WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:01.960 Hey, everyone. Welcome back to The Deep Dive. 00:00:02.220 --> 00:00:04.000 We're diving into something that's been generating 00:00:04.000 --> 00:00:07.179 a lot of buzz, especially when it comes to planning 00:00:07.179 --> 00:00:10.220 for retirement. We're talking about gold IRAs. 00:00:10.400 --> 00:00:12.199 Yeah. And we're going to unpack it all today 00:00:12.199 --> 00:00:15.199 based on the gold IRA investing guide, Tommy 00:00:15.199 --> 00:00:17.760 25, to help you figure out if this is something 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:20.019 that might make sense for your retirement plan. 00:00:20.579 --> 00:00:23.739 Exactly. So first things first, what exactly 00:00:23.739 --> 00:00:26.839 are we talking about when we say gold IRA? Well, 00:00:26.960 --> 00:00:29.079 you can think of it as a specific type of IRA, 00:00:29.300 --> 00:00:31.640 a self -directed individual retirement account. 00:00:31.839 --> 00:00:34.719 But the key here, the big difference, is that 00:00:34.719 --> 00:00:37.740 instead of just holding stocks or bonds, you 00:00:37.740 --> 00:00:40.259 can actually have physical precious metals. Okay, 00:00:40.259 --> 00:00:42.380 so we're talking actual gold bars and coins, 00:00:42.600 --> 00:00:44.759 right? Like the real deal. Exactly. You can hold 00:00:44.759 --> 00:00:47.399 gold, silver, platinum, palladium, though of 00:00:47.399 --> 00:00:49.759 course the IRS has some rules about it. The metals 00:00:49.759 --> 00:00:52.280 have to meet certain purity standards. For gold 00:00:52.280 --> 00:00:54.359 bullion, for instance, it usually needs to be 00:00:54.359 --> 00:00:58.399 at least 99 .5 % pure. So not just any old gold 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:01.469 will do. Yeah. Got it. And this whole idea of 00:01:01.469 --> 00:01:03.450 holding gold in an IRA, this is a relatively 00:01:03.450 --> 00:01:06.170 recent thing, right? Right. It became possible 00:01:06.170 --> 00:01:09.969 thanks to the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. That's 00:01:09.969 --> 00:01:12.170 when the IRS started allowing for these self 00:01:12.170 --> 00:01:14.750 -directed IRAs to hold precious metals. Now, 00:01:14.750 --> 00:01:17.129 you keep saying self -directed. I think that's 00:01:17.129 --> 00:01:19.189 a really important piece for our listeners to 00:01:19.189 --> 00:01:21.209 understand. What does that actually mean for 00:01:21.209 --> 00:01:23.069 someone looking at their retirement options? 00:01:23.319 --> 00:01:26.299 A self -directed IRA basically gives you more 00:01:26.299 --> 00:01:29.599 control, more flexibility over what you invest 00:01:29.599 --> 00:01:32.819 in within that IRA. So while we're focusing on 00:01:32.819 --> 00:01:34.640 precious metals today, you could technically 00:01:34.640 --> 00:01:37.219 have a mix of traditional assets like stocks 00:01:37.219 --> 00:01:40.159 and bonds alongside alternative investments. 00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:43.000 So it's about having more options, a more diversified 00:01:43.000 --> 00:01:45.560 portfolio within that retirement account. Exactly. 00:01:45.700 --> 00:01:47.819 Though, again, our focus today is going to be 00:01:47.819 --> 00:01:50.500 on those precious metals, especially gold, within 00:01:50.500 --> 00:01:52.379 a gold IRA. And that's what we're going to try 00:01:52.379 --> 00:01:55.120 to break down today using the Gold IRA Investing 00:01:55.120 --> 00:01:58.420 Guide 2025 as our roadmap. We're going to try 00:01:58.420 --> 00:02:00.280 to cut through the jargon and figure out if a 00:02:00.280 --> 00:02:02.359 gold IRA is something you should seriously consider, 00:02:02.819 --> 00:02:04.439 especially because we know that a lot of people 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.260 are looking for more control, more security when 00:02:07.260 --> 00:02:09.159 it comes to planning for their financial future. 