver and gold IRA, enabling them to remain up-to-date on the latest market trends and prospective investment possibilities.
Educational Resources: The organization provides consumers with educational tools such as articles and guides to assist them in better comprehending the positives and negatives associated with investing in precious metals IRA such as silver IRA.
Customer Support: Throughout the investing process, consumers may contact a dedicated customer support staff at American Hartford Gold with any questions or issues concerning gold or silver IRA.
Trusted Reputation: American Hartford Gold has made a name for itself as a dependable partner for anyone wishing to invest in a precious metals IRA, such as a silver IRA, for wealth preservation and possible long-term development.

Augusta Precious Metals - Best for Customer Service

Augusta Precious Metals

Star Rating: 3.7/5

For more than 45 years, Augusta Precious Metals IRA has provided investment services, specializing in silver IRA bullion, coins, and gold bullion. Other metals, such as platinum and palladium, must be sourced elsewhere.

Their transparency makes Augusta distinct, breaking down all related costs during the first meeting. Clients are also given access to a one-on-one web panel to help them become more comfortable investing in physical precious metals IRA.

No transaction fees are charged, but physical gold IRA, silver IRA, and platinum are subject to a price spread or bid. Augusta's Transaction Agreement states that the spread should be 5% for standard physical gold bullion products and 33% for premium products.

Augusta may have a higher minimum investment than other companies in the field, but this shouldn’t dissuade one from working with the best gold IRA company currently available. To buy rare metals directly, Augusta investors should follow these steps.

Read: Augusta Precious Metals Review

Contribute to their Retirement Account
Choose from gold IRA, silver IRA, or silver and gold IRA
Register for delivery at the place you choose

Augusta Precious Metals is notable in the gold IRA industry for its transparent prices and business ethics. Their good standing, supported by top reviews and a money-back guarantee, shows their dedication to customer satisfaction.

They have teamed up with the Delaware Depository to provide safe storage places throughout the USA.

Although their choice of metals is limited and the minimum investment is quite high, their straightforward approach and excellent customer care make them attractive to people looking for a dependable gold IRA company.

If customers aren’t content with their services, they will be refunded. They provide a buyback option for existing and new gold IRA account withdrawals that don’t involve liquidation fees.

Pros:

Prioritizes customer education
A large coin collection for enthusiasts
A stellar A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
Trades in precious metals IRAs such as platinum, silver, and gold IRA
Precious metals IRA like gold, silver IRA, and platinum is 99% pure

Cons:

Palladium and platinum aren’t provided
There are just two metals available: silver and gold IRA

Features

Expert Guidance: Individuals may get knowledgeable direction and individualized support from Augusta Precious Metals to aid them in making educated choices about investments in precious metals IRA such as palladium, platinum, gold, and silver IRA.
IRA Services: They assist customers in diversifying their retirement portfolios with assets such as platinum, palladium, silver, and gold IRA via the provision of IRA services for precious metals, their area of expertise.
Buyback Program: A buyback program is offered by Augusta Precious Metals, which enables customers to sell their precious metals IRA to the firm at competitive rates.
Transparent Pricing: The firm takes great pride in its clear pricing, ensuring customers know all fees associated with purchasing precious metals IRA.
Storage Options: Customers who would rather store their precious metals IRA in a vault can use Augusta Precious Metals' safe storage solutions.
Educational Resources: They make educational tools and information available to assist customers in comprehending the complexities of investing in precious metals IRA and coming to well-informed judgments.
Market Insights: To help customers navigate the always-shifting precious metals IRA market, Augusta Precious Metals keeps customers up to speed on the latest market insights, trends, and analyses.
Excellent Customer Service: The quality of the company's customer service has earned it a well-deserved reputation for excellence, and it has a team of committed specialists standing by to help customers at every stage of their investment journey.
IRA Transfer Assistance: Customers may have Augusta Precious Metals help them in converting their current Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) into precious metals IRAs to ensure a seamless transition.
Competitive Pricing: They prioritize providing customers with the opportunity to optimize their investment potential by providing precious metals IRAs at prices that are as competitive as possible.

Oxford Gold - Best Precious Metals IRA Company for Educational Resources

Oxford Gold

Star Rating: 4.2/5

Oxford Gold Group is a renowned company that provides professional advice on retirement planning through precious metals IRAs. They specialize in helping people take advantage of gold and other valuable metals to ensure a prosperous future.

Their services include purchasing physical gold and setting up gold IRAs while recommending diversification through various precious metals, such as gold, platinum, palladium, and silver IRAs.

Oxford Gold Group also provides free learning materials and does in-depth research so that customers are well-informed when making investment decisions.

They address the issue of secure storage for precious metals IRA, guiding investors to reputable facilities like the Brinks Depository in Salt Lake City, Utah, and the Delaware Depository in Wilmington, Delaware.

This way, they protect clients' investments from theft and damage. The ownership of Oxford Gold Group is a mystery, which adds a bit of mystery to their story.

With their experience, educational tools, and focus on storage security, Oxford Gold Group aspires to support individuals aiming for financial stability in retirement, enabling them to begin a golden journey toward a safe and diversified future.

