If you’re like a lot of Self-Directed IRA investors, you’ve taken one look at the economic landscape globally and said one thing to yourself: “boy, I should really include some precious metals in my retirement portfolio.”

Precious metals, after all, are one of those investments that seem to retain their value over the long haul – especially when you consider that precious metals have been used as currency for a long, long time, dating back thousands of years.

But what about the value of precious metals in the 21^st century? Do they still hold the same promise as precious metals of old? And if you’re an investor who wants to use a Self-Directed IRA to secure a more diversified retirement portfolio for yourself, might the Self-Directed IRA be the right tool through which you invest in these precious metals? They’re very important questions – and questions we hope to answer. So let’s take a closer look at the potential marriage of your Self-Directed IRA and precious metals.

The Purpose of Investing in Precious Metals

Precious metals are, of course, a unique type of investment. It’s rare that you can build a retirement portfolio based on real, physical things – even real estate, to a degree, isn’t quite something you can hold in your hands and look at. Gold, silver, and platinum, though? You can put them in your safe. You can hold them in your hands. And, like so many other investments, you can invest in them in other ways, such as purchasing Gold ETFS or individual mining companies on the stock market.

What’s it all about, then? What makes gold or silver so special that they should warrant a unique position in your retirement portfolio?

Well, first things first: most investors recommend having anywhere from 2-10% of your retirement portfolio in precious metals. Only the most “bullish” precious metal investors believe that they should comprise any more than that.

But what’s perhaps even more important to remember about gold and silver is that they can serve as a great hedge against a great many things. If the stock market declines, you shouldn’t have to worry about your gold and silver declining. If the currency declines, your gold and silver may even go up. Gold and silver are a nice “foundation” upon which to build a stronger retirement portfolio, when seen from this perspective – a security blanket, if you will.

Using a Self-Directed IRA for the Investment of Precious Metals

There are many ways to invest in gold, silver, and other precious metals. You can use an investment account to purchase Gold ETFS or gold-based stocks on the market. You can walk into a jeweler’s and ask for gold bullion to put in your safe. As with the Self-Directed IRA itself, there are many different options available to you.

But what makes a Self-Directed IRA so well-suited for the purchasing of gold and silver are the many protections these retirement accounts have. Retirement accounts, after all, have many advantages over the usual investment accounts. If you have the patience for it, you can use Self-Directed IRAs to think more long-term about your gold or silver.

[tweetthis twitter_handles=”@iraexpert” hidden_hashtags=”#SelfDirectedIRA”]Investors said: “boy, I should really include precious metals in my Self-Directed IRA”[/tweetthis]

Because Self-Directed IRAs allow you to have more control over what your account looks like, many people who love precious metals (who tend to be independent thinkers anyway) love the advantages afforded by working within a Self-Directed IRA. It allows you to choose your own financial destiny. If you’re interested in learning more about how you can invest in gold or silver through a Self-Directed IRA, you can be sure to continue browsing AmericanIRA.com or simply call us at 866-7500-IRA(472). Be sure to learn more about investing in precious metals as you browse our site, as well.

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