00:02:09.389 --> 00:02:10.969 Yeah, that's definitely something we're seeing 00:02:10.969 --> 00:02:12.669 more and more of. You know, we've seen a real 00:02:12.669 --> 00:02:15.030 shift in the way retirement benefits work these 00:02:15.030 --> 00:02:17.770 days. Traditional company pensions, they're becoming 00:02:17.770 --> 00:02:20.210 less common and individuals are having to take 00:02:20.210 --> 00:02:22.270 more responsibility for their own retirement 00:02:22.270 --> 00:02:24.409 planning. So it makes sense that people are looking 00:02:24.409 --> 00:02:26.310 at different options, different ways to approach 00:02:26.310 --> 00:02:29.669 retirement. And gold IRAs seem to be gaining 00:02:29.669 --> 00:02:32.270 a lot of traction. What's driving this growing 00:02:32.270 --> 00:02:35.990 interest in holding gold as part of your retirement 00:02:35.990 --> 00:02:39.949 strategy? I'd say one of the biggest factors 00:02:39.949 --> 00:02:43.129 is the idea of diversification. I mean, you know, 00:02:43.250 --> 00:02:45.389 the old adage, don't put all your eggs in one 00:02:45.389 --> 00:02:48.210 basket. All right, spread the risk. Yeah. And 00:02:48.210 --> 00:02:51.449 the guide highlights this by referencing studies 00:02:51.449 --> 00:02:54.550 that show historically gold has had a low correlation 00:02:54.550 --> 00:02:57.849 with, say, the S &P 500. Meaning? Meaning when 00:02:57.849 --> 00:03:00.270 the stock market takes a big dip, gold doesn't 00:03:00.270 --> 00:03:02.629 necessarily follow suit. It often moves in a 00:03:02.629 --> 00:03:04.710 different direction, maybe even goes up in value. 00:03:05.069 --> 00:03:07.590 So it can act as a kind of counterbalance in 00:03:07.590 --> 00:03:09.949 your portfolio. You know, bonds are often seen 00:03:09.949 --> 00:03:12.180 as that counterweight to stocks. Right. They're 00:03:12.180 --> 00:03:13.960 supposed to provide some stability when the stock 00:03:13.960 --> 00:03:16.819 market is going haywire. Exactly. And the guide 00:03:16.819 --> 00:03:19.280 is saying that precious metals, especially gold, 00:03:19.400 --> 00:03:21.719 can play a similar role, potentially even more 00:03:21.719 --> 00:03:24.219 effectively in some cases. It can be a hedge, 00:03:24.740 --> 00:03:26.680 a way to protect yourself against the ups and 00:03:26.680 --> 00:03:29.319 downs of the market, and especially those unexpected 00:03:29.319 --> 00:03:32.039 economic storms we all know can happen. Exactly. 00:03:32.199 --> 00:03:34.580 You know, that's one of the big selling points 00:03:34.580 --> 00:03:37.080 of a gold IRA, the peace of mind that it can 00:03:37.080 --> 00:03:40.099 offer. Think about it. If you're nearing retirement 00:03:40.099 --> 00:03:43.530 or already tired, the idea of not having to constantly 00:03:43.530 --> 00:03:46.370 watch the market, that can be really appealing. 00:03:46.689 --> 00:03:48.650 Yeah, being able to sleep at night without worrying 00:03:48.650 --> 00:03:50.949 about your nest egg shrinking is a huge benefit 00:03:50.949 --> 00:03:54.069 for many people. So let's get into why gold, 00:03:54.569 --> 00:03:56.990 specifically. The guide goes into quite a bit 00:03:56.990 --> 00:03:59.610 of detail about why investors choose gold, why 00:03:59.610 --> 00:04:02.349 it's seen as such a valuable asset. What are 00:04:02.349 --> 00:04:04.629 some of the key points that our listeners should 00:04:04.629 --> 00:04:06.729 be aware of? One of the things that stands out 00:04:06.729 --> 00:04:09.009 is the fact that there's just a consistent high 00:04:09.009 --> 00:04:11.810 demand for gold. You know, it's used in so many 00:04:11.810 --> 00:04:14.949 different industries, electronics, jewelry, industrial 00:04:14.949 --> 00:04:18.470 applications. And this demand is especially strong 00:04:18.470 --> 00:04:21.610 in rapidly growing economies like China and India. 00:04:21.910 --> 00:04:24.230 So it's not just a shiny thing that people like. 00:04:24.470 --> 00:04:27.750 It actually has real world uses driving its value. 