American Hartford Gold — editorial review
American Hartford Gold founded date, BBB record, custodian relationships, fee structure, no-minimum policy, and buyer profile.
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Short, focused explainers — each answers one question that a precious-metals buyer asks while researching. Each article cites primary sources (IRS publications, LBMA fixings, World Gold Council reports, regulatory filings) and links up to the relevant topic guide.
Are American Gold Eagles the best gold coin to buy?
American Gold Eagle fineness, sovereign-mint status, premium over spot, IRA eligibility, and how Eagles compare to Maples and Buffalos.
Are bank safe-deposit boxes insured for gold?
The truth about bank safe-deposit box coverage for gold and bullion: what banks insure, what they do not, and how to arrange your own coverage.
Are private-mint rounds safe to buy?
Private-mint gold and silver rounds: what they are, how they differ from sovereign coins, refiner reputation as the key signal, and resale considerations.
Augusta Precious Metals — editorial review
Augusta Precious Metals founded date, BBB record, custodian relationships, storage partner, fee structure, and the buyer profile they target.
Birch Gold Group — editorial review
Birch Gold Group founded date, BBB record, custodian and depository options, fee snapshot, and the buyer profile they target.
Can I buy gold with my 401(k)?
Whether you can hold physical gold in a 401(k), the in-service withdrawal option, and the rollover path to a self-directed Gold IRA.
Can I take physical possession of Gold IRA gold?
The IRS rules on taking distribution of physical gold from a Gold IRA: in-kind distributions, tax treatment, and home storage compliance issues.
Canadian Gold Maple Leaf vs American Gold Eagle
Side-by-side: fineness, premium, durability, IRA eligibility, and resale spreads on the two most-traded sovereign gold coins.
Gold ETF vs physical gold
GLD, IAU, SGOL, BAR, OUNZ: how gold ETFs work, where they hold the metal, and the operational differences from owning physical bullion.
Gold IRA vs physical gold — which makes sense?
Comparing a Gold IRA to direct physical gold ownership: tax treatment, custody costs, access, and the situations in which each makes sense.
Gold mining stocks vs physical bullion
Operational leverage, dividend yield, jurisdictional risk, and the tradeoffs of holding gold-mining equities versus physical bullion.
Goldco — editorial review
Goldco founded date, BBB and consumer-affairs record, custodian and storage partners, fee snapshot, and the buyer profile they target.
How a Gold IRA rollover works — step by step
The full Gold IRA rollover sequence: custodian selection, account opening, transfer request, metal purchase, depository delivery. Forms and timing at each step.
How do RMDs work on a Gold IRA?
RMD mechanics for Traditional Gold IRAs: when they start, how to calculate, in-kind vs cash distribution, and the tax implications of taking metal.
How is gold taxed when you sell it?
US tax treatment of physical gold sales: collectibles rate (28% max long-term), short-term gains as ordinary income, basis tracking, and reporting triggers.
How much gold should a portfolio hold?
Common allocation frameworks for gold in a diversified portfolio: 5%, 10%, 25%. Historical drawdown analysis, not personalized advice.
How to spot counterfeit gold coins
Field tests for counterfeit gold coins: dimensions, weight, magnet test, ping test, and the XRF lab method for high-value verification.
IRS-approved gold coins for an IRA
Which gold coins meet IRS Section 408(m) requirements for inclusion in a Gold IRA. Fineness thresholds, sovereign coin exceptions, and disallowed numismatics.
Is APMEX a legitimate bullion dealer?
APMEX founded date, BBB record, business model, payment methods, shipping coverage, and buyback policy. Editorial review, not promotional content.
Is BGASC a legitimate dealer?
BGASC (Buy Gold and Silver Coins) background, BBB record, spread snapshot, payment methods, and shipping coverage.
Is gold an inflation hedge?
Historical correlation between gold prices and US CPI: the 1970s pattern, the 1980s-1990s decoupling, and what the data actually shows.
Is JM Bullion a legitimate dealer?
JM Bullion background, BBB record, A-Mark Precious Metals parent relationship, shipping coverage, and buyback policy. Editorial review.
Is Kitco a legitimate dealer?
