Gold & Precious Metals IRA — Physical Asset Retirement

Overview

A precious metals IRA lets you hold physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium in a tax-advantaged account. Learn IRS purity requirements, custodian selection, and storage rules. Gold serves as a portfolio hedge against inflation and market downturns — track live pricing on our commodities market page. For a broader understanding of self-directed accounts, see our Alternative IRA 101 guide, and explore a Roth conversion strategy to move precious metals into a tax-free account during price dips.

Key Takeaways

• IRS-approved gold: 99.5% purity minimum. American Gold Eagle (exception at 91.7%), Canadian Maple Leaf, bars from approved refiners.
• Silver: 99.9% purity. American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, bars from approved refiners.
• Storage must be at an IRS-approved depository — you cannot store metals at home (prohibited transaction).
• Precious metals IRAs have higher fees: setup ($50-100), annual custody ($100-300), storage ($100-300), and dealer markup.

Practical Tips

• Reputable custodians: Equity Trust, GoldStar Trust, Strata Trust. Avoid high-pressure gold IRA sales pitches.
• Gold is a hedge, not a growth asset — allocate 5-10% of retirement portfolio, not 50%+.
• Compare all-in costs (premiums + shipping + custody + storage) before selecting a dealer and custodian.