Precious Metals IRA: Guide to Investing in Gold & Silver

A precious metals IRA allows you to add physical gold and silver to your retirement savings—offering protection against economic uncertainty.

While it involves more fees than traditional IRAs, it may appeal to those seeking diversification and stability.

What is a precious metals IRA?

A precious metals IRA—also known as a gold or silver IRA—is a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) that lets you hold physical metals like gold, silver, platinum, or palladium.

Traditional banks and brokers don’t offer these assets, which is why SDIRAs are used.

How does a precious metals IRA work?

1. Choose a specialized trustee: Not a bank or broker, but a company that handles SDIRAs.
2. Metals are stored: You don’t take possession; they go to a secure depository (custodian).
3. Standard IRA rules apply: Contribution limits in 2025 are $7,000 ($8,000 if 50+). Withdrawals after age 59½ are taxed as income.

Year	Contribution Limits
2023	$6,500 ($7,500 if you’re age 50 or older)
2024	$7,000 ($8,000 if you’re age 50 or older)
2025	$7,000 ($8,000 if you’re age 50 or older)

Precious Metals IRA Types

• Traditional IRA: Tax-deductible contributions, taxed on withdrawal.
• Roth IRA: Contributions aren’t deductible, but withdrawals are tax-free if qualified.
• SIMPLE or SEP IRAs: For self-employed individuals, though not all custodians support them.

What precious metals are allowed in an IRA?

Only IRS-approved bullion with specific purity standards is allowed:

• Gold: .995+
• Silver: .999+
• Platinum & Palladium: .9995+

Bullion coins like American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs are permitted. Numismatic (collectible) coins are not.

Pros & Cons

Precious metals IRAs and precious metals themselves have benefits and drawbacks you need to be aware of before opening an account.

Pros

• Hedge against market volatility.
• Tax-deferred growth.
• Flexible distribution options (cash or metals).
• Broader asset choices via SDIRA.

Cons

• Higher fees and minimum investments.
• More complex setup.
• Must vet custodians carefully.

How to Open a Precious Metals IRA

Opening a precious metals IRA is a more complicated process than opening a traditional IRA.

1. Research IRA Companies – Look for BBB, Trustpilot, and Google reviews. Compare fees and services.
2. Select a Custodian -Some firms limit custodian options; others let you choose (e.g., Equity Trust).
3. Initiate Rollover/Transfer – Most require a $10,000–$25,000 minimum. Use trustee-to-trustee transfers to avoid IRS penalties.
4. Choose Your Metals – Pick coins or bars that meet IRS standards. Bars have lower premiums; coins are more recognizable.
5. Finalize Purchase – Once funds are received, your metals are purchased and stored in either segregated or non-segregated storage.

Best Precious Metals IRA Companies

One of the most important decisions involved with a precious metals IRA is choosing the right company.

Below are three we believe to be worthy of your consideration.

Goldco

Goldco has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau, and offers its highest buy back guarantee. They also provide a silver bonus of up to 10% of the amount of limited mintage coins purchased for a precious metals IRA.

Still another advantage with Goldco is that they work with multiple custodians – in fact, you can choose the custodian yourself. Goldco requires a $25,000 minimum initial investment for a precious metals IRA.

Noble Gold Investments

Noble Gold Investments offers platinum and palladium bullion for your precious metals IRA, in addition to gold and silver. Not all precious metals IRA trustees offer these metals.

The company has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau but has more limited gold and silver options than its major competitors.

They also limit custodial options to a single provider, IDS. The minimum required to open an IRA account is $20,000.

Birch Gold Group

Birch Gold Group works very similar to Goldco, but it also offers numismatic coins, if you wish to open a non-retirement account and hold such assets.

Birch Gold Group also has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and has been in business since 2003. Not to be outdone, it offers a precious metals bonus of up to $10,000.

Birch Gold Group has one of the smallest minimum initial IRA investments, at $10,000.

Should you open a precious metals IRA?

If you’re looking to diversify your retirement portfolio and hedge against market risk, a precious metals IRA may be a smart move.

These accounts hold hard assets that don’t rely on third-party obligations and often perform well during economic uncertainty.

FAQs