Friday, August 15, 2014

The Bottom Line on IRAs Buying Physical Precious Metals

With instability in the stock market, many retirement investors are looking to alternative assets including precious metals. Gold, silver, and other metals carry intrinsic value not found in many traditional assets which makes them particularly valuable in uncertain times. Many IRA custodians only provide their clients with the option to invest in a Gold or Silver Exchange-Traded Fund (ETF) and give them no opportunity to purchase physical precious metals.



With a self-directed IRA from New Direction IRA, investors can use their retirement funds to purchase physical metal, rather than purchasing shares in an ETF. If you follow the gold and silver markets and would like to use your expertise to invest in what you know, or if your financial advisor has suggested that you diversify your retirement investments, your SDIRA can purchase physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

The IRS has placed certain regulations on the metals that may be purchased by an IRA, as well as requiring that the metals be stored in a depository away from the physical possession of the account holder. NDIRA has a dedicated Precious Metals Asset Team to walk you through the process and answer any questions you may have concerning purchasing gold, silver, platinum, or palladium with your IRA. NDIRA will also work with any precious metals dealer and any depository, so your IRA can purchase metals from people you know and trust. Or if you are new to precious metals investing, you will shop around and  choose the dealer and depository that is right for you.

Once you reach age 59.5, you are eligible to begin taking distributions from your account without penalty, and you can decide what to do with your metals. You can choose to sell them and distribute the cash, or you can take possession of the physical precious metals. If you have a Roth IRA and take a qualified distribution the increase in the value of your gold or silver will be tax-free.

Having a SDIRA through New Direction IRA allows you to invest in physical precious metals, rather than ETFs, to help you reach your retirement goals. Contact our Precious Metals Asset Team for more information.