Virtualmin

What a Gold IRA Is and How It Works A Gold IRA is a type of self-directed IRA that allows investors to hold physical precious metals—primarily gold, but also silver, platinum, and palladium—within a tax-advantaged retirement account. Unlike a standard IRA limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds, a self-directed structure opens the door to alternative assets while keeping the familiar tax treatment of a Traditional or Roth IRA. In a Traditional Gold IRA, contributions may be tax-deductible and distributions are taxed at ordinary income rates in retirement; in a Roth version, qualified withdrawals are tax-free, though contributions are after-tax. To remain compliant, gold IRA accounts must use an IRS-approved custodian and store metals in an approved depository. Personal p...