IRA Financial Gold IRA: Fees, Rules and How to Buy Gold and Silver

Written by Pat Collins and John Halloran | 5.0 Google Review Rating | A+ BBB Rating with Zero Complaints | 58,000+ Served in All 50 States Since 1992 | Updated 11/10/2026

Quick Answer: An IRA Financial gold IRA is a self-directed retirement account administered by IRA Financial Trust Company, a South Dakota state-chartered trust company. It allows investors to purchase eligible physical gold and silver using retirement funds. IRA Financial handles custodial administration, you select your precious metals dealer, and an appropriate third-party depository stores the metals. IRA Financial currently advertises a $495 annual fee for its standard self-directed IRA, with additional third-party costs potentially applying.

What you’ll learn:

• How IRA Financial works and what the custodian, precious metals dealer and depository each do.
• The six steps to opening, funding and managing an IRA Financial gold or silver IRA.
• How transfers and rollovers differ, including the IRS rules that can trigger unexpected taxes.
• Which gold and silver coins qualify for an IRA, why home storage is risky, and which products are easier to resell.
• What IRA Financial charges, where hidden precious metals costs can arise, and how to sell your holdings.

What Is IRA Financial and How Does Its Gold IRA Work?

IRA Financial is a self-directed retirement account provider founded in 2010 by tax attorney Adam Bergman. Its trust company, IRA Financial Trust Company, is a South Dakota state-chartered custodian regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking.

Unlike traditional brokerage IRAs that primarily offer stocks, bonds and funds, a self-directed IRA can hold alternative assets, including certain physical gold, silver, platinum and palladium products. The same general IRA tax rules apply, but the eligible investments and administrative procedures are different.

A physical precious metals IRA involves three separate parties:

• The custodian: IRA Financial administers the retirement account, processes authorized transactions, maintains records and handles applicable IRS reporting.
• The precious metals dealer: A company such as Certified Gold Exchange helps you select and purchase eligible coins or bars at an agreed price.
• The depository: An eligible storage facility holds the physical metals under the required custodial arrangement.

This distinction matters because opening an IRA and buying gold are two different transactions. Your custodian handles the account; the dealer determines what you pay for the metal.

Why Your Choice of Gold Dealer Matters as Much as Your Custodian

A gold IRA custodian’s fees are important, but the price you pay for your coins or bars can make a much larger difference in the value of your investment.

In our experience, the most expensive gold IRA mistakes often occur when investors purchase unfamiliar, proprietary or supposedly exclusive coins carrying markups of 30% or more. Those investors can be at a substantial disadvantage immediately, before the market price of gold changes.

Consider two investors who each have $100,000 available to purchase gold. One buys recognized bullion at a competitive market price. The other spends the same amount on coins carrying a 30% markup over their underlying metal value.

At that markup, the second investor receives approximately $76,923 in underlying gold value for the $100,000 purchase. That is roughly $23,077 less metal value before considering additional expenses or differences in resale premiums.

The higher-priced coins might be perfectly eligible for an IRA. That does not mean the extra premium will be recovered when they are sold.

The lesson is simple: An IRS-approved coin is not automatically a fairly priced coin.

Certified Gold Exchange recommends widely traded bullion, including American Gold Eagles, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs and recognized bullion bars. These products have established resale markets and are easier to compare across dealers.

Through our Verified Fair Pricing program, CGE checks the exact qualifying products and quantities against two major online dealers, documents the comparison and shows clients the results before their transactions are confirmed.

Our goal is straightforward: help clients understand exactly what they own, what they are paying and how their purchase compares with the market.

How to Open a Gold IRA With IRA Financial: Step by Step

Opening an IRA Financial gold IRA involves six main steps. Certified Gold Exchange can help coordinate the metals purchase and related paperwork, while IRA Financial handles the account administration and funding requirements.

Step 1: Open a Self-Directed IRA With IRA Financial

Begin by applying for a self-directed IRA with IRA Financial. You can complete the application online or work with CGE to understand the process and coordinate the necessary steps.

You’ll select the appropriate account type, such as a traditional or Roth IRA, and provide the identification and account information required by the custodian.

Once IRA Financial reviews and accepts your application, you’ll receive an account number and instructions for funding it.

Step 2: Fund Your Account by Transfer, Rollover or Contribution

Most investors we help are moving money from an existing retirement account rather than making an entirely new contribution.

Depending on the type of account you currently own, funding may involve a trustee-to-trustee IRA transfer, a rollover from an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an eligible annual contribution.

The distinction matters because different tax rules apply. CGE can help coordinate the required documentation, but your custodian and existing plan administrator control their respective processing requirements.

Step 3: Choose Your Precious Metals With Certified Gold Exchange

Once your IRA is ready to purchase metals, CGE will help you identify eligible gold and silver products.

