Rather than taking any single company’s marketing at face value, there are concrete steps for vetting a precious metals IRA dealer or custodian. Confirm the custodian is a bank, credit union, or IRS-approved non-bank trustee under IRC Section 408(a)(2) – the IRS requires a qualified third party to hold IRA assets, and no individual can act as their own custodian for IRA-held metals.

Check the company’s standing with your state Attorney General’s office and the Better Business Bureau, and if the company sells leveraged or futures-linked metals products, verify its registration status with the CFTC. Get a complete, written fee schedule covering setup, annual maintenance, storage (ask specifically whether storage is segregated or commingled), and liquidation/buyback fees before funding anything.

Also confirm which depository actually holds the metal and that it’s IRS-approved – some marketing materials describe the dealer’s storage arrangements vaguely. A legitimate company will provide this information in writing without pressure tactics or urgency-based sales language.

FAQ

Is a home safe ever acceptable for IRA-held metals? No – IRA-owned precious metals must be held by an approved custodian/depository, not stored at home, to remain IRA-eligible under current IRS guidance.