Gold investingInteractive toolsFour calculators
Gold IRA calculator & eligibility tools
Four tools for the questions that decide whether a gold IRA is worth opening: what the fees actually cost over time, which coins and bars qualify, who is accountable for what, and whether the structure fits your horizon. New to the topic? Start with what a gold IRA is.
3separate parties are required — custodian, dealer, depository
99.5%minimum gold fineness, with one named coin exception
0%yield: metal pays no dividend, interest, or rent
Fee drag & growth calculator
A gold IRA carries a one-time setup charge, a flat annual administration fee, a flat annual storage and insurance fee, and a dealer spread taken at purchase. Flat fees hurt small balances hardest. Adjust the inputs to see how the drag compounds. The fee categories are broken down in gold IRA costs and fees.
Fixed-fee drag
On a balance under $25,000, flat annual custodial and storage fees of $300 run about 1.2% a year before the dealer spread is counted. That is a meaningful headwind on net performance.
Balance projection
Year 1 through year 10End of year 1
End of year 5
End of year 10
Illustrative only. Both series assume a constant annual return, which no real asset delivers. The comparison is here to show fee mechanics, not to forecast either outcome.
Where the money goes over 10 years
Initial spread cost$0
Account setup$0
Custodial admin$0
Storage & insurance$0
Metal eligibility checker
Eligibility turns on fineness and approved source, not on whether something is gold. Collectibles and high-premium graded coins generally fall outside the definition, and one 22k coin is allowed by name despite missing the purity bar. Background in what metals qualify, and a product-by-product breakdown in the IRA-eligible gold checker.
No products match that filter and search combination.
The three parties, and who is accountable for what
No single company legally performs all three roles. The separation between administration, sale, and storage is the structure of the account — and it is also where the costs and the risks live. Select a role to see what to check. Full explanation in how a gold IRA works.
The custodian — what to check
- Not a fiduciary
- Most self-directed custodians do not vet the investment, verify the price you paid, or assess the dealer. That responsibility stays with you.
- Home-storage promoters
- Arrangements marketed as “checkbook LLC” or home-storage gold IRAs have drawn IRS scrutiny. Have a qualified tax professional review any such proposal before acting.
The metals dealer — what to check
- Spreads are the real cost
- Dealers earn the gap between spot price and your purchase price, and it is not always shown as a line-item fee. Ask for the quote in writing before instructing the custodian.
- Watch the upsell
- High-pressure pitches often steer toward proof or collectible coins. Standard bullion coins and approved bars generally carry lower premiums.
The depository — what to check
- Insurance and audit
- Depositories carry vault insurance and run periodic audits of holdings. Ask what the policy actually covers and who performs the audit.
- Inspection rights
- Many depositories allow account owners to schedule a visit to view their holdings. Confirm the process before you need it.
Depository storage options
Segregated vault storage
Your coins and bars sit in a dedicated, individually labelled position. On distribution you receive the exact items — the same serial numbers — that were originally purchased for the account.
Fee impact Higher annual charge, often a premium over the standard rate.
01 Private dedicated position Exact serial match on distribution
Commingled (pooled) vault storage
Your bullion is stored alongside identical products of the same type. On distribution or sale you receive equivalent items of the same weight and purity, though not necessarily the identical bar.
Fee impact The standard, lower annual storage rate.
02 Shared class pool Fungible equivalent on distribution
Opening and funding, in five steps
- 01
Choose a custodian and a dealer
Compare self-directed custodians on administration fees, depository partners, and insurance. Compare dealers on buy and sell spreads, not just advertised fee waivers.
- 02
Open the self-directed IRA
Complete the custodian’s onboarding to establish a Traditional, Roth, or SEP self-directed IRA. The wrapper you pick determines the tax treatment.
- 03
Fund it by direct transfer
A trustee-to-trustee transfer moves money between custodians without passing through your hands, avoiding the 60-day deadline and withholding that apply to an indirect rollover.
- 04
Select and purchase eligible metals
Direct the custodian to execute the purchase from the approved product list. Verify eligibility, pricing, and the buyback terms in writing first.
- 05
Confirm vault receipt
The dealer ships directly to the depository, which confirms receipt to the custodian. Your account statement should reflect the specific holdings.
Funding is where most mistakes happen. The step-by-step details are in the gold IRA rollover guide.
Account types & suitability
A gold IRA is not a fourth category of retirement account. It is a Traditional, Roth, or SEP IRA with metals inside it, and the tax treatment follows the wrapper. The tax detail is in Traditional vs. Roth vs. SEP.
Traditional gold IRA
- Tax treatment
- Pre-tax contributions where eligible; withdrawals taxed as ordinary income.
- Distributions
- Required minimum distributions apply once you reach the applicable age.
- Suits
- Investors who want the deduction now and expect a lower bracket later.
Roth gold IRA
- Tax treatment
- After-tax contributions; qualified withdrawals come out tax-free.
- Distributions
- No lifetime RMDs for the original account owner.
- Suits
- Investors expecting a higher future bracket, or who want to avoid forced metal sales.
SEP gold IRA
- Tax treatment
- Employer contributions are generally deductible to the business.
- Contributions
- Substantially higher annual limits than a standard IRA.
- Suits
- Freelancers and small-business owners funding retirement from business income.
Annual contribution limits, income phase-outs, and RMD ages are set by the IRS and adjusted over time. Confirm the current-year figures against IRS guidance rather than relying on numbers quoted in marketing material.
Suitability check
Four questions, no data leaves your browser01 · What share of your portfolio would go to precious metals?
02 · How long until you start taking withdrawals?
03 · What is the primary objective for this money?
04 · Roughly how much would you move into the account?
What your answers suggest
These are general observations, not a recommendation, a suitability determination, or personalised advice. Nothing here accounts for your full financial picture.
Educational disclaimer. This page is general education, not investment, legal, or tax advice. Gold IRAs carry market risk, dealer markups, storage costs, and liquidity that is not guaranteed. Every figure in the calculator is an assumption you supply, not a projection. Speak with a licensed financial advisor or CPA before rolling over or transferring retirement funds.