We primarily recommend American Gold Eagles, Canadian Gold Maple Leafs and recognized bullion bars because they are widely traded, readily identifiable and easier to price-check.

Not every IRS-eligible coin offers the same value. A product’s eligibility tells you whether it may be held in the IRA, not whether the dealer’s asking price is competitive.

Before a transaction is finalized, CGE provides an invoice identifying the exact products, quantities and agreed prices. You should know precisely what your retirement account is purchasing.

Step 4: Authorize the Precious Metals Purchase

After you agree to the products and price, the necessary purchase instructions are prepared for IRA Financial.

The custodian processes the transaction in accordance with its account documents, administrative procedures and available funds. Its role is not to guarantee that the metals are a suitable investment or that the dealer’s price represents fair market value.

The investment decision remains yours.

Step 5: Ship Your Metals to an Eligible Depository

CGE coordinates insured shipment of your purchased metals directly to the designated depository in accordance with the custodian’s requirements.

Depositories commonly used in the precious metals IRA industry include Delaware Depository, Brink’s and International Depository Services. Available facilities and storage arrangements must be confirmed with IRA Financial before the purchase.

Your IRA’s metals should be held through the required custodial arrangement. They should not be shipped to your home or placed in your personal safe while being treated as undistributed IRA assets.

Step 6: Manage and Monitor Your IRA Financial Account

After the transaction is completed and the metals are received, IRA Financial maintains the account records.

Its online platform and mobile tools provide account access and administrative information. You should also retain your dealer invoice, transaction confirmation and available depository documentation.

Remember that a value displayed on a retirement account statement may be an estimate for reporting purposes, not a guaranteed amount you could receive by selling your metals that day.

For a current liquidation value, you need a current market bid on the actual products you own.

Transfer or Rollover: How Should You Fund an IRA Financial Account?

A transfer and a rollover are not the same thing, and using the wrong procedure can create an avoidable tax problem.

IRA-to-IRA Transfer

A trustee-to-trustee transfer moves funds directly between IRA custodians without the account holder receiving the money.

These transfers are not subject to the IRS one-rollover-per-year limit. For someone moving an existing traditional IRA into another traditional IRA, this is often the simplest administrative route.

Direct Rollover From a 401(k) or Other Employer Plan

A direct rollover moves eligible retirement plan funds directly into the receiving IRA.

A properly completed direct rollover generally avoids mandatory federal income tax withholding. However, the existing retirement plan must permit the distribution, and not every active employee is eligible to roll over money from a current employer’s plan.

Indirect 60-Day Rollover

An indirect rollover occurs when eligible retirement funds are paid to you and you subsequently deposit them into another eligible retirement account.

The general deadline is 60 days, and certain distributions are subject to withholding. The IRS also generally limits indirect IRA-to-IRA rollovers to one within any 12-month period, regardless of how many IRAs you own.

That one-per-year restriction does not apply to direct trustee-to-trustee IRA transfers or direct rollovers from employer plans.

For the official rules, see the IRS guide to retirement plan and IRA rollovers.

New IRA Contributions

You may also fund an eligible account through annual contributions, subject to IRS contribution limits, eligibility requirements and account-specific rules.

Before making a contribution, check the current IRS IRA contribution guidance or consult your tax professional.

Which Gold and Silver Coins Can You Hold With IRA Financial?

The IRS generally requires eligible gold bullion to be at least 99.5% pure and silver bullion to be at least 99.9% pure. Certain coins are separately permitted under federal law, including American Gold Eagles, even though those coins contain 91.67% gold.

Examples of commonly used IRA-eligible products include:

• American Gold Eagles: Specifically permitted by federal law and widely traded throughout the United States.
• Canadian Gold Maple Leafs: Produced in 99.99% pure gold and readily recognized internationally.
• American Silver Eagles: Specifically permitted government-issued silver bullion coins.
• Canadian Silver Maple Leafs: Produced in 99.99% pure silver and widely traded.
• Recognized bullion bars: Eligible gold and silver bars meeting applicable fineness and custody requirements.

Other products may qualify, including certain platinum and palladium bullion. Final eligibility and acceptance should be verified with the custodian before purchase.

The IRS generally prohibits collectibles in retirement accounts, subject to specific statutory exceptions. Simply being a government-issued coin does not automatically make every version eligible.

You can read more about product selection in our Gold Investment Guide and Silver Investment Guide.

Why We Prefer Recognized Bullion

After more than three decades in the precious metals business, we’ve seen the difference between buying a coin and being able to sell it at a competitive price.

Widely traded bullion can be priced against an active market. Dealers across the country recognize American Eagles and Canadian Maple Leafs, and comparable buyback bids are generally easier to obtain.

