Converting retirement savings into physical gold is called “Converting IRA to Physical Gold.” This method allows investors to obtain and store physical gold within an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). It provides a more secure investment option less vulnerable to market volatility, enabling investors to diversify their portfolios and protect themselves against economic downturns. This approach offers long-term stability, tax benefits, and the possession of a tangible asset.
5 Best Gold IRA Companies
- Augusta Precious Metals: Great Gold IRA Company Overall (4.6/5)
- Red Rock Secured: Runner Up – Best at Home Gold IRA ( 4 8/5)
- Goldco: Great Buyback Program (4.5/5)
- American Hartford Gold: Editor’s Choice – Best Prices on Bullions (4.9/5)
- Birch Gold Group: Great Staff Overall (4.3/5)
#1. Augusta Precious Metals: Great Gold IRA Company Overall (4.6/5)
Augusta Precious Metals is a reputable business in the gold and silver IRA industry, offering educational resources and empowering Americans to safeguard their retirement savings and financial well-being through diversification. With their depth of understanding and expertise in the precious metals market, investors can confidently navigate the ever-changing economic landscape.
One of Augusta Precious Metals’ notable differentiators is their unwavering commitment to customer service throughout a client’s lifetime. The company takes great pride in delivering exceptional customer support, earning them prestigious accolades such as the “Best Overall” recognition from Money magazine and the “Most Transparent” award from Investopedia. They have also received top ratings, including an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB) and a AAA rating from the Business Consumer Alliance (BCA).
The team at Augusta Precious Metals consists of experts well-versed in all aspects of precious metals investing, including converting an IRA to physical gold or silver. They collaborate closely with each client to develop a customized strategy that meets their needs while considering their unique investment objectives.
The industry widely acknowledges Augusta Precious Metals as one of the most trustworthy and transparent gold IRA companies. Alongside their impressive ratings from reputable organizations like the BBB and BCA, they have also been honored with the “Best Overall” recognition from Money magazine and the “Most Transparent” distinction from Investopedia.
In addition to their exceptional customer service and expertise, Augusta Precious Metals offers a comprehensive range of services and support to assist investors in diversifying their retirement savings and securing their financial future.
These factors establish them as a leading company in the gold and silver IRA industry, empowering individuals to convert their IRA to physical gold or silver and explore the benefits of precious metals investment.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Free one-on-one web consultation
- Customer training is prioritized, and a Harvard-trained economist is on staff.
- It helps you with the paperwork needed to open an IRA.
Cons
- A $50,000 minimum investment is required.
- Premium coins are more expensive.
#2. Red Rock Secured: Runner Up – Best at Home Gold IRA ( 4 8/5)
Red Rock Secured, a company based in the Los Angeles area, specializes in providing precious metal IRAs to clients, focusing on safeguarding their retirement savings. They also offer assistance in converting clients’ existing retirement assets into physical gold and silver.
The founder and CEO of Red Rock Secured, Sean Kelly, established the company in 2009 intending to help clients protect their retirement funds during market downturns. The company is dedicated to empowering its clients with investment knowledge to diversify their retirement assets into precious metals, particularly gold.
Red Rock Secured offers a range of options to ensure high liquidity and long-term protection of clients’ retirement savings. A well-diversified investment portfolio is the cornerstone of asset protection.
In addition, Red Rock Secured emphasizes educating customers about investing in precious metals and utilizing historical data to support individual diversification goals. The company believes that informed customers make better investment decisions.
The foremost priority for Red Rock Secured is the security of its clients’ investments. They maintain open communication with all customers to ensure their satisfaction.
Red Rock Secured specializes in offering precious metal IRAs and can help clients convert their existing retirement assets into physical gold. The company prioritizes educating customers on diversifying their retirement assets and believes maintaining a well-diversified investment portfolio is crucial for asset protection. Above all, Red Rock Secured is committed to ensuring the security of its clients’ investments through open communication and excellent service.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Most clients do not have to pay any fees for their precious metal IRA.
- Every order comes with free shipping and insurance.
- For qualified gold and silver purchases, a Price Protection Plan is available.
- There is a Buyback Program available.
- After the first transaction, there is a 7-day cancellation period.
- To open an IRA with Red Rock Secured, you must invest at least $10,000.
Cons
- There is no pricing information available online.
- There is no online information about eligibility for no fees and Red Rock Secured price protection.
- Purchases cannot be made online. To make a purchase, you must speak with a representative.
#3. Goldco: Great Buyback Program (4.5/5)
GoldCo is a reputable and dependable investment company helping clients diversify their retirement portfolios by providing excellent investment options. One of their services is facilitating the conversion of IRAs to physical gold. GoldCo enables clients to invest in gold, silver, platinum, and other precious metals through their IRAs.
