Gold IRAs: Time-Tested Wealth Protection for Your Retirement

Explore a Gold IRA backed by real, physical gold.

Invest in a Gold IRA Built on the Most Trusted Store of Value

Gold has safeguarded wealth for thousands of years. It offers protection when paper assets lose value and confidence when markets fluctuate. In times of inflation, debt expansion, or geopolitical uncertainty, gold has consistently held or increased its value, providing balance and peace of mind for retirement investors.

GOLD MINE, COLORADO, USA

How to Open a Gold IRA

Our three step process ensures you work directly with a dedicated McAlvany advisor who guides you through every detail.
01
Open or Roll Over Your IRA

Work with McAlvany to open a new self directed Gold IRA or roll over funds from an existing retirement account.

02
Choose IRS Approved Gold

Your advisor guides you through selections of IRS-approved silver coins & bars, including American Silver Eagles & Canadian Maple Leafs.

03
Secure Storage

Your gold is stored in an IRS approved depository under your name, fully insured and regularly audited for your protection.

How a Gold IRA Can Help Insure Your Portfolio

A Gold IRA is a self directed individual retirement account that allows you to hold physical gold coins and bars as part of your retirement savings.

01 What Is a Gold IRA?

A Gold IRA is a self directed individual retirement account that allows you to hold physical gold coins and bars as part of your retirement savings. It falls under the broader Precious Metals IRA structure, allowing you to also hold silver, platinum, and palladium.

Your gold is securely stored in an IRS approved depository under your name, fully insured and audited. This is not paper gold or a mining stock — it’s real, allocated gold that forms the foundation of your retirement strategy.

02 Why Do Investors Choose a Gold IRA?

Gold offers unparalleled stability and trust. It has preserved purchasing power for centuries, even when currencies have failed.

A Proven Hedge Against Inflation
Gold typically rises when the dollar weakens or inflation accelerates, helping protect your retirement savings.

Crisis Resilient
During market corrections, recessions, and geopolitical shocks, gold has consistently provided a safe haven for investors.

Long Term Stability
Gold’s intrinsic value doesn’t depend on corporate performance or government policy, making it one of the most reliable retirement assets.

Bottom line: Gold brings permanence and peace of mind to your IRA, complementing other assets with timeless stability.

03 What Types of Gold Qualify for an IRA?

The IRS requires gold in an IRA to be at least 0.995 purity for bars and 0.9167 purity. Eligible products include:

  • American Gold Eagle 1 Ounce
  • Gold Canadian Maple Leaf 1 Ounce
  • Gold Bar 1 Ounce – Perth Mint or Credit Suisse
  • Gold Bar 10 Ounces

For a complete list of IRA eligible gold coins and bars, visit our Gold Product Gallery.

What doesn’t qualify?
Collectible coins, numismatics, and jewelry are not eligible for IRA inclusion. McAlvany advisors ensure each selection is 100 percent IRS approved.

04 At a Glance: Gold’s Investment Case

5,000 Years of Monetary History — Gold remains the ultimate store of value across civilizations.

Top Inflation Hedge — Historically outperforms when inflation and interest rates rise.

Global Demand Drivers — Central banks and private investors continue to increase holdings.

IRS Approved Asset — Meets purity standards for IRA inclusion.

High Liquidity — Easily sold or transferred when needed, recognized worldwide.

Read and download our complete guide to gold here.

BANK OF CHINA, HONG KONG

Central Bank Gold Demand Forecasted to Drive Growth

Gold’s role is expanding. Central banks remain heavy net buyers, technology use is rising driven by AI, and overall demand continues to hit records, reinforcing gold’s case inside your retirement portfolio.

Central Bank Buying

Nations hold gold to anchor reserves beyond politics. It is no one else’s liability, a form of wealth that travels across regimes and preserves financial independence.

Enduring Store of Value

Gold distills centuries of trust into a simple promise: scarcity, durability, and universal acceptance. It preserves purchasing power when confidence in paper assets fades.

Gold in Technology

In a world built on precision, gold’s conductivity and resistance to corrosion keep critical systems reliable. Its utility in advanced electronics endures regardless of market mood.

Global Demand for Gold

Households, institutions, and governments value the same qualities: liquidity, portability, and trust. That broad base of belief makes gold a permanent fixture in long term portfolios.

DAVID & DON MCALVANY

Why McAlvany Precious Metals for Your Gold IRA?