With an exclusive or proprietary coin, a dealer may charge a premium that is difficult to independently evaluate. When the owner eventually sells, that original retail premium may have little relationship to the amount another dealer is willing to pay.

Buy products that are easy to price today and easy to get bids on tomorrow.

Can You Store IRA Financial Gold at Home Using a Checkbook IRA?

No. You should not assume an IRA-owned LLC allows you to personally store IRA gold at home without tax consequences.

IRA Financial offers checkbook-control retirement account structures through which an IRA may own an LLC. That arrangement can provide administrative flexibility for certain eligible assets, but it does not eliminate the federal rules governing physical possession of precious metals.

The IRS explains that qualifying bullion must be in the physical possession of a bank or approved nonbank trustee. The IRS also states that this principle applies when an IRA-owned LLC purchases the bullion.

The danger became particularly clear in McNulty v. Commissioner, a 2021 U.S. Tax Court decision.

In that case, an IRA owner used an IRA-owned LLC to purchase American Eagle coins and kept them at her residence. The court ruled that her physical possession of those coins constituted taxable IRA distributions. Accuracy-related penalties were also upheld.

The ruling is an important warning against promoters claiming that an LLC automatically makes personal possession of IRA metals permissible.

You can review the IRS explanation of IRA gold storage rules and the decision in McNulty v. Commissioner, 157 T.C. 10 (2021).

If you want gold or silver delivered to your home, buying metals outside a retirement account is a separate option. IRA funds should not be used for personal delivery without first understanding the distribution and tax consequences.

How Much Does an IRA Financial Gold IRA Cost?

IRA Financial currently advertises a $495 annual fee for its standard custodian-controlled self-directed IRA, with no standard account setup fee or transaction fee under its advertised pricing.

That is the custodian’s published base pricing, not a guarantee that every gold IRA will cost exactly $495 per year.

A precious metals IRA can involve three separate categories of expenses.

1. Custodian Fees

IRA Financial uses a flat-fee model for its standard self-directed IRA rather than charging a percentage of your account’s market value.

That makes its published annual custodial cost more predictable. However, specialized account structures, additional services or arrangements may have different charges.

Confirm your specific account’s current fee schedule before opening it.

2. Depository Storage and Insurance

Physical gold and silver require secure storage, which may involve charges separate from the custodial fee.

Storage costs can vary depending on the facility, products, account arrangements and whether the metals are held in segregated or nonsegregated storage.

Ask for the applicable storage charges and insurance arrangements in writing before authorizing a purchase.

3. Dealer Premiums and the Buy/Sell Spread

This is the expense investors most often underestimate.

A dealer’s selling price generally includes a premium above the underlying metal value. When you sell, the dealer’s buyback bid may differ from the current spot price and from the price you originally paid.

The difference between the purchase price and an immediate resale bid is the buy/sell spread.

For example, if an investor pays $100,000 for metals that another dealer would currently buy for $95,000, the immediate spread is $5,000, or 5% of the purchase amount.

If an investor pays $100,000 for products worth only $75,000 at current buyback prices, the immediate difference is $25,000, or 25%.

Those examples are illustrations, not quotes for particular coins.

This is why paying attention only to annual IRA fees can be an expensive mistake.

A $100 difference in custodial fees is worth considering. But it is minor compared with losing thousands of dollars to an unnecessarily expensive precious metals purchase.

For additional information, read our Gold IRA Costs Guide.

CGE’s standard transaction minimum is $25,000, although exceptions may be considered. On smaller balances, fixed custodial and storage charges can represent a significant annual percentage of the account.

How Do You Sell Gold or Silver From an IRA Financial Account?

Selling metals held in an IRA involves a few more steps than selling coins you keep at home, but the process is straightforward when the products have an established resale market.

First, identify the products and quantities you own using your account records or original invoices. Then obtain a current buyback quote from a precious metals dealer.

Certified Gold Exchange purchases recognized precious metals held in self-directed IRAs, including accounts whose metals were originally purchased from another dealer.

Once a price is agreed upon, the necessary sale instructions are coordinated with the custodian. The depository releases the metals under the applicable procedures, and the purchaser sends the proceeds to the designated IRA account.

A properly completed sale within a traditional IRA generally does not trigger a taxable distribution simply because the metals are converted to cash. Taxes may apply when funds or assets are distributed from the retirement account, depending on the account type and circumstances.

You are not required to sell your gold back to the company that originally sold it to you.

That freedom is one reason we recommend products that numerous dealers recognize and actively purchase.

For a detailed explanation, see How to Sell a Gold IRA.

IRA Financial Gold IRA: Frequently Asked Questions

Is IRA Financial a Legitimate Gold IRA Custodian?

