IRA & Retirement Account Information

Protect Your Future with a Precious Metals IRA

What Is a Precious Metals IRA?

A precious metals IRA, often referred to as a Gold IRA, is a type of self-directed individual retirement account that allows investors to hold IRS-approved physical precious metals—including gold, silver, platinum, and palladium—within a tax-advantaged retirement structure.

Unlike traditional IRAs that are typically limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, a self-directed IRA provides greater flexibility by allowing ownership of tangible assets. All metals must meet specific IRS fineness standards and are held on your behalf by an IRS-approved custodian in a qualified depository.

Although multiple metals may be included, these accounts are commonly referred to as Gold IRAs because gold is most often used as the core defensive asset within the strategy.

Why Investors Use Precious Metals in an IRA

Many conventional retirement accounts are heavily exposed to market risk, inflation, and currency devaluation, often without investors realizing the concentration. Precious metals are frequently used to help address these risks.

Key strategic benefits include:

  • Portfolio diversification beyond traditional paper assets

  • Inflation and purchasing-power hedging

  • Reduced exposure to equity market volatility

  • Tangible, real assets not dependent on financial institutions

For many investors, precious metals serve as a risk-management and capital-preservation tool, rather than a short-term growth asset. Properly allocated, metals can help stabilize a portfolio during periods of market stress while preserving long-term optionality.

How Precious Metals IRAs Work

Precious metals IRAs follow the same general tax rules as traditional or Roth IRAs, with a few important distinctions:

  • Metals must meet IRS fineness and eligibility requirements

  • Assets must be stored in an IRS-approved depository—not at home or in a personal safe

  • Taking physical possession of metals held in an IRA is considered a distribution, which may trigger taxes and penalties depending on age and account type

Because of these rules, metals inside an IRA are best viewed as a long-term strategic holding, not a short-term trading vehicle.

Strategic Considerations When Using Metals in an IRA

Investors typically approach precious metals IRAs with one or more of the following strategies:

  • Core protection allocation: Using gold as a foundation to offset systemic and market risk

  • Tactical diversification: Adding silver or other metals to balance growth potential with stability

  • Risk hedging: Reducing reliance on equities, bonds, and currencies during uncertain cycles

  • Long-term preservation: Maintaining purchasing power across market and economic cycles

The appropriate allocation depends on individual goals, time horizon, and overall portfolio structure.

Funding a Precious Metals IRA

There are two primary ways to fund a precious metals IRA:

  1. Rollover or Transfer
    Funds may be rolled over from an existing IRA, 401(k), TSP, pension, or similar qualified retirement plan. When executed properly, rollovers are not taxable events.

  2. New Contributions
    Investors may also fund a precious metals IRA with new cash contributions, subject to annual IRS contribution limits.

Once funded, the IRA may purchase eligible coins and bars that meet IRS requirements and align with the investor’s strategic objectives.

Choosing the Right Partners

A precious metals IRA relies on three key components:

  • An IRS-approved custodian

  • An approved depository for secure storage

  • A precious metals specialist to assist with education and product selection

Working with experienced, compliant partners helps ensure proper execution, transparency, and adherence to IRS regulations.