00:04:27.990 --> 00:04:30.910 Exactly. And the guide makes the point that as 00:04:30.910 --> 00:04:33.129 these economies continue to develop, the demand 00:04:33.129 --> 00:04:35.470 for gold is only going to increase. But that's 00:04:35.470 --> 00:04:38.029 just one side of the coin. What's really interesting 00:04:38.029 --> 00:04:41.410 is gold's role as a potential hedge against inflation. 00:04:41.670 --> 00:04:43.329 OK, so how does that work? Because inflation 00:04:43.329 --> 00:04:45.430 is a real concern for a lot of people, especially 00:04:45.430 --> 00:04:47.810 when it comes to retirement savings. Well, unlike 00:04:47.810 --> 00:04:49.990 currencies like the US dollar, the supply of 00:04:49.990 --> 00:04:52.170 gold is finite. You can't just print more of 00:04:52.170 --> 00:04:55.170 it. It's a tangible asset. And the guide explains 00:04:55.170 --> 00:04:57.550 that this limited supply is what makes gold such 00:04:57.550 --> 00:05:00.810 a good hedge against inflation and currency devaluation. 00:05:02.040 --> 00:05:04.439 Historically, gold has tended to hold its value 00:05:04.439 --> 00:05:07.139 even when currencies fluctuate. So in theory, 00:05:07.459 --> 00:05:10.060 if the value of the dollar goes down, the value 00:05:10.060 --> 00:05:12.540 of gold could go up, or at least stay more stable. 00:05:12.839 --> 00:05:14.899 That's the idea. It's important to note that 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:18.060 it's not a perfect hedge in every scenario. The 00:05:18.060 --> 00:05:20.740 guide does mention periods of, for example, what's 00:05:20.740 --> 00:05:22.879 called stagflation, where gold's performance 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:25.500 was a little more complicated. But the general 00:05:25.500 --> 00:05:27.500 idea is that it helps protect your purchasing 00:05:27.500 --> 00:05:30.199 power in the long run. So it's a more reliable 00:05:30.199 --> 00:05:33.100 store of value potentially than just having cash 00:05:33.100 --> 00:05:35.120 sitting in a bank account? Potentially, yes. 00:05:35.500 --> 00:05:37.300 And the guide also makes another interesting 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:40.779 point. Gold's value isn't necessarily tied to 00:05:40.779 --> 00:05:43.759 the performance of the overall economy. So even 00:05:43.759 --> 00:05:46.240 in times of economic downturns or recessions, 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.339 the value of gold can actually increase. So when 00:05:49.339 --> 00:05:52.360 things are looking bad, people flock to gold 00:05:52.360 --> 00:05:55.060 as a safe haven. Right. And over the long term, 00:05:55.399 --> 00:05:57.800 historically, it's tended to increase in value 00:05:57.800 --> 00:06:00.600 steadily. It might not be a get rich quick scheme, 00:06:00.699 --> 00:06:03.319 but it's often seen as a dependable way to preserve 00:06:03.319 --> 00:06:05.600 your wealth, which is, of course, very important 00:06:05.600 --> 00:06:07.899 for retirement planning. And what about during 00:06:07.899 --> 00:06:11.560 times of real crisis, you know, like major geopolitical 00:06:11.560 --> 00:06:14.120 events or financial meltdowns? The guide actually 00:06:14.120 --> 00:06:17.759 refers to gold as a crisis commodity. Yeah, this 00:06:17.759 --> 00:06:19.600 is a really interesting point. Whenever there's 00:06:19.600 --> 00:06:22.279 a lot of instability, uncertainty, whether it's 00:06:22.279 --> 00:06:25.500 political, economic, or global, people tend to 00:06:25.500 --> 00:06:28.839 flock to gold. It's seen as a stable asset in 00:06:28.839 --> 00:06:31.649 times of turmoil. So it's almost like an insurance 00:06:31.649 --> 00:06:33.449 policy for your portfolio. That's a good way 00:06:33.449 --> 00:06:36.170 to put it. And finally, we can't forget about 00:06:36.170 --> 00:06:38.529 the liquidity aspect. You know, gold is relatively 00:06:38.529 --> 00:06:40.730 easy to buy and sell. There are various ways 00:06:40.730 --> 00:06:44.689 to invest in