Read: Oxford Gold Review

Pros:

Educational tools and materials
Customer assistance is available around the clock
Large selection of precious metals IRAs available for purchase
Simple and uncomplicated procedure for making investments
A business that has been evaluated by the BBB and received an A+ rating

Cons:

The identity of the proprietors is unknown
A market decline might make a return more challenging

Features

Gold Bullion Sales: Helping consumers buy gold bullion through coins, bars, or other real gold investments.
Gold IRAs: Providing advice and assistance in establishing Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) in which gold may be held as an alternative investment for retirement.
Storage Facilities: Offering safe vaulting services for customers who want to keep their gold reserves off-site.
Buyback Programs: The firm provides a repurchase option for customers who want to sell their gold to it.
Education and Guidance: Facilitating client learning about gold investing methods, market tendencies, and risk management by providing relevant tools and data.
Precious Metals Consulting: Providing one-on-one guidance to customers who want to diversify their holdings with gold and other precious metals IRAs.
Market Analysis: Helping customers make educated investment choices by publishing reports, insights, and analyses on the gold and precious metals IRA markets.

Lear Capital - Best for First-Time Buyers

Lear Capital

Star Rating: 3.9/5

Lear Capital is a well-known player in the precious metals IRA market, supplying gold and silver IRA coins for portfolio diversification. They offer a personal account manager for every customer, and their policy is never to outsource.

A minimum deposit of $280 is required to open an IRA, and a yearly fee of $200 is applied to the investment amount. Lear Capital discloses all taxes and fees before the transaction, and customers are satisfied with their educational resources and openness about investment options.

The company has earned a 4.9-star rating on Trustpilot, having quickly addressed complaints. With over two decades of expertise, Lear Capital strives to offer a straightforward transaction process, a free buy-back plan, and the help of experienced personnel.

As a company with a strong reputation, its goal is to provide a seamless investment process and informed advice to those interested in precious metals IRAs.

Read: Lear Capital Review

Pros:

Promises a quick turnaround and delivery dates
The Lear Online Education Center offers free registration
Assigns an experienced representative to handle each client's needs
A 24-hour money-back guarantee ensures complete satisfaction with purchases

Cons:

A $25,000 minimum investment requirement
Self-directed IRA fees are nominal and paid yearly

Features

Valuable Metal Coins: Silver and gold IRA coins, among others, are available from Lear Capital for use in Individual Retirement Accounts.
Dedicated Account Managers: Lear Capital pairs each investor with an experienced account manager who can help them every step of the way.
Transparent Pricing: Lear Capital provides honest pricing by including all applicable taxes and fees in their quoted price upfront.
Self-Directed IRA Accounts: The firm helps customers set up self-directed IRAs, where they may invest freely in precious metals IRAs.
Hassle-Free Transactions: Lear Capital places a premium on a quick and easy transaction procedure, making it simple for customers to purchase and sell precious metals IRA such as gold or silver IRA.
Buy-Back Plan: Lear Capital's customers may use their free buy-back program to resell their precious metals IRA, such as silver IRA to the company at market rates.
Knowledgeable Personnel: Lear Capital takes great pride in its staff being well-versed in investing in precious metals IRA and is always accessible to assist customers.
Educational Efforts: The company's mission is to assist its customers learn about the complexity of investing in precious metals IRAs and to provide them with the tools they need to do so successfully.
Positive Client Feedback: Many customers have expressed happiness with the service, openness, and educational help they have gotten from Lear Capital.
Established Reputation: Lear Capital is a trusted firm for IRA investments in precious metals, with over 25 years of expertise.

Our Ranking Methodology for Best Precious Metals IRA

Available Assets and Products: Although examining the greatest gold IRAs is the major focus of this post, we have also included additional possibilities, including silver IRA, platinum, and palladium IRAs.
Fees: Our rankings of the top gold IRA custodians only include those that provide competitive, clear pricing without additional fees or routine service costs. We don’t support any custodian who doesn’t adhere to these standards.
Customer Service: If you're thinking about switching from a traditional IRA to a gold IRA, it's a big choice. Consequently, in our evaluations of the finest gold IRAs, we have only considered those with the greatest customer care representatives who are completely aware of IRS laws and tax compliance.
Reputation: It's essential to provide top-notch businesses to handle your funds. As a result, to guarantee their legitimacy, all the top gold IRAs included in our review list have received favorable ratings from the Business Consumer Alliance, BBB, and Consumer Affairs.

Best Precious Metal IRA – FAQs

What Precious Metals Are Allowed in IRA?

Platinum, palladium, silver, and gold IRAs are all acceptable for holding in an IRA, as are some other precious metals IRAs.

Is a Precious Metals IRA a Good Investment?

A custodian holds these funds with the same tax benefits as regular IRAs. Investing in a precious metals IRA is a smart approach to hedge against inflation, diversify one's retirement portfolio, and safeguard one's financial future.

What Is the Safest Precious Metal to Invest In?

Gold's limited supply and historical stability have made it a popular haven investment. Its value increases during economic instability because of its reputation as a hedge against inflation and currency depreciation.

Final Thoughts on the Best Precious Metal IRA

In conclusion, a few crucial considerations are to consider while selecting the finest precious metals IRA provider. Find a firm with experience and a good reputation in the field first. Ensure they have a good track record of being honest and helpful to their clients.

Ensure your precious metals IRA are stored in a safe, insured facility by asking about their storage alternatives. Consideration must also be given to the fees and pricing structure. Choose a firm offering competitive pricing and fair costs to optimize investment returns.

You should also check out their buyback policy to ensure you can quickly get out of there if you ever need to.

Remember to diversify your holdings and protect your purchasing power by investing in precious metals via your IRA. When you work with a reputable precious metals IRA provider, you can rest easy knowing that your retirement savings are safe and secure.

Disclaimer: The above is a sponsored post, the views expressed are those of the sponsor/author and do not represent the stand and views of Outlook Editorial.