Purchasing physical precious metals can be a way to diversify your portfolio — and potentially preserve your purchasing power in the event of a major market downturn, when stocks and other paper-based assets tend to fall. Experts often recommend allocating between 10% and 25% of a portfolio toward tangible assets such as gold.
If you aren’t familiar with the process of obtaining precious metals, you can read on or contact a U.S. Money Reserve Account Executive for additional guidance.
Initial Steps for Setting Up a Gold IRA
There are two main ways to own physical gold: by purchasing it and having it sent to your home, bank, or other private location, or by making it a part of your retirement portfolio within a precious metals IRA.
Holding physical precious metals like gold in a self-directed precious metals individual retirement account (also known simply as a “gold IRA”) combines the benefits of physical gold ownership with the same tax advantages as other IRAs. In a Traditional gold IRA, contributions are made on a pretax basis, with taxes deferred until you take distributions. If you are holding gold within a Roth gold IRA, contributions are made on a post-tax basis, with withdrawals being tax-free.
You’ll need to fill out some paperwork to set up your self-directed IRA. Fortunately, your U.S. Money Reserve Account Executive can do most of that work for you. Once the account is established, it’s time to fund it through either a new cash contribution or by adding funds from a preexisting retirement account, such as a Roth, SEP, or SIMPLE IRA, 401(k), 403(b), 457(b), a Thrift Savings Plan account, or a pension plan.
After the account has been funded, you’ll be ready to select your precious metals. U.S. Money Reserve makes the process remarkably easy; your Account Executive can help you can browse the company’s available inventory of government-issued gold and silver bullion coins and bars, as well as exclusive coins, and then coordinate with your IRA custodian to transfer payment and arrange for secure, insured shipping. To get started, just call 1-888-569-7586.
The IRS does not allow for personal possession of physical precious metals held within an IRA. Instead, your selected precious metals must be stored in an approved depository or recognized financial institution that meets a strict list of management, recordkeeping, and other considerations. The federal government closely monitors these facilities’ qualifications, which helps ensure your precious metals will be stored safely.
If you are purchasing precious metals that will not be held in an IRA and instead plan to keep them at home, your assets will be shipped via UPS or the U.S. Postal Service. Orders are typically processed within three business days, and U.S. Money Reserve typically ships items one business day after processing is complete and payment has cleared. You’ll receive a notification as soon as your registered and insured order ships from the company’s vault facility.
Your precious metals should arrive at your address within five to 10 business days, and an adult will need to sign for the package when it arrives.
Also Read: Is Gold Jewelry a Good Investment: Exploring the Potential
Tracking Your Assets’ Performance
U.S. Money Reserve offers a number of resources on its website that can help you stay updated about the market once you own precious metals.
You can access charts that list the prices for gold, silver, platinum, and palladium within the past day, week, or month; you can also view the precious metals’ price activity during the past three, six, or twelve months, or five or ten years — and find out their year-to-date price.
In addition, news updates, insightful articles from the company’s team of subject matter experts — including U.S. Money Reserve President Philip Diehl, the 35th Director of the U.S. Mint — touch on topics ranging from inflation to global events’ effect on gold demand.
U.S. Money Reserve also periodically publishes special reports that can help enhance your understanding of the precious metals industry and position you to make even more informed purchasing decisions in the future.
In numerous U.S. Money Reserve reviews, customers have said they appreciate the written materials and other information the company provides.
Eric L., for example, mentioned that U.S. Money Reserve supplied helpful information when he contacted the company to learn more about precious metals.
“[The Account Executive] explained how gold and silver in my portfolio would help anchor my portfolio against the [ups] and downs of the stock market,” Eric says in one of the U.S. Money Reserve reviews posted on the Better Business Bureau website. “I appreciate his answers to many questions and the helpful information sent to my home and emails.”
Selling Precious Metals
While a number of portfolio holders view the precious metals they purchase as long-term assets, there may come a time when you decide to adjust the allocation in your portfolio and sell some of your precious metals coins or bars. U.S. Money Reserve will buy back qualifying certified coins you have purchased from the company.
U.S. Money Reserve also allows customers to return qualifying certified coins they’ve purchased for a full refund, excluding shipping, handling, and insurance costs, if they are not completely satisfied with the products they’ve received and the coins are in their original condition, in sealed containers.
Shortly after Richard F. purchased precious metals coins from the company, he experienced a personal issue that put him in a hardship position.
“I reached out to [an Account Representative], and he resolved the issue of returning my purchase,” he says in one of the U.S. Money Reserve reviews on Google. “I wish every company had a problem solver like [him] — we’d be so much better off in this country if there were.”
Other portfolio holders, such as Jimmy and Lorraine R., have praised the company’s customer service policies.
“My family and I had an unfortunate turn in our life, and we requested a refund,” the couple says in a U.S. Money Reserve review they shared on the Better Business Bureau website. “We received our refund quicker than we could imagine. [It is] a true-blue company with wonderful agents.”
In another U.S. Money Reserve review on the Better Business Bureau website, portfolio holder Dan K. praises the customer service provided by the Account Executive who has helped with his transactions.
“When I need to sell my assets, I have worked with [her] most of the time tracking the process in obtaining my money, and she is a joy to work with,” Dan says. “Overall, I am very pleased with my experience.”
To find out more about the precious metals-related assistance U.S. Money Reserve can offer — or to talk to an Account Executive about your savings plans and goals — you can call 1-888-356-0484.