it. ETFs, stocks, derivatives. And 00:06:44.689 --> 00:06:46.649 of course, with the gold IRA, you're holding 00:06:46.649 --> 00:06:49.370 the physical bullion, which, especially in the 00:06:49.370 --> 00:06:52.009 form of gold coins, can be readily converted 00:06:52.009 --> 00:06:54.970 to cash if needed. So you've got options, different 00:06:54.970 --> 00:06:56.889 ways to access your investment. Now the guide 00:06:56.889 --> 00:06:59.790 also spent some time talking about silver, why 00:06:59.790 --> 00:07:02.569 the focus on silver in addition to gold. It seems 00:07:02.569 --> 00:07:04.970 like there's a growing trend of investors who, 00:07:05.110 --> 00:07:07.149 when they start looking into gold IRAs, they 00:07:07.149 --> 00:07:09.449 end up also adding silver to their portfolio. 00:07:10.310 --> 00:07:12.689 The guide delves deeper into the potential of 00:07:12.689 --> 00:07:14.990 silver, the different types of silver investments, 00:07:15.089 --> 00:07:17.649 and the global market for silver. And there's 00:07:17.649 --> 00:07:19.430 even an expert prediction mentioned in the guide, 00:07:19.490 --> 00:07:21.689 something about a potential surge in silver prices 00:07:21.689 --> 00:07:23.709 coming up. Yeah, they're predicting a potential 00:07:23.709 --> 00:07:27.689 20 % increase in silver's value by 2025. So it's 00:07:27.689 --> 00:07:30.170 clearly catching the attention of investors alongside 00:07:30.170 --> 00:07:33.389 gold. OK, so lots to consider there. But let's 00:07:33.389 --> 00:07:36.050 get down to the nitty gritty. What are the core 00:07:36.050 --> 00:07:38.949 advantages of having these precious metals, particularly 00:07:38.949 --> 00:07:42.730 gold, within a gold IRA, as opposed to just buying 00:07:42.730 --> 00:07:45.410 gold coins or bars outright? The fundamental 00:07:45.410 --> 00:07:47.250 advantage, the one the guide really emphasizes, 00:07:47.449 --> 00:07:49.790 is that with a gold IRA, you have direct ownership 00:07:49.790 --> 00:07:52.490 of that physical gold bullion. You're not buying 00:07:52.490 --> 00:07:55.310 shares in a company or a mutual fund. You actually 00:07:55.310 --> 00:07:58.910 own those gold bars or coins. And the guide makes 00:07:58.910 --> 00:08:00.970 it clear that the price of that physical gold 00:08:00.970 --> 00:08:03.550 is tied directly to the spot price, which is 00:08:03.550 --> 00:08:05.810 essentially the current market price for an ounce 00:08:05.810 --> 00:08:08.370 of gold. So it's like owning a piece of that 00:08:08.370 --> 00:08:11.699 actual commodity. Exactly. And as we talked about 00:08:11.699 --> 00:08:14.139 before, the guide highlights that long -term 00:08:14.139 --> 00:08:16.660 stability of gold prices, historically speaking. 00:08:17.079 --> 00:08:19.959 It tends to increase in value over time, making 00:08:19.959 --> 00:08:23.139 it potentially a suitable investment for retirement. 00:08:23.379 --> 00:08:26.800 And of course, being an IRA. There are tax implications. 00:08:27.199 --> 00:08:29.379 Are those spelled out in the guide as well? Oh 00:08:29.379 --> 00:08:31.879 yeah, for sure. They point out that one of the 00:08:31.879 --> 00:08:35.360 main benefits of having a gold IRA is the potential 00:08:35.360 --> 00:08:38.740 tax advantages. So while you will eventually 00:08:38.740 --> 00:08:41.320 pay taxes on your gains, typically when you start 00:08:41.320 --> 00:08:44.100 taking distributions in retirement, the tax rates 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:46.840 associated with gold held as a capital asset 00:08:46.840 --> 00:08:49.620 within an IRA, they're generally lower. So there's 00:08:49.620 --> 00:08:52.080 a potential tax efficiency aspect as well. Right. 