There are two ways to invest in gold using an IRA. One option is to set up a self-directed gold IRA, which allows you to buy physical gold and silver with retirement funds. If you’re looking to open a Gold IRA account to diversify your investment portfolio, protect yourself from inflation, grow your long-term wealth, or achieve another investment goal, you should compare your options first. Still, with its low minimum investment requirements and extensive educational resources, it has quickly become a favorite as the best Gold IRA company for new investors.
A Roth IRA also offers flexibility in the type of investments it can hold, but not all assets are easily accessible via IRAs. The IRS has set guidelines for metal fineness standards to determine whether gold or silver in the form of gold bars or coins is acceptable for a gold IRA. The job of a gold IRA company is to make it easier to set up the IRA and buy the gold coins or gold bars. Although some companies market “self-storage IRAs,” their legality is questionable and you could face penalties or fines from the IRS if you personally manage your gold purchases.
While you can gain exposure to gold in a normal retirement account by owning stocks or funds, you can’t hold the physical asset in an IRA or 401 (k). Once you’ve opened a self-employed gold IRA, you can transfer cash to the account to fund your purchase of physical gold. A gold IRA is a specialized, self-managed individual retirement account designed to store precious metals. These funds buy up a basket of gold-related investments, such as stocks in various gold mining companies.
We’ve researched 18 reputable companies that offer Gold IRA services and searched them for the highest consumer ratings from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA). In some cases, your IRA gold company sells IRS-approved metals, so you can buy your coins and gold bars from them directly. Augusta’s two major drawbacks are its limited selection of metals and the high minimum investment requirements for setting up a gold IRA. No other Gold IRA company goes to such lengths to present investment information in an organized and objective way to earn the full trust of customers.
While Advantage Gold appeals to gold IRA investors of all types, it is particularly attractive to first-time buyers.