Yes. IRA Financial Trust Company is a South Dakota state-chartered trust company regulated by the South Dakota Division of Banking. Investors should still review its current fees, account documents and available services to determine whether it fits their requirements.

Does IRA Financial Sell Gold and Silver Coins?

IRA Financial primarily provides self-directed retirement account and custodial services rather than acting as your retail bullion dealer. Investors can work with a precious metals dealer such as Certified Gold Exchange to select and purchase eligible metals.

How Much Does IRA Financial Charge for a Gold IRA?

IRA Financial currently advertises a $495 annual fee for its standard self-directed IRA, with no standard setup or transaction fee. Depository charges and any additional account-specific services should be confirmed separately.

Can I Buy American Gold Eagles With IRA Financial?

Yes. American Gold Eagles are specifically permitted under federal IRA rules despite containing 91.67% gold. They are among the widely recognized bullion products CGE recommends because their pricing and resale markets are relatively transparent.

Can I Hold Gold in a Roth IRA With IRA Financial?

Yes. A properly established self-directed Roth IRA can purchase eligible physical precious metals. Roth account contribution, conversion and distribution rules still apply, and the metals must be held under an appropriate custodial arrangement.

Can I Store My IRA Financial Gold at Home?

You should not personally store IRA-owned gold at home while assuming it remains sheltered from IRA distribution rules. The IRS imposes physical-possession requirements, and the 2021 McNulty decision demonstrates the serious tax consequences that can arise from personal possession of IRA coins.

How Long Does It Take to Open and Fund an IRA Financial Gold IRA?

Opening the account can be relatively quick once IRA Financial receives and accepts the application. Funding time depends on the existing custodian or retirement plan administrator, the type of transfer or rollover and whether additional documentation is needed. No dealer can guarantee the processing time of another financial institution.

Can I Transfer an Existing IRA to IRA Financial Without Paying Taxes?

A properly completed trustee-to-trustee transfer between compatible IRAs generally does not create a taxable distribution. Different rules can apply to Roth conversions, indirect rollovers and other retirement account transactions, so the correct funding method should be confirmed before moving money.

Can I Sell My Gold Without Using My Original Dealer?

Yes. You can generally choose a different precious metals dealer to purchase your holdings, subject to your custodian’s transaction and depository requirements. This is one reason widely traded bullion can be advantageous: multiple dealers may be willing to provide competitive bids.

What Is the Biggest Mistake Investors Make With Gold IRAs?

In our experience, one of the most expensive mistakes is focusing on the custodian’s annual fee while overlooking the markup on the coins being purchased. An account with reasonable annual fees can still be a poor transaction if the dealer sells overpriced or difficult-to-resell products.

The Bottom Line: Is IRA Financial a Good Choice for a Gold IRA?

IRA Financial offers investors access to self-directed retirement accounts through a state-chartered trust company, with published flat-fee pricing and support for alternative assets such as eligible precious metals.

Those features make it a custodian worth considering, especially for investors who want the flexibility of a self-directed account. However, the right custodian depends on your account size, expected transactions, desired services, storage arrangements and overall costs.

The custodian is only one part of the transaction. Choosing a fairly priced, widely traded coin is just as important as choosing the institution that administers your IRA.

At Certified Gold Exchange, we’ve helped Americans purchase and sell precious metals since 1992. Our approach has remained consistent: recommend recognized bullion, explain the costs, provide clear transaction documentation and give clients the information they need to make their own decisions.

Know what you own. Know what you’re paying. And make sure you understand how you’ll sell it when the time comes.

You can compare other providers in our Gold IRA Custodians Guide or learn more about working with a Gold IRA Specialist.

For assistance with a qualifying precious metals purchase, call Certified Gold Exchange at 800-300-0715.

About the Authors

Pat Collins is Senior Vice President of Gold IRA Services at Certified Gold Exchange. With more than 17 years of retirement account experience, Pat has worked with transfers and rollovers involving more than 50 custodians and plan administrators. He is the author of The Complete Guide to U.S. Retirement Accounts.

John Halloran founded Certified Gold Exchange in 1992 and has spent 34 years in the precious metals industry, including 20 years working with retirement account transactions. His experience includes retail bullion markets, wholesale precious metals trading and self-directed precious metals IRAs.

About Pat Collins | About John Halloran

Disclaimer: This material is provided for general educational purposes and does not constitute personalized financial, investment, legal or tax advice. Certified Gold Exchange is a precious metals dealer, not a licensed investment adviser, tax adviser, attorney or fiduciary. 

Precious metals prices fluctuate, and investors can lose money. Account eligibility, IRS rules, fees and procedures depend on individual circumstances and the applicable service providers. Consult qualified professionals regarding your retirement account and tax situation. 

CGE is an independent IRA precious metals dealer and is not associated with or endorsed by IRA Financial.