00:08:52.250 --> 00:08:54.450 And the guide also mentions that under certain 00:08:54.450 --> 00:08:57.370 circumstances, you might be able to avoid those 00:08:57.370 --> 00:08:59.490 early withdrawal penalties that typically come 00:08:59.490 --> 00:09:02.129 with IRAs. Like, for instance, if you have certain 00:09:02.129 --> 00:09:04.370 medical expenses or are making a first -time 00:09:04.370 --> 00:09:06.690 home purchase, you might be able to access those 00:09:06.690 --> 00:09:09.129 funds early without penalty. OK, so definitely 00:09:09.129 --> 00:09:11.629 some tax benefits to consider there. Now, setting 00:09:11.629 --> 00:09:13.950 up a gold IRA, I'm guessing it's a little bit 00:09:13.950 --> 00:09:16.549 more involved than just opening a regular IRA 00:09:16.549 --> 00:09:19.330 at your local bank, right? Can you walk us through 00:09:19.629 --> 00:09:21.909 what that process looks like based on the guide 00:09:21.909 --> 00:09:24.409 so our listeners know what to expect. Yeah, it's 00:09:24.409 --> 00:09:26.789 definitely a bit more specialized. The guide 00:09:26.789 --> 00:09:29.590 breaks it down and emphasizes that often the 00:09:29.590 --> 00:09:32.950 easiest way to set up a Gold IRA is to transfer 00:09:32.950 --> 00:09:35.590 funds from an existing retirement plan, you know, 00:09:35.610 --> 00:09:38.289 like a 401k from a previous employer. And they 00:09:38.289 --> 00:09:40.769 talk about the IRA rollover process. Right, so 00:09:40.769 --> 00:09:43.830 rolling over that 401k into this new type of 00:09:43.830 --> 00:09:46.000 account. Exactly. And they make the point that 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:47.740 if you've already left the company sponsoring 00:09:47.740 --> 00:09:50.580 that 401k, the rollover can actually be quite 00:09:50.580 --> 00:09:52.919 simple. So it's not necessarily a complicated 00:09:52.919 --> 00:09:55.440 process. Not always. But there's one thing to 00:09:55.440 --> 00:09:57.460 keep in mind, and the guide highlights this. 00:09:57.960 --> 00:09:59.379 You want to be clear on whether you're doing 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:01.820 a rollover or a transfer. They're not quite the 00:10:01.820 --> 00:10:03.919 same thing. What's the difference? A rollover 00:10:03.919 --> 00:10:05.740 is when you get a check made out to you personally, 00:10:05.960 --> 00:10:08.000 and then you have a limited time to deposit that 00:10:08.000 --> 00:10:11.860 money into the new gold IRA. A transfer is when 00:10:11.860 --> 00:10:14.019 the funds move directly between the accounts, 00:10:14.460 --> 00:10:16.179 without you ever actually holding that money. 00:10:16.679 --> 00:10:18.639 And the guide points out that there can be tax 00:10:18.639 --> 00:10:20.919 implications depending on which method you choose. 00:10:21.419 --> 00:10:23.100 So you definitely want to get good advice on 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:26.620 that front. Now what about costs? Are there specific 00:10:26.620 --> 00:10:29.700 fees associated with gold IRAs that people should 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:31.679 be aware of? Yeah, there are a few things to 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.450 watch out for. The guide outlines those typical 00:10:34.450 --> 00:10:36.549 fees. There's usually a one -time seller's fee, 00:10:36.570 --> 00:10:39.129 sometimes called a setup fee. It varies depending 00:10:39.129 --> 00:10:42.809 on the company you choose. Then there are annual 00:10:42.809 --> 00:10:44.909 custodian fees. Remember those custodians we 00:10:44.909 --> 00:10:46.830 were talking about? They're required when the 00:10:46.830 --> 00:10:48.629 government for these accounts and they charge 00:10:48.629 --> 00:10:51.169 a fee for their services. So those annual custodian 00:10:51.169 --> 00:10:52.889 fees, those are just something you have to factor 00:10:52.889 --> 00:10:55.610 in. Yeah, they're usually unavoidable. And then 00:10:55.610 --> 00:10:57.350 there are the annual storage fees. You know, 00:10:57.350 --> 00:10:59.149 you can't just keep those gold bars under your 00:10:59.149 --> 00:11:01.450 mattress. You have to store them in an IRS approved 00:11:01.450 --> 00:11:03.659 depository. So it's not just about the price 00:11:03.659 --> 00:11:06.879 