Research Library

Gold IRA Basics

Understand how a precious-metals IRA is structured, how custody works, which assets may qualify and how the account differs from buying gold personally.

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Research in this section

Gold IRA Guide: How It Works

A plain-English guide to self-directed IRAs holding certain eligible precious metals, including dealer, custodian and storage roles.

What Is a Gold IRA?

A Gold IRA commonly refers to a self-directed IRA that holds certain qualifying precious metals through an IRA trustee or custodian.

How to Open a Gold IRA

The practical sequence for establishing a self-directed IRA, funding it correctly, selecting eligible metals and arranging compliant custody.

Gold IRA Custodians Explained

The custodian or trustee administers the IRA; the precious-metals dealer and storage provider perform different roles.

Gold IRA Depositories & Storage

Why IRA precious metals generally cannot simply be kept at home and what to compare in a storage arrangement.

Use primary sources for high-stakes rules. Dealer pages are useful for current provider policies; IRS materials are the preferred reference for federal IRA and rollover rules.