Clients can choose from investment opportunities such as gold coins, bars, and ETFs. GoldCo’s knowledgeable and experienced staff assists clients in making informed decisions about their gold investments. It guides the benefits of investing in gold to maximize returns. Additionally,
GoldCo offers assistance in converting traditional or Roth IRAs to physical gold, making it easy for clients to invest in gold without needing a broker or financial advisor. With their dedication to providing the best gold investment options and advice, GoldCo helps clients achieve their retirement goals.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Outstanding customer service
- Honesty has a good reputation.
- Simple and quick application procedure
- A robust buyback program
- Decades of industry experience
- A three-step procedure for investing in tax- and penalty-free precious metals
Cons
- The minimum investment for gold and silver IRAs is USD 25,000.
- The company only offers gold and silver investments.
#4. American Hartford Gold: Editor’s Choice – Best Prices on Bullions (4.9/5)
American Hartford Gold primarily assists individuals and families in their investments in precious metals. They provide a range of alternatives, including Gold, Silver, and Platinum bars and coins. Regarding delivery, you have two choices: direct delivery to your doorstep or storing the metals in a retirement account like an IRA, 401K, or TSP. Incorporating “safe haven” assets such as physical gold into your investment portfolio aims to help you secure a more protected future.
Our company is dedicated to delivering high-quality services at fair prices. Their extensive expertise in the field empowers seasoned and novice investors with the latest market insights and historical data.
The fulfillment of their clients is of the highest priority, which is why they have earned an impressive 5-star rating on various review platforms, including Trustpilot and Google. Additionally, they proudly hold an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau. Moreover, they are honored to be ranked as the #1 Gold Company on the Inc. 5000 list of America’s fastest-growing private companies. American Hartford Gold is the sole precious metals business recommended by respected figures such as Bill O’Reilly, Rick Harrison, and Lou Dobbs. Their endorsement and referrals from their viewers, friends, and loved ones are highly valued.
Furthermore, they offer the service of converting your IRA to physical gold. This option allows you to transform your retirement account into a tangible asset by acquiring physical gold through us. This conversion provides an additional layer of security and diversification to your investment strategy.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Low minimums for accounts
- Waivers first-year fees
- Provides a buyback guarantee
Cons
- Online catalogs don’t have prices.
- Annual fees that are higher than average
#5. Birch Gold Group: Great Staff Overall (4.3/5)
Birch Gold Group has proven itself as a leading provider of gold and silver IRA investments, offering a wide array of investment options to meet the diverse needs of investors. Since its founding in 2005, the business has remained dedicated to providing exceptional service and guidance to its clients.
Their team of experienced professionals possesses extensive knowledge in this field. With an excellent rating of A+ earned by the Better Business Bureau, Birch Gold Group has garnered overwhelmingly positive feedback from satisfied clients, who praise the company’s excellent customer support, skilled staff, and competitive prices.
The company provides extensive investment options, including physical gold and silver, gold and silver coins, ETFs, and gold and silver IRA investments. On their website, one can find comprehensive information detailing the advantages and disadvantages of each investment option.
Additionally, Birch Gold Group offers various tools and resources to assist clients in making well-informed investment decisions. With consistently high rankings in customer reviews, Birch Gold Group stands as one of the top gold IRA companies. Furthermore, the company also facilitates the conversion of traditional IRAs to physical gold, providing clients with even more flexibility and investment opportunities.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Customers rate the company’s customer service as excellent.
- The business also has a stellar track record among
- Professionals, clients, and companies that invest.
- Customers who transfer $50,000 or more are exempt from fees for the first year.
- The company provides numerous educational resources to its clients, and good communication is one of its top priorities.
Pros
- There may be some additional costs. The company’s website mentions annual and set-up fees. Still, it does not provide specific figures because they are subject to change.
- For orders and IRAs, there are high minimum investment amounts.
What Is a Transfer?
Your current retirement accounts can be used to fund a gold IRA in two ways: through a rollover or a transfer. In a rollover, your current IRA custodian will provide you with the money you wish to withdraw. You will have sixty days to deposit it into your new gold IRA account. When a person is younger than 59.5 years old, failing to meet this deadline will result in a 10% penalty on the withdrawal.
In a transfer, money is directly sent from your current IRA custodian to your gold IRA custodian without any cash being taken out of the account. This approach is typically preferred as it is less complicated (no need to handle the money yourself) and eliminates the risk of missing the 60-day window.
How to Open a Gold IRA?
To open a self-directed gold IRA, you must find a company specializing in these accounts. They made a list of the best gold IRA companies to help you get started.
