Introduction 

Job changes for non-retirement reasons such as when moving to a new employer, into entrepreneurship or for retirement, can potentially complicate your employer-sponsored retirement plan. Of such qualified employer-sponsored plans, the 401k is the most common. So what should you do with it? If you are feeling a little nervous, that is a rational reaction. This process is governed by IRS regulations so it is only natural you would want some certainty that you are doing the right thing. 

Typically, you have four options for your 401k when you exit your current employer. 

1. If permitted, leave part or all the money within your former employer’s plan.
2. Move the money into your new employer’s retirement plan if available and if roll overs are permitted.
3. Cash out while paying the applicable penalties and taxes depending on your circumstances and age.
4. Roll over the funds into an individual retirement account (IRA). I am going to cover IRAs from this point onward with a focus on gold and precious metal IRAs. But while you are here, check out this brief video touching on the difference between the 401k and IRA.

Finance & Investment Tips : 401k & IRA Differences

Why You Might Want to Rollover Your 401k or Equivalent Plan into an IRA

While each of the four propsoective paths listed in the previous section do have their merits and demerits, there are compelling reasons why rolling over your 401k to an IRA is the way to go.

1. Greater investment choices - Your investment options for a 401k are greatly limited unless you work for a very large company such as a Fortune 500 corporation. Giant corporations can create high-quality plans. With most employer 401k plans though, your choices will be limited to a number of mutual funds.
   With an IRA, there is a much broader array of investment alternatives at your disposal. That includes exchange-traded funds (ETFs), bonds, stocks, mutual funds, REITs, certificate of deposits and precious metals. For a self-directed IRA, you can even venture into alternative investments including commodities, physical property, and oil and gas leases.
   
   
2. Reorganize the portfolio unlimited number of times - You have the liberty to buy and sell your IRA holdings anytime. I find this a crucial advantage given that 401k plans restrict the number of times you can reorganize your portfolio each year.
   
   
3. Better communication - If you leave your 401k with a former employer, prepare to be treated as a second-class stakeholder. Albeit unintentionally. Most news will be disseminated through the company email which you will no longer be a part of. There is a risk of missing out on important developments that could affect your money.
   
   
4. Lower cost and fees – Moving your 401k into an IRA can be a money saver. I’m talking administrative fees, management fees and fund expense ratios. Fees and costs can easily exceed 1% of the fund’s total assets. An IRA is not expense-free but you have greater control over where and how you will invest.
   
   
5. Cash incentives – Brokers are hungry for your business. To entice you into moving your money their way, they may offer cash bonuses when you roll over your 401k into their IRA. The incentive will usually be dependent on how much you invest.
   
   
6. Fewer rules – Understanding how a specific 401k plan works can be difficult since each company has significant room to establish the plan how they choose. On the other hand, IRA regulations are standardized.
   
   
7. Estate planning – In case you die, your 401k will be remitted as a single payment to the beneficiary. Most plan administrators will want to remit this money quickly. This could inadvertently cause tax and income headaches. IRAs have inheritance regulations too but you have more options.
   
8. You can have the best of both – You do not have to roll over all your 401k into an IRA. If you are content with the returns on your former employer’s 401k, enjoy the best of both worlds by keeping some of the money in the 401k and roll over the rest into an IRA. Contribute to both as long as you do not exceed your annual limits on contribution.

Why Investing in Precious Metals is a Good Option for Part of Your 401k

For many investors, the allure of precious metals–especially gold–is hard to resist. With a 401k, the closest you can come to investing in precious metals is holding mining stocks, precious metal ETFs, precious metal mutual funds and precious metal futures. 

The opportunity to invest in the actual physical metal is one of the main reasons why you should consider rolling over your 401k into a precious metal IRA. Precious metal IRAs are self-directed accounts with a precious metal broker/dealer as the trustee. They tie the benefits of gold bullion with the convenience of a modern IRA.

A precious metal IRA has a number of advantages.

• Inflation protection – When you buy precious metals, you hedge against inflation. The value of precious metals do not lose value as much as other assets in times of high inflation. In fact, they could rise as investors rush for the relative stability of gold and silver in times of crisis. 

