# Gold Unpacked > Independent research on gold IRAs, precious-metals dealers, and the retirement decisions around them. Gold Unpacked publishes plain-language research on gold IRAs: how the accounts are structured, what they cost, which metals qualify, and how to evaluate the dealers and custodians selling them. Claims are sourced, commercial figures are dated, and articles carry named accountability. For the full article text inlined as plain text, see [llms-full.txt](https://goldunpacked.com/llms-full.txt). ## Guides & tools - [Gold IRA Rollover & Transfer Guide](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-rollover-guide/): Interactive guide to gold IRA transfers, rollovers, withholding, eligible metals, fees, and questions to verify before moving retirement funds. - [Gold IRA Custodians: Interactive Guide & Evaluation Toolkit](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-custodians/): The custodian, dealer, and depository structure explained: compare flat vs. scaled fees over time and vet any custodian against IRS Section 408 requirements. - [IRA-Eligible Gold: Approved Coins, Bars & Purity Rules](https://goldunpacked.com/ira-eligible-gold/): Which gold, silver, platinum, and palladium products an IRA can hold: purity thresholds, the American Eagle exception, refiner accreditation, and custody rules. - [Gold IRA Calculator & Eligibility Tools](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-calculator/): Model gold IRA fee drag over time, check which coins and bars qualify, and see how the custodian, dealer, and depository divide the work. - [Gold IRA Scams: Fraud Diagnostic & Markup Calculator](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-scams/): Score a gold IRA sales pitch against known fraud patterns, calculate the hidden markup in a quote, and find the right regulator if something went wrong. - [Free Gold IRA Kits: What They Are and Are They Legit?](https://goldunpacked.com/free-gold-ira-kit/): What a free gold IRA kit actually contains, why companies give them away, how the free gold bar offers work, and how to request one without pressure. ## Reviews & comparisons - [American Hartford Gold Review: Fees, Minimums & Fine Print](https://goldunpacked.com/american-hartford-gold-review/): An independent look at American Hartford Gold: model the dealer spread, price a live phone quote, weigh the free-silver promotion, and compare IRA vs. cash. - [Augusta vs. Birch Gold Group](https://goldunpacked.com/augusta-vs-birch/): A transparent comparison framework for Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold Group. ## Gold Investing - [Charles Schwab Gold IRA: Options and Alternatives](https://goldunpacked.com/charles-schwab-gold-ira/): Schwab does not offer physical precious metals in IRAs. Here is the gold exposure Schwab does provide, and how a self-directed gold IRA works alongside it. - [Fidelity Gold IRA: What You Can (and Can't) Do](https://goldunpacked.com/fidelity-gold-ira/): Fidelity does not market a Gold IRA, but its IRAs can hold a limited list of physical metals. Compare that path with ETFs and a self-directed gold IRA. - [Gold and Silver IRA: Holding Both Metals in One Account](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-and-silver-ira/): A gold and silver IRA is one self-directed account. How silver's purity rules, storage volume, volatility, and premiums differ from gold's. - [Gold IRA Fees and Minimum Investment: The Full Cost Breakdown](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-fees/): Every gold IRA fee layer explained — setup, custodian, storage, insurance, dealer spread, and exit costs — plus why company minimums range so widely. - [Gold IRA Scams: Warning Signs and How to Protect Yourself](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-scams/): Score a gold IRA sales pitch against known fraud patterns, calculate the hidden markup over spot in any quote, and find the right regulator if something went wrong. - [Gold IRA Tax Rules: Contributions, Distributions, and Penalties](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-tax-rules/): How gold IRA taxes work: deductible or Roth contributions, ordinary-income distributions, the 28% collectibles rate outside an IRA, RMDs, and early penalties. - [Gold IRA vs Physical Gold: Which Should You Choose?](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-vs-physical-gold/): Compare a Gold IRA with physical gold you hold yourself: custody, taxes, fees, liquidity, contribution limits, and estate considerations, side by side. - [Gold Roth IRA: How It Works and When It Makes Sense](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-roth-ira/): How a gold Roth IRA works: after-tax contributions, tax-free