Gold’s potential is powerful — but the right partner makes the difference. For more than 50 years, McAlvany has guided investors through every economic cycle with integrity, education, and personal service. When it comes to your retirement, you deserve nothing less.

50+ Years of Experience

One of America’s original precious metals firms, with decades of earned client trust and a reputation for integrity.

Pioneers in Gold IRAs

Among the first to help investors hold physical silver inside retirement accounts — setting the standard for Precious Metals IRAs.

Expertise in Ratio Trading

Our advisors specialize in helping clients use the gold to silver ratio to grow holdings strategically and make the most of market cycles.

Relationship First Approach

You work with a real advisor, not a call center. No hidden markups, no gimmicks — just honest, prudent, experience-driven guidance.

Request a Consultation to Open a Precious Metals IRA

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FAQs: Everything You Need to Know About Gold IRAs

Get clear answers to the most common questions about investing in a Gold IRA and how it can provide of form of insurance for your retirement savings.

What is a Gold IRA and how does it work?

A Gold IRA is a self directed individual retirement account that lets you hold physical gold coins and bars as part of your retirement savings. Instead of only owning paper assets, you hold real bullion that you can see listed under your account.

Gold IRAs fall under the broader Precious Metals IRA umbrella, so the same account can also include silver, platinum, and palladium. Your metal is stored in an IRS approved depository under your name, fully insured and audited.

Gold is a store of value that does not depend on corporate earnings or central bank policy. It has preserved purchasing power through inflation, currency shocks, and market cycles.

In diversified portfolios, gold often moves differently than stocks and bonds. That independence can lower overall volatility and provide steadier confidence during uncertainty.

The IRS requires IRA eligible gold to meet purity rules: 0.995 fine for most bars and coins, with an exception for the American Gold Eagle at 0.9167 purity. Widely used choices include American Gold Eagles, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs, Austrian Philharmonics, and bars from accredited refiners.

Collectible and numismatic coins are not eligible. Your McAlvany advisor will help you choose only IRS approved options that fit your goals.
Popular IRA eligible choices include:

American Silver Eagles
— one of the most recognized and liquid silver coins in the world.

Canadian Silver Maple Leafs — highly trusted bullion coins known for their purity and security features.

Peace Silver Dollar — initially issued from 1921 to 1928—soon after the end of hostilities in World War I, celebrated peace and liberty. It was briefly minted again in 1934-5.

Collectible and numismatic coins are not eligible. Your McAlvany advisor will help you choose only IRS approved options that fit your goals.

Opening a Gold IRA is straightforward. You choose a self directed IRA custodian, complete the application, and fund the account by contribution, transfer, or rollover from an existing IRA or 401(k).

Your advisor helps you select the gold and coordinates delivery to the approved depository. You receive confirmations for each step so you always know where your assets are held.

Your gold is stored in an IRS approved, insured, and audited depository under your name. These facilities are designed for institutional level security and chain of custody.

Many depositories allow scheduled visits and provide periodic statements and inventory reports, giving you clear verification of your holdings.

Yes. At the eligible distribution age, you may sell the gold inside your IRA for cash or take an in kind distribution of your actual coins and bars.

Distributions are treated like any other IRA withdrawal for tax purposes. Many investors value the option to eventually hold their gold in hand as part of their legacy planning.

Typical costs include a one time setup fee, annual custodian administration, and secure storage at the depository. These fees cover compliance, reporting, and safekeeping of your assets.

McAlvany provides transparent pricing and clear trade confirmations so you know the exact premium over spot for each purchase.

Allocation depends on your objectives and risk tolerance. Many investors dedicate 10 to 30 percent of total retirement assets to precious metals, with gold as the anchor allocation and other metals as complements.

A McAlvany advisor can help you match allocation to your time horizon, liquidity needs, and view of inflation and market risk.

Gold IRAs follow the same IRS rules as traditional or Roth IRAs. If your account is a traditional IRA, RMDs apply starting at the IRS defined age. You can satisfy an RMD by selling some metal for cash or by taking in kind metal as the distribution value.

Tax treatment depends on account type and your situation. Your advisor will coordinate with your tax professional so distributions are handled correctly.

Gold prices can fluctuate, and short term moves may be volatile. Liquidity is strong in major bullion products, but spreads and timing can affect proceeds when selling.

These risks are often balanced by gold’s role as a long term store of value and portfolio diversifier. The goal is not market timing but steady, strategic ownership.