of gold. It's also about the ongoing costs of 00:11:06.879 --> 00:11:09.220 maintaining that gold IRA. Right, you gotta keep 00:11:09.220 --> 00:11:11.879 that in mind. Now the guide does point out that 00:11:11.879 --> 00:11:14.059 some companies will waive those first -year admin 00:11:14.059 --> 00:11:16.220 and storage fees as an incentive to sign up with 00:11:16.220 --> 00:11:19.039 them. And they also stress the importance of 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.179 understanding whether a company charges flat 00:11:21.179 --> 00:11:24.620 rates or scaled rates for those annual fees. 00:11:25.039 --> 00:11:27.759 Scaled rates meaning? Meaning they take a percentage 00:11:27.759 --> 00:11:30.440 of your holdings every year. So if your account 00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:32.980 grows, those fees grow too. It's important to 00:11:32.980 --> 00:11:34.799 understand that difference because it can really 00:11:34.799 --> 00:11:37.179 affect your overall returns. So there's a real 00:11:37.179 --> 00:11:39.639 due diligence aspect here, making sure you understand 00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:41.980 those fees and charges before you commit. Absolutely. 00:11:42.379 --> 00:11:45.120 And you mentioned IRS approved storage. That 00:11:45.120 --> 00:11:47.480 sounds like a crucial element of all this. It's 00:11:47.480 --> 00:11:50.200 mandatory, actually. The guide emphasizes that 00:11:50.200 --> 00:11:52.779 if you have a gold IRA, those metals have to 00:11:52.779 --> 00:11:55.200 be stored in an IRS approved depository until 00:11:55.200 --> 00:11:58.000 you reach age 59 and a half. you can't keep them 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:00.000 at home. Makes sense. So how does that work? 00:12:00.240 --> 00:12:01.960 Well, the guide touches on the different types 00:12:01.960 --> 00:12:04.799 of storage options. There's segregated storage, 00:12:04.960 --> 00:12:07.360 where your specific bars or coins are kept separate. 00:12:07.639 --> 00:12:09.740 And then there's commingled storage, where they're 00:12:09.740 --> 00:12:11.399 stored together with other investors' metals 00:12:11.399 --> 00:12:14.179 of the same type. There's also allocated storage, 00:12:14.360 --> 00:12:17.340 where you own specific, identifiable bars and 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:19.740 non -allocated storage, which is kind of like 00:12:19.740 --> 00:12:22.159 owning a share in a pool of gold. So different 00:12:22.159 --> 00:12:24.990 levels of ownership and separation. And I'm guessing 00:12:24.990 --> 00:12:27.110 the fees vary depending on the type of storage 00:12:27.110 --> 00:12:29.750 you choose. Right. The guide goes into more detail 00:12:29.750 --> 00:12:31.909 about those options, but it's definitely something 00:12:31.909 --> 00:12:34.330 to consider. So you've got these custodians, 00:12:34.470 --> 00:12:37.429 these depositories. It seems like setting up 00:12:37.429 --> 00:12:40.029 and managing a Gold IRA can be pretty complex. 00:12:40.269 --> 00:12:42.169 That's where these Gold IRA companies come in, 00:12:42.269 --> 00:12:44.009 right? The guide talks about working with them. 00:12:44.190 --> 00:12:46.929 Yeah, exactly. They basically act as facilitators 00:12:46.929 --> 00:12:49.350 as a one -stop shop. They help you set up the 00:12:49.350 --> 00:12:52.100 account, handle all the paperwork. work with 00:12:52.100 --> 00:12:54.539 the custodian on your behalf, and even assist 00:12:54.539 --> 00:12:56.960 with purchasing those precious metals. You know, 00:12:56.960 --> 00:12:59.159 they help you navigate the whole process. So 00:12:59.159 --> 00:13:01.460 it takes some of the complexity out of the equation 00:13:01.460 --> 00:13:04.259 for the average investor. Yeah, that's the idea. 00:13:04.259 --> 00:13:06.200 And they're supposed to be experts in retirement 00:13:06.200 --> 00:13:08.559 planning, familiar with all the IRS regulations 00:13:08.559 --> 00:13:10.919 and