qualified withdrawals, no lifetime RMDs, funding paths, and physical gold versus gold ETFs. - [Home Storage Gold IRA: Why the IRS Says No](https://goldunpacked.com/home-storage-gold-ira/): A home storage Gold IRA is not a recognized account type. What IRC 408(m) requires, what McNulty v. Commissioner held, and the legal storage alternatives. - [Robinhood Gold IRA Match Explained (It's Not About Gold)](https://goldunpacked.com/robinhood-gold-ira/): The Robinhood Gold IRA match is a cash contribution match for paid subscribers, not gold metal. How the percentages, transfer bonus, and clawbacks work. - [Self-Directed Gold IRA: Rules, Structure, and Setup](https://goldunpacked.com/self-directed-gold-ira/): How a self-directed gold IRA works: what self-directed means, the custodian-dealer-depository structure, prohibited transactions, and checkbook LLC risk. - [Vanguard Gold IRA: What's Available and What Isn't](https://goldunpacked.com/vanguard-gold-ira/): Vanguard does not offer a physical gold IRA. What gold-adjacent exposure exists in a Vanguard IRA, why, and how investors move to a self-directed account. - [What Is a Gold IRA? (And How It Works)](https://goldunpacked.com/what-is-a-gold-ira/): A gold IRA is a self-directed retirement account holding IRS-approved physical metals. Here is how it works, what it costs, and who it may suit. - [A Golden Future: How to Invest in Gold IRA](https://goldunpacked.com/how-to-invest-gold-ira/): A step-by-step walkthrough of opening a gold IRA: choosing a custodian, vetting dealers, funding the account, picking eligible metals, and arranging storage. - [In Search of the Best Gold IRA: A Comprehensive Guide](https://goldunpacked.com/best-gold-ira/): A framework for evaluating gold IRA providers: how to compare fee structures, vet custodians and dealers, judge buyback terms, and weigh the risks first. - [Dodging the Pitfalls: Risks of Gold IRA Investments](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-risks/): The real risks of a gold IRA: price volatility, custody exposure, concentration, liquidity and spread costs, and the fraud patterns worth screening for. - [Gold IRA Benefits: The Perks of a Golden Nest Egg](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-benefits/): An overview of Gold IRA structures, possible diversification, tax considerations, and the risks of holding physical gold in a retirement account. - [Unearth the Potential Returns from Gold IRA](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-returns/): How Gold IRA returns vary by period, the factors that affect performance, and the price, liquidity, custody, storage, and fee risks to consider. ## Retirement Planning - [From 401(k) to Gold IRA: A Golden Transition](https://goldunpacked.com/transferring-401k-to-gold-ira/): How to move a 401(k) into a gold IRA: direct transfer vs. indirect rollover, the 60-day rule and withholding, eligibility, and what to confirm before you start. - [A Nest Egg of Gold: Investing in Gold IRA for Retirement](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-for-retirement/): Whether a gold IRA belongs in a retirement plan: how to open one, the options inside it, how to evaluate providers, and what long-term holding really costs. - [Golden Years Ahead: Retirement Planning with Gold IRA](https://goldunpacked.com/retirement-planning-with-gold-ira/): Where a gold IRA fits in a retirement plan: the rollover process, how it compares with traditional accounts, the claimed benefits, and the risks to weigh first. - [Gold IRA and Social Security: The Perfect Retirement Mix?](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-and-social-security/): How a gold IRA and Social Security work alongside each other in retirement: claiming considerations, tax treatment, diversification, and the limits of both. - [Gold IRA vs 401(k): The Retirement Showdown](https://goldunpacked.com/gold-ira-vs-401k/): Gold IRA vs. 401(k) compared on investment options, tax treatment, employer matching, fees, access and withdrawals, and the risks specific to holding metal. ## Optional - [Editorial standards](https://goldunpacked.com/about/): How Gold Unpacked researches, sources, dates, and corrects its coverage, and who is accountable for it. - [Field notes archive](https://goldunpacked.com/articles/): Index of every article on the site. - [HTML sitemap](https://goldunpacked.com/sitemap/): Human-readable list of every page. - [Earnings disclosure](https://goldunpacked.com/earnings/): How the site is funded and what that does and does not influence. - [Privacy policy](https://goldunpacked.com/privacy-policy/): Data handling and privacy terms. - [Terms of use](https://goldunpacked.com/terms/): Site terms and conditions.