Kitco background, role as both dealer and market data provider, BBB record, spread snapshot, and the Canadian-Toronto headquarters context.
Is Money Metals Exchange a legitimate dealer?
Money Metals Exchange background, BBB record, business model, spread comparison, payment methods, and shipping coverage.
Is Provident Metals a legitimate dealer?
Provident Metals background, BBB record, spread snapshot, and shipping coverage. Editorial review of the Dallas-based bullion dealer.
Is SD Bullion a legitimate dealer?
SD Bullion background, BBB record, low-premium positioning, payment methods, shipping coverage, and buyback policy.
Lear Capital — editorial review
Lear Capital founded date, regulatory history (including settlement), current operations, custodian and storage options, and buyer profile.
Noble Gold Investments — editorial review
Noble Gold founded date, BBB record, custodian options, Texas-based storage option, fee snapshot, and the buyer profile they target.
Platinum and palladium as bullion investments
Platinum and palladium fundamentals: industrial demand (catalytic converters), supply concentration, IRA eligibility, and the role in a metals allocation.
Preserve Gold — editorial review
Preserve Gold founded date, business background, custodian arrangements, fee snapshot, and buyer profile.
Roth vs Traditional Gold IRA
Tax treatment, contribution rules, distribution mechanics, RMD differences, and the situations in which each Gold IRA wrapper makes sense.
Should I store gold at home?
Home storage tradeoffs for physical gold: security, insurance, IRS rules for IRA holdings, and the practical case for and against.
Silver vs gold as an investment
Volatility, industrial demand, storage density, premium structures, and tax treatment: how silver differs from gold in a precious-metals allocation.
What is a 'disqualified person' in an IRA?
IRS definition of disqualified persons for IRA prohibited-transaction rules: spouses, descendants, fiduciaries, and the practical implications.
What is a numismatic coin?
Numismatic coins explained: collectible premium vs metal content, why most Gold IRAs should avoid them, and where they fit for collectors.
What is a self-directed IRA?
Self-directed IRAs let you hold alternative assets — gold, real estate, private equity — that standard IRAs cannot. The custodian, the rules, and the pitfalls.
What is allocated storage?
Allocated storage means specific bars or coins registered to you by serial number. The distinction from unallocated, and why it matters in a bankruptcy.
What is COMEX physical delivery?
How COMEX futures contracts settle by physical delivery: the 100-oz contract spec, approved warehouses, and why most contracts settle in cash.
What is Delaware Depository?
Delaware Depository background, IRS-approved status, allocated and segregated storage, insurance coverage, and how Gold IRA custodians use it.
What is IRS Form 1099-B for gold sales?
When a dealer files a 1099-B on a customer's gold sale: thresholds by coin and bar, which products trigger reporting, and which do not.
What is the Brink's precious metals vault service?
Brink's Global Services depository operations, IRS-approved storage, insurance, and the vault locations used for Gold IRA storage.
What is the spread on gold?
Bid-ask spread on gold explained: how dealers set their buy and sell prices, what spread to expect on common products, and what tight vs wide spreads tell you.
What is the World Gold Council?
World Gold Council role: industry trade body, market data publisher, ETF sponsor, and the limits of WGC data as a market signal.
What is XRF testing for gold?
X-ray fluorescence testing reads surface metal composition non-destructively. How it works, what it can and cannot detect, and where to get it done.
What questions to ask a Gold IRA rep
The 12 questions every prospective Gold IRA buyer should ask before signing: custodian, depository, fee schedule, markup, and exit terms.
Who is Equity Trust Company?
Equity Trust Company as a self-directed IRA custodian: regulatory status, AUM, custody role, and which Gold IRA marketers route accounts through them.
Who is STRATA Trust Company?
STRATA Trust Company as a self-directed IRA custodian: Texas-based trust charter, AUM, custody role, and Gold IRA marketers who use STRATA.
Why does China buy gold?
The People's Bank of China gold-reserve buying: stated reasons, the dollar-diversification thesis, and what the data shows.
Why does the gold spot price vary between sources?
Why Kitco, JM Bullion, and your broker show slightly different gold spot prices. Vendor markups, refresh rates, and the OTC quote dispersion.