Gold and silver IRA questions:
rollovers, costs, and custody.

Before choosing a product, understand the account. Before choosing a company, understand what you are paying for. Those two conversations are a useful place to begin.

What is a gold IRA?

“Gold IRA” is a common name for a self-directed individual retirement account used to hold eligible physical precious metals. A silver IRA follows the same general idea; the label describes the metals held within the account, rather than a separate IRS account category.

Eligibility matters. An IRA cannot simply hold any coin or metal a buyer likes. IRS rules restrict collectibles and allow certain precious metals only when specific requirements are met. Ask the custodian to confirm the eligibility of each proposed product before a purchase. Read the IRS investment FAQs.

401(k) to gold IRA: start with eligibility.

A gold IRA rollover is not one automatic process for every retirement account. First ask your current plan administrator whether a distribution is permitted and eligible for rollover. Then confirm the receiving IRA’s requirements with its custodian.

The IRS distinguishes a direct rollover from a retirement plan, a trustee-to-trustee transfer between IRAs, and a distribution paid to you for a possible rollover. Payments made to you can involve withholding and a 60-day deadline; some distributions cannot be rolled over. These differences can affect the paperwork and tax outcome. Check the IRS rollover guidance and discuss your circumstances with an independent qualified tax or financial professional before moving funds.

What should you ask a gold IRA custodian?

Ask who administers the account, which metals the custodian will accept, where holdings are stored, and how the account documents ownership. Request the custodian’s own fee schedule and withdrawal procedures. A dealer’s product quote may not include account administration, storage, or transaction charges. Keep those documents together before comparing providers; accepting an asset for custody does not establish that it is a suitable investment.

Understand gold IRA fees, custody, and storage.

Ask for a written breakdown of the purchase price, the dealer’s premium or spread, account charges, and storage and insurance costs. Also ask what you would receive if you sold the metals back. A quoted spot price is not the total cost of a transaction. The CFTC and FINRA buyer advisory is a useful independent reference.

Have each provider explain its role. Identify the dealer selling the metals, the custodian administering the IRA, and the depository or storage arrangement. Ask who supplies statements, how holdings are verified, and how a sale or distribution would work. Get the answers in writing so you can compare offers on the same basis.

Physical precious metals in an IRA must be held through the IRA’s trustee or custodian. Buying metals inside an IRA does not mean you can simply store them at home. Confirm the arrangement with the custodian and a qualified tax professional. Gold and silver prices fluctuate, and costs can make losses larger.

Equity Trust and Delaware Depository storage options

Equity Trust can serve as the IRA custodian, administering the account and processing permitted directions. Delaware Depository provides safekeeping services. Discuss the available facility and storage arrangement through the custodian before ordering metals.

Segregated storage keeps identified holdings physically separate. Non-segregated storage uses allocated account records for holdings stored alongside like products. Confirm which service is available for your products, what you receive on withdrawal, and how each is priced. Review insurance terms and exclusions; insurance for stored property does not cover a fall in the market price.

Use the Equity Trust precious metals client resources and Delaware Depository storage information to prepare account-specific questions.

Physical gold and silver: IRA or direct purchase?

Keep two separate questions in view: which metal or product you are considering, and how you would own it. A precious metals IRA and a purchase with personal funds are different arrangements. The account rules, custody, delivery, recordkeeping, and tax questions should be explained for the arrangement you are actually considering.

When comparing gold coins, silver coins, or bullion bars, ask for the exact product name, weight, purity, quoted price, and selling terms. Avoid comparing an all-in retail quote with a headline metal price alone. Read the physical gold and silver purchase process and use the buyer’s checklist to organize your conversation.

Gold IRA pros and cons: a research worksheet

Compare what you would gain, what you would give up and what could go wrong. A physical precious metals position does not pay interest or dividends. Its value can fall while account and storage charges continue. A comparison should include the investments, services and withdrawal features available in your current retirement plan.

• Purpose: Is the objective physical bullion ownership, price exposure or a different investment mix?
• Cost: What do the purchase premium, account charges, storage and a current selling quote add up to?
• Access: Who would arrange a sale and when would cash be available?
• Tradeoffs: Which current-plan features would change after a rollover?
• Risk: How would a lower resale value affect money you expect to need?

Traditional, Roth and rollover questions

A gold IRA can have a traditional or Roth account structure. Converting untaxed retirement funds to Roth generally creates taxable income; buying gold does not change that treatment. Identify whether you are discussing an IRA transfer, an eligible plan rollover or a Roth conversion before comparing companies. The IRS IRA contribution and rollover publication explains these distinctions. Account-specific advice belongs with an independent qualified professional.

For the purchase side of the comparison, read how to compare gold and silver dealer quotes. This worksheet can be read and used without sending personal details to this website.

Common gold IRA questions

Sources and perspective

This overview is intended to help you prepare questions. It does not replace account documents, current IRS rules, or advice for your circumstances. The underlying educational source review is dated October 7, 2026. Check the linked primary sources for current rules and terms. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement of me or Gold Gate Capital.

• IRS: Retirement plan investments FAQs
• IRS: Rollovers of retirement plan and IRA distributions
• CFTC & FINRA: Questions before buying physical precious metals

Learn more about my approach to buyer education or explore the market reading desk.