If you’re tired of the nerves that come with owning a 401k controlled by the performance of the economy and the dollar, you might be considering a precious metal retirement account. If this is the case, you aren’t alone because more and more people are making the switch every single year. With a precious metal such as gold, you can protect yourself against inflation as well as a potential collapse within the economy.
Even though this option is becoming more popular, information on the topic is still limited somewhat which is why we’ve decided to create a 401k Gold IRA Rollover Guide. In this guide, you’ll learn the difference between a rollover and a transfer, how the rollover works, and how to find a custodian to make it all happen. Without further ado, let’s jump into it!
Rollover vs Transfer
Firstly, we need to address these two terms because we see them used interchangeably far too often. In fact, the IRS has even taken steps to clear up this confusion because we use the two terms incorrectly frequently. With a rollover, the money will be paid to you before you then deposit the funds into your gold IRA account. Alternatively, a transfer will see your money go from the original custodian to your new custodian; i.e. you won’t see the money at all. As you can see, this is a very important difference because you hold the money in one and don’t in the other.
Rollover Rules
Since this 401k gold IRA rollover guide is focused on rollovers alone, we should note that there are certain rules one must adhere to when the process takes place. For example, from the date you have access to funds, you have around 60 days to deposit the money into the new account. Why is this important? If you hold onto the money for more than 60 days, it’s treated as income and becomes taxable. If you’re under 59 1/2 years of age, you’ll also suffer from the 10% early withdrawal penalty.
In the past, we’ve seen many people fall foul of this rule so you need to have a system in place where the money is deposited into the new account quickly after it has been received. With a transfer, the 60-day rule doesn’t exist in the same capacity because you never have access to the money. Typically, the two IRA custodians will have contact with one another and the money will move via a wire transfer.
Creating Your Gold IRA Account
If you decide that precious metals are the best way to go for your retirement fund, you’ll be joining a growing community of people. To get started, you’ll need to make a few decisions including the amount you wish to rollover. While some will set up a 100% rollover from one IRA to another, others will have a certain percentage go to the gold IRA while the rest remains in the original IRA. At this point, it might be worth talking to finance professionals and obtaining advice regarding the whole process. Often, the best advice will be the one that’s tailored to your position and only a finance professional can do this. Once you’ve spoken to somebody and recognize your options, you can make the right decision for your future.
Choose A Custodian
Before anything else, you’ll need to scan the market for the right custodian who can help you from the very first moment to the last. At times, this can be tricky because the majority of companies will have interest in your money and little else. Therefore, we recommend taking your time during this step and reading through various reviews online (List of Custodians). Often, people make purchasing decisions based on the promises a company makes but this only leads to disappointment when they don’t deliver. If you speak with previous customers of a service, at least you get a detailed insight into the company.
Furthermore, we also advise choosing a company that meets your needs. Sure, your friend may have a brilliant suggestion but don’t just choose a service based on this because you need to know whether they can adhere to your needs now as well as any you may have in the future.
All in all, there are several considerations to keep in mind when choosing a custodian. For example:
- Do they have a good customer support system should you have any questions or problems?
- How quickly can they help from your first point of contact?
- Where do they store their gold?
- Will they still be in business in twenty years?
Often, people forget to look into the financial security of a company even when they plan on waiting many years before accessing their retirement fund. With financial ratings from A.M. Best and the like, you’ll be in a great position to assess the finances of companies.
Learn As You Go
Rather than letting the custodian take control of everything, we urge you to learn as you go because this allows for
better decisions in the future. With the very best custodians, they should provide you with an investing kit or some kind of informational package so you remain in control at all times. Before signing a contract, you can also read through the terms and conditions just to make sure you’re happy with everything.
Avoid Common Mistakes
Once you’ve chosen a custodian, most of the burden is taken from your shoulders. Any good 401k gold IRA rollover guide will tell you that all you need to do is enter your information on the (and possibly speak with the company directly); after this, they’ll deal with your original IRA provider and all the hassle that comes with the change. However, you still need to be wary of common mistakes such as not checking the tax regulations. If you want to avoid penalties and tax issues, read all the terms and even verify the information with an impartial finance professional.
Processing The Change
Assuming all parties have accepted the rollover application, the custodian will initiate the process and the gold will be purchased on your behalf. Once the funds have been received by the company, the precious metals will be stored and this forms an important part of your research in the earlier stages. These days, a few of the very best companies segregate all precious metals and offer the best security for storage. With this, you can have peace of mind moving forward.
Summary
If you were to ask 100 finance experts about the state of the economy and the options for those saving for retirement, a considerable number would suggest gold and gold IRAs which is why we created this 401k gold IRA rollover guide. Since gold has retained its value for hundreds of years, and it operates freely from the economy and US dollar, there’s no surprise more people are choosing this route. With the right research and the right company as a partner, you can protect your retirement money and ensure it retains value for your elder years!
Our personal recommendation to safeguard your future with gold is to contact Regal Assets, The #1 Rated Gold Investment Company 7 years in a row, Click Here To Request A FREE Gold Investors Kit.