• Dollar devaluation – The dollar is the world’s reserve currency, but even the greenback can suffer devaluation. Gold and silver often demonstrate an inverse correlation to the dollar. When the

• Diversification – Looking to diversify your portfolio beyond the more traditional asset classes of bonds and stocks? Precious metals help you do just that. They exhibit minimal correlation with bonds or stocks and therefore provide a buffer against the fluctuation of traditional asset classes.
  
  
• Long history – For millennia, gold and silver have been used as a means of settling transactions. This history has demonstrated a clear record of their ability to store value over time. Better yet, gold and silver are transacted worldwide and have the same value in every part of the globe.
  
  
• No counterparty risk – Paper-based investments carry counterparty risk and could be affected by bankruptcy or default. Precious metals like physical gold and silver carry no such risk.
  
  
• Peace – You want to minimize investment anxiety? The stability of a precious metal IRA gives you that peace of mind you need.

All Gold and Precious Metal IRA Companies Are Not Equal. Choosing the Right Company is Key

Your choice of the precious metal IRA company you are going to be working with is one of the most important you will make when rolling over your 401k. Precious metal IRA companies are not the same. 

Do not take a company’s word for it. To improve your odds of making the right choice, compare different companies across a number of factors. That includes length of operation, customer reviews, fees and any insurance they provide. 

There is no scarcity of precious metal IRA reviews online as well as lists of the top precious metal IRA companies. You cannot trust everything you read online but it is unlikely that a business is falsifying thousands of reviews. The prevailing sentiment whether positive or negative is probably fairly representative of the actual customer experience.

My Top 3 Gold Broker Recommendations

Depending on what your investment objectives are, I consider Goldco, Augusta Precious Metals and Birch Gold as three of the best choices you have out there. Of the three companies, Goldco is our prime recommendation when you are looking to roll over $25,000 or more.

Goldco

Goldco is our prime recommendation if you are looking to roll over $25,000 or more. The company recently received an emphatic endorsement from former presidential candidate Dr. Ron Paul. 

Goldco has built a reputation for personalizing products to meet customer needs. It is known for professionalism, customer service and a collaborative approach with customers to realize retirement goals. With a new ultra-modern storage facility and a capacity to keep your precious metals separated from those of other investors, Goldco strives to provide an accessible and accountable service. 

While the minimum $175 annual fee is higher than many other brokers, you have the benefit of accessing your assets whenever you want to. Goldco will reimburse your storage fees. This reimbursement is shipped to you in the form of like-value silver. Note that this is not part of the IRA and you must pay the storage fees in advance. 

The minimum purchase is $25,000. so that could lock out investors looking to roll over a smaller amount.

Ratings

BBB: A+

Business Consumer Alliance: AAA

TrustLink: 4.8 out of 5 stars based on 253 reviews

Birch Gold Group

For about two decades, Birch Gold Group has been selling precious metals to be placed in an IRA. A leading company in precious metals IRAs, Birch stands out for going out of their way to educate investors on how they can transform their interest in gold, silver, platinum and palladium, into a long-term investment. 

So if you are new to precious metals IRAs and need a broker who will hold your hand, Birch will probably be your best option. 

There are no fees during the first year on transfers exceeding $50,000. Birch has an annual fee of $75 as well as a $1 billion insurance policy that reimburses the unlikely theft of your investment. The broker has a promotion that offers $10,000 in free precious metals depending on how much gold you purchase.

Ratings

BBB: A+

Businecc Consumer Alliance: AAA

TrustLink: 4.9 out of 5 stars based on 126 reviews

Augusta Precious Metals

With Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana as its corporate ambassador, Augusta Precious Metals is one of the more prominent gold IRA companies. It partners with the Royal Canadian Mint to bring purer coins to the American public. 

From the start, the broker dedicates a specialist to your account. You enjoy lifetime customer support. One of the key drawbacks with Augusta Precious Metals is that you cannot place an online order. 

The broker offers an impressive array of informational material covering effective diversification, inflation protection and the benefits of owning precious metals.

You need to invest a minimum of $5,000 to buy gold or silver from the broker. It costs \$50 to establish a gold IRA with August Precious Metals. Annual fees comprise a $100 storage fee and $80 custodian maintenance fee. 

Ratings:

BBB: A+

Business Consumer Alliance: AAA

TrustLink: 4.9 out of 5 Stars based on 256 reviews