Investing a 401k into a Gold IRA can be a very profitable and lucrative investment for those willing to take the risk. There is no question that now is the perfect time to invest in gold as its prices have been rising consistently now for nearly 10 years. The US dollar has been losing value steadily over those same years.
In fact, since 2001 it has lost 25% of its value! If you are currently invested in your work’s 401k plan, now may be the right time to move some or all of it out of your 401k and into an IRA (Individual Retirement Account) where you will be able to more freely invest in precious metals like gold without having to worry about penalties or taxes on the withdrawal if you need the money for an emergency before you reach retirement age.
Rolling over a 401k into a gold ira or getting into a Gold IRA and then investing your 401k money into it is the easy part, but where do you find someone to invest in Gold with? There are several companies that specialize in this niche market, and below we will review two of them: American Bullion and Regal Assets.
American Bullion vs. Regal Assets
Both are good companies but have some differences. They both have similar fee structures, which are on average 1/10th of 1% per year, or $25 if over 25 ounces per year. However, one significant difference is that American Bullion pays clients 6 months – 2 years of storage fees while Regal the same rate as the metals they have for sale. If you go with Regal, unfortunately, it has a minimum commission of $150 per transaction that must be paid in addition to the 1/10th of 1% fee that they charge clients.
American Bullion, however, only charges the 1/10th of 1% when purchasing metal from them and when selling back metals for withdrawal, but does not require any minimum purchase amounts when buying from them or a minimum amount when your gold is being stored with them – whether it’s 5 ounces or 500 ounces.
American Bullion also offers different investment opportunities from which you can choose from while Regal Assets offers exclusively Gold IRA investing. Also, if you would like to sell some of your gold, actually having to withdraw all of your gold from the metals-selling company, American Bullion has an option to sell your metal allotment at their shop for immediate cash, while Regal Assets requires you to mail them back your metal before they sell it.
So if you need cash now and there’s not another buyer around or on Craigslist or eBay that is willing to pay near the price of what it’s worth, you’re out of luck with Regal Assets.
American Bullion vs. Regal Assets – Which One?
If you are looking for a reputable company with many years of experience that pays 6 months – 2 years storage fees on any amount deposited, including $25 per 50 ounces sold, then go with American Bullion. However, if the $150 minimum commission plus their 1/10th of 1% might be too much for you to absorb, then Regal Assets may be the right choice.
Make sure that if you are tempted to go with Regal Assets, keep in mind that they will not buy your metal back unless it stays over 25 ounces or more at all times within their possession. This means do not make deposits if you are planning on selling some later as you would have to pay the minimum commission plus the 1/10th of 1% fee and wait until your gold is 25 ounces before they will let you sell all of it back and withdraw the money from your IRA.