Once you have finished all the necessary paperwork, deposit money into your newly opened account. (details below), choose the gold and other metals you want to invest (only certain ones are eligible according to IRS rules), and then instruct your account custodian to purchase the metals on your behalf. After the purchase, a secure storage facility will receive your investments.
How to Relocate Your IRA Into a Gold IRA
To relocate funds from an existing IRA account, you can follow these simple steps:
- Contact your current IRA account administrator and inform them of your desire to begin a transfer.
- Fill out the required paperwork, including your new account information and the amount you wish to transfer.
- Wait for your account manager to transfer the funds to your gold IRA account.
- Once you have the funds, select the type of gold or other precious metals you want to purchase. Note that only certain coins and metals qualify for purchase.
- Use your gold IRA account custodian to make the purchases. They’ll purchase the metals you choose using the money in your account.
- Your purchased metals will be delivered to a secure depository for safekeeping. Although some companies advertise that you can keep your gold at home, this can result in IRS penalties, so it is not recommended.
- Keep an eye on your account statements and monitor the performance of your investments. Your gold IRA provider may offer tools to assist you with this.
Are There Any Gold IRA Transfer Fees?
Transferring a gold IRA doesn’t involve any IRS or government fees. However, your account administrator may impose their fees depending on their policies. Suppose you’re considering moving your funds into a gold IRA. In that case, discussing potential charges with your current IRA custodian is best.
Are There Any Tax Consequences From a Gold IRA Transfer?
Choosing a gold IRA can protect you from any potential penalties associated with a rollover in a standard IRA. Suppose the funds are not deposited within 60 days (and you are not at retirement age). In that case, rollovers can result in a 10% penalty, and Additionally, only one rollover per year is allowed.
On the other hand, transfers directly to your gold IRA custodian can prevent any additional fees or penalties, as the funds go straight to the custodian. It also means that since no money is withdrawn or transferred to you, the IRS will not place any taxes on the funds.
Why Transfer an IRA to a Gold IRA?
Transferring your existing funds to a new gold IRA can provide diverse advantages. These advantages include:
- Diversifying your portfolio: Putting all your money into a single investment or asset is risky. Silver and gold are fantastic ways to diversify your investments, ultimately lowering the risk level of your portfolio.
- Protecting against inflation: When the value of the US dollar falls, your purchasing power decreases. Gold investments protect against this loss because its value generally outpaces the dollar.
- Ensuring economic safety: If the economy suffers a downturn or the stock market, where you currently have funds invested, declines, having your money in gold may mitigate your losses.
- Potential for advancement: Gold’s value may rise as prices have grown over the last ten years. If this trend continues, the value of your portfolio will also increase.
If you need more clarification about transferring funds to a gold IRA and are wondering whether it’s right for you, consult your account manager or financial planner. They’ll give you advice so you can choose wisely for your goals and financial situation.
Where Could I Open a Gold IRA Account?
To open your account, you must select a gold IRA company. Remember that each company has different experience levels, services, and costs. Hence, comparing options and exploring them before finalizing your decision is crucial. You can start by referring to our guide on the best gold IRA companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Convert My Standard IRA to Actual Gold?
Yes, you can use a Gold IRA, also known as a self-directed IRA, to convert your standard IRA to actual gold.
What Are the Benefits of Changing an IRA to Gold?
Converting to actual gold enables portfolio diversification, inflation protection, prospective economic security, and growth opportunities. It gives a tangibly valuable item that may retain worth during market volatility.
Are There Any Tax Consequences to Changing an IRA to Actual Gold?
The conversion does not result in immediate taxes or penalties when done appropriately through a Gold IRA. Following IRS regulations and consulting with tax authorities is critical to understand potential tax ramifications.
Can I Keep the Physical Gold From My Gold IRA at Home?
While some companies claim you can store gold at home, this is typically not advised. Storing precious metals at home poses security dangers and may result in IRS penalties. Most Gold IRA custodians provide secure storage for actual gold.
How Do I Find a Reliable Gold IRA Provider?
Consider experience, reputation, customer service, costs, and storage alternatives when choosing a gold IRA business. To make an informed decision, research and compare multiple companies, read reviews, and talk with financial professionals.
Final Thought – Convert IRA To Physical Gold
Augusta Precious Metals, Red Rock Secured, Goldco, American Hartford Gold, and Birch Gold Corporation are reputable options for converting your IRA to physical gold. This strategy is an excellent means to safeguard your wealth and mitigate market volatility.
By investing in historically stable precious metals like gold and silver, you can protect your retirement savings from fluctuations in the market. A self-directed IRA also provides tax advantages and further diversifies your retirement portfolio. Nevertheless, conducting thorough research and seeking guidance from a financial advisor or tax specialist before making any decisions regarding your retirement funds is crucial.