requirements. They usually have preferred 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:13.399 custodians they work with. But as the guide points 00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:16.519 out, you, as the investor, can often choose your 00:13:16.519 --> 00:13:20.399 own custodian if you prefer. So you do have some 00:13:20.399 --> 00:13:22.539 say in the matter. But it sounds like having 00:13:22.539 --> 00:13:25.379 a gold IRA company handle the details can make 00:13:25.379 --> 00:13:27.980 things a lot smoother. But of course, with so 00:13:27.980 --> 00:13:30.279 many companies out there, how do you choose the 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:32.720 right one? That's a great question. The guide 00:13:32.720 --> 00:13:35.100 offers some really good advice on that front. 00:13:35.240 --> 00:13:37.600 I'm all ears. What should our listeners be looking 00:13:37.600 --> 00:13:39.720 for? First and foremost, you want to look for 00:13:39.720 --> 00:13:42.179 a company with a strong reputation and experience 00:13:42.179 --> 00:13:44.600 in the field. You want to see a proven track 00:13:44.600 --> 00:13:47.399 record, real testimonials from satisfied customers, 00:13:47.820 --> 00:13:50.519 and a reputation for fairness and transparency. 00:13:51.129 --> 00:13:53.809 Do your research. Check those online reviews. 00:13:54.210 --> 00:13:57.450 Absolutely. And then of course, fees. Always 00:13:57.450 --> 00:14:00.169 pay close attention to the fees. The guide recommends 00:14:00.169 --> 00:14:03.169 choosing companies with flat fee structures whenever 00:14:03.169 --> 00:14:06.029 possible, rather than plans with a bunch of hidden 00:14:06.029 --> 00:14:08.690 costs that can sneak up on you later. Transparency 00:14:08.690 --> 00:14:11.669 is key. Absolutely. And you want a company that's 00:14:11.669 --> 00:14:14.769 flexible, that can tailor their plans to your 00:14:14.769 --> 00:14:17.230 individual needs and goals, regardless of how 00:14:17.230 --> 00:14:19.629 much money you're investing. So make sure they're 00:14:19.629 --> 00:14:21.970 listening to your specific situation, not just 00:14:21.970 --> 00:14:23.889 trying to shoehorn you into a one -size -fits 00:14:23.889 --> 00:14:27.419 -all plan. Is there a way to kind of vet these 00:14:27.419 --> 00:14:29.240 companies from an outside perspective, get a 00:14:29.240 --> 00:14:31.659 sense of how reliable they are. The guide recommends 00:14:31.659 --> 00:14:33.960 checking with some of those consumer watchdog 00:14:33.960 --> 00:14:36.360 organizations, like the Better Business Bureau, 00:14:36.919 --> 00:14:39.539 TrustLink, and the Business Consumer Alliance. 00:14:40.039 --> 00:14:42.519 They keep track of complaints and how well companies 00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:44.580 respond to them. So it's a good way to see if 00:14:44.580 --> 00:14:46.720 they have a history of good customer service 00:14:46.720 --> 00:14:49.159 and ethical practices. Exactly. OK, good to know. 00:14:49.360 --> 00:14:50.840 And what about the custodian they use? Should 00:14:50.840 --> 00:14:52.629 you be paying attention to that? Definitely. 00:14:53.289 --> 00:14:55.750 The guide says to look into the custodial details. 00:14:56.210 --> 00:14:57.929 You want to know whether their storage fees are 00:14:57.929 --> 00:15:00.549 scaled or flat, how quickly they process orders, 00:15:00.889 --> 00:15:03.429 what storage options they offer, how they handle 00:15:03.429 --> 00:15:05.690 transfers, what their security protocols are, 00:15:05.870 --> 00:15:08.629 and maybe most importantly, how easy it is to 00:15:08.629 --> 00:15:10.590 communicate with them if you have questions or 00:15:10.590 --> 00:15:13.570 concerns. So clear communication and transparency 00:15:13.570 --> 00:15:16.639 are important on all fronts. Absolutely. And 00:15:16.639 --> 00:15:18.840 then there's the customer service aspect. The 00:15:18.840 --> 00:15:21.500 guide emphasizes that the best companies will 00:15:21.500 --> 00:15:24.539 have a really responsive, knowledgeable, and 00:15:24.539 --> 00:15:26.919 experienced customer service team. People who 00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:28.779 can walk you through the whole process and answer 00:15:28.779 --> 00:15:30.820 all your questions. So you don't feel like you're 00:15:30.820 --> 00:15:33.480 just dealing with a faceless corporation. Exactly. 