REALIRA

    Education

    What Is a Self-Directed IRA?

    A Self-Directed IRA (SDIRA) gives you the freedom to invest your retirement savings in alternative assets — including physical gold, silver, platinum, and palladium.

    How It Works

    A Self-Directed Individual Retirement Account functions just like a traditional or Roth IRA — with one key difference: you're not limited to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. An SDIRA lets you choose from a much wider range of investments, including real estate, private equity, and most importantly for our purposes, IRS-approved precious metals.

    Your SDIRA is held by a qualified custodian — a bank, trust company, or other IRS-approved entity — who handles the administrative and reporting requirements. You make the investment decisions; the custodian executes them and ensures compliance.

    Why Investors Choose an SDIRA for Precious Metals

    Tax-Advantaged Growth

    Your metals grow tax-deferred (Traditional) or tax-free (Roth) inside the IRA, just like any other retirement investment.

    Portfolio Diversification

    Precious metals often move independently of stocks and bonds, providing a hedge against market volatility and inflation.

    Physical Ownership

    Unlike ETFs or paper gold, an SDIRA lets you own actual bullion bars and coins stored in an IRS-approved depository.

    Custodian Protection

    A qualified custodian ensures your account meets all IRS regulations, giving you peace of mind and audit protection.

    Rollover Friendly

    You can fund your SDIRA by rolling over an existing 401(k), 403(b), TSP, or traditional IRA — often with no tax penalty.

    You Stay in Control

    You decide what to buy, when to buy, and when to sell. The custodian acts on your instructions — not the other way around.

    What Metals Can You Hold in an SDIRA?

    The IRS has specific purity requirements for precious metals held inside an IRA. Not every coin or bar qualifies. Here are the standards:

    Gold

    Minimum purity: 99.5% pure (.995)

    Popular examples: American Gold Eagle, Canadian Gold Maple Leaf, Gold Buffalo, PAMP Suisse bars

    Silver

    Minimum purity: 99.9% pure (.999)

    Popular examples: American Silver Eagle, Canadian Silver Maple Leaf, Austrian Silver Philharmonic

    Platinum

    Minimum purity: 99.95% pure (.9995)

    Popular examples: American Platinum Eagle, Canadian Platinum Maple Leaf, Isle of Man Noble

    Palladium

    Minimum purity: 99.95% pure (.9995)

    Popular examples: Canadian Palladium Maple Leaf, PAMP Suisse palladium bars

    Buying & Selling Precious Metals in Your SDIRA

    Buying Metals

    1. Open or fund your SDIRA — set up an account with a custodian that supports precious metals, then fund it via contribution, transfer, or rollover.
    2. Choose your metals — select IRS-approved coins or bars from an authorized dealer.
    3. Direct the purchase — instruct your custodian to buy on your behalf. The metals are shipped directly to an approved depository — they never pass through your hands.

    Selling Metals

    1. Request a sale — tell your custodian which metals you'd like to liquidate.
    2. Get a fair-market quote — the dealer provides a current bid price based on the spot market.
    3. Proceeds stay in the IRA — cash from the sale goes back into your SDIRA where it can be reinvested or eventually distributed.

    Important Considerations

    • •Storage requirements: IRS rules require that metals be stored in an approved depository. Home storage is not permitted.
    • •Fees: SDIRAs typically carry custodian fees, storage fees, and transaction fees. These vary by provider.
    • •Contribution limits: The same annual IRA contribution limits apply ($7,000 for 2024; $8,000 if you're 50+).
    • •Required Minimum Distributions: Traditional SDIRA holders must take RMDs starting at age 73. You may need to liquidate metals to meet the distribution.

    Curious what your metals IRA is worth?

    Use our free tool to get an instant valuation of your precious metals portfolio — no obligation, no sales pitch.

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