00:15:33.759 --> 00:15:36.519 And the guide actually names its top three recommended 00:15:36.519 --> 00:15:40.220 gold IRE companies. Augusta. Precious Metals, 00:15:40.539 --> 00:15:43.720 GoldCo, and American Hartford Gold. They specifically 00:15:43.720 --> 00:15:45.879 mentioned that Augusta has zero complaints with 00:15:45.879 --> 00:15:48.240 the Better Business Bureau and the Business Consumer 00:15:48.240 --> 00:15:51.039 Alliance. Right. They highlight those companies 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.379 as good starting points for your research based 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:55.840 on the criteria they've laid out. So there you 00:15:55.840 --> 00:15:59.159 have it. Lots to think about. What are the key 00:15:59.159 --> 00:16:01.100 takeaways from all this for our listeners who 00:16:01.100 --> 00:16:04.460 are considering a Gold IRA as part of their retirement 00:16:04.460 --> 00:16:06.840 plan? Well, the guide makes it clear that gold 00:16:06.840 --> 00:16:10.159 IRAs are becoming increasingly popular. There's 00:16:10.159 --> 00:16:12.480 a growing sense that they offer a way to protect 00:16:12.480 --> 00:16:15.100 those hard -earned retirement funds from economic 00:16:15.100 --> 00:16:19.070 uncertainty. But, and this is a big but, Choosing 00:16:19.070 --> 00:16:21.610 the right company to work with is absolutely 00:16:21.610 --> 00:16:23.309 crucial. You've got to do your due diligence 00:16:23.309 --> 00:16:25.350 and really research those companies. Because 00:16:25.350 --> 00:16:27.870 there are risks. Yeah, definitely. If you end 00:16:27.870 --> 00:16:29.450 up with an unreliable company, you could be hit 00:16:29.450 --> 00:16:32.570 with high fees, pushy salespeople, problems with 00:16:32.570 --> 00:16:35.250 the custodian, poor service, you name it. So 00:16:35.250 --> 00:16:38.059 buyer beware. Exactly. But on the flip side, 00:16:38.200 --> 00:16:40.899 if you choose wisely, a gold IRA does offer the 00:16:40.899 --> 00:16:43.039 potential to protect your savings from some of 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:45.960 those big risks that we all worry about. Market 00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:48.879 crashes, currency devaluation, inflation, that 00:16:48.879 --> 00:16:50.960 kind of thing. And it all comes back to that 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:53.279 idea of diversification, not having all your 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:55.710 eggs in one basket, right? Yeah, right. Having 00:16:55.710 --> 00:16:58.070 a portion of your retirement savings in a tangible 00:16:58.070 --> 00:17:00.809 asset like gold that's historically held its 00:17:00.809 --> 00:17:03.330 value in tough times, that can provide some real 00:17:03.330 --> 00:17:05.650 peace of mind. So for our listeners, as you're 00:17:05.650 --> 00:17:07.769 thinking about your own retirement goals and 00:17:07.769 --> 00:17:10.390 your risk tolerance, ask yourself, how do the 00:17:10.390 --> 00:17:13.269 potential benefits and risks of a gold IRA fit 00:17:13.269 --> 00:17:16.210 into your overall financial picture? And we encourage 00:17:16.210 --> 00:17:18.150 you to check out the Gold IRA Investing Guide 00:17:18.150 --> 00:17:21.289 2025 for more details on those specific companies 00:17:21.289 --> 00:17:23.529 and storage options we talked about. It's a great 00:17:23.529 --> 00:17:26.089 resource. Knowledge is power, folks. Make those 00:17:26.089 --> 00:17:28.150 informed decisions. Thanks for diving in with 00:17:28.150 --> 00:17:28.309 us.