Resources
Guides to IRA account types, rollovers, Roth strategies, precious metals and self-directed IRAs.
Precious Metals IRAs
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What Is a Silver IRA? IRS Rules, Eligible Coins, Storage, and Costs
A silver IRA holds IRS-eligible silver in a self-directed IRA: 408(m) rules, approved coins and bars, storage, fees, and how it differs from gold.
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Gold IRA vs Gold ETF: Costs, Taxes, and What You Actually Own
Gold IRA vs gold ETF: what you actually own, GLD fees and custody, IRA tax treatment, and when physical metal or a fund is the better fit.
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Gold IRA Fees Explained: Spreads, Custodian Fees, Storage, and What You Actually Pay
Gold IRA fees include dealer spreads, custodian charges, and storage. How the cost stack works, what to get in writing, and how to spot hidden markups.
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Gold IRA Storage: Depositories, Segregated vs Commingled, and Why Home Storage Fails
Gold IRA storage must stay with a bank or IRS-approved trustee. How depositories work, segregated vs commingled vaults, and why home storage fails.
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IRS-Approved Gold and Silver for an IRA: Coins, Bars, and Purity Rules
What IRS-approved gold and silver for an IRA actually means: 408(m) named coins vs fineness, Eagles, Maples, bars, proof coins, and custodian lists.
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Gold IRA Scams and Red Flags: How to Vet a Precious Metals IRA Company
Gold IRA scams often hide in spreads, fear pitches, and home-storage stories. How to vet a dealer, what regulators warn about, and which red flags to use.
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Gold IRA Dealer vs Custodian vs Depository: Who Does What
A gold IRA needs a dealer, a custodian, and a depository. How the roles differ, who handles IRS reporting, and why you cannot collapse them into one.
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Platinum and Palladium in an IRA: Rules, Use Cases, and How They Differ From Gold
Platinum and palladium IRAs follow the same collectibles rule as gold: named Platinum Eagle, bullion-only palladium, thinner markets, and wider spreads.
IRA Account Types
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Spousal IRA: How a Non-Working Spouse Can Contribute
A spousal IRA lets a working spouse fund an IRA for a non-working spouse. See the 2026 limits, joint-return and compensation rules, and how to open one.
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Custodial IRA for Minors: Earned Income, Rules, and How to Open One
A custodial IRA lets a child with earned income save for retirement. Learn the 2026 limit, custodial Roth vs. traditional IRA rules, and how to open one.
IRA Contributions & Limits
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Saver's Credit: How the Retirement Savings Contributions Credit Works
The Saver's Credit can cut your tax bill by up to $1,000 ($2,000 jointly) for IRA or 401(k) savings. See 2026 income limits, rates, and the 2027 Saver's Match.
IRA Custodians & Brokerage Accounts
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Best IRA Accounts and Custodians: Fidelity, Schwab, Vanguard, and How to Choose
Compare Fidelity, Schwab, and Vanguard IRA accounts using official fees, minimums, and investment menus opened November 10, 2026. No invented ratings.
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Best Self-Directed IRA Custodians (Not Gold Dealers)
Compare Equity Trust, STRATA, Entrust, IRA Financial, and Directed IRA using official fee schedules opened November 10, 2026. No invented ratings.
Rollovers (Workplace Plan to IRA)
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IRA Transfer vs Rollover: The Difference and Why It Matters
IRA transfer vs rollover: how trustee-to-trustee transfers differ from 60-day rollovers, the one-rollover-per-year rule, withholding, and IRS reporting…
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403(b) to IRA Rollover: Rules for Teachers and Nonprofit Employees
How a 403(b) to IRA rollover works for teachers and nonprofit employees: when you can roll over, direct rollovers, Roth IRA options, taxes, and what you give…
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TSP to IRA Rollover: Rules, Steps, and Trade-Offs for Federal Employees
How a TSP to IRA rollover works for federal employees and service members: eligibility, traditional and Roth TSP balances, direct rollovers, G Fund and fee…
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Inherited 401(k): Your Options and the Beneficiary Rules
What to do with an inherited 401(k): surviving spouse and non-spouse options, moving it to an inherited IRA, lump sum taxes, the 10-year rule, and Roth 401(k)…
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Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA): How the Tax Rule for Company Stock Works
How net unrealized appreciation works for company stock in a 401(k): the lump sum distribution rules, cost basis, long-term capital gains on NUA, and when an…
Roth IRA & Conversion Strategies
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Mega Backdoor Roth: After-Tax 401(k) Contributions and In-Plan Conversions
How the mega backdoor Roth works in 2026: after-tax 401(k) contributions, the $72,000 limit, in-plan Roth conversions, and plan rules. Sourced from IRS.gov.
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Roth Conversion Ladder: How Early Retirees Move Money Out Penalty-Free
How a Roth conversion ladder works for early retirees: the five-year rule for each conversion, 2026 tax brackets, bridge money, and mistakes. Sourced from…
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Form 8606: How to Report Nondeductible IRA Contributions and Roth Conversions
How to fill out Form 8606: who must file, nondeductible IRA contributions, Roth conversions, Roth IRA distributions, basis records, and the $50 penalty…
Self-Directed IRAs & Alternative Assets
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Real Estate IRA: Rules, Prohibited Uses, and How a Property Deal Is Structured
How a real estate IRA works: who the IRA can't buy from, paying property expenses, non-recourse loans, UBIT on leverage, and the prohibited transactions that…
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Crypto IRA: How Cryptocurrency Inside an IRA Actually Works
How a crypto IRA works: custody, fee structures, crypto IRA taxes, Roth vs. traditional, 2026 contribution limits, and the IRS and CFTC warnings to read…
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Checkbook IRA: LLC Structure, Control, and the IRS Risks
How a checkbook IRA works: the IRA-owned LLC, checkbook control of the bank account, what Tax Court cases say, setup and administrative costs, and the…
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IRA Prohibited Transactions and Disqualified Persons: The Complete Rules
IRA prohibited transactions explained: the six section 4975(c)(1) categories, who is a disqualified person, the deemed distribution, excise taxes, DOL…
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UBIT and UBTI in an IRA: When Alternative Assets Create a Tax Bill
When an IRA owes unrelated business income tax: what counts as UBTI, debt-financed income from leveraged real estate, partnerships and MLPs, 2026 trust tax…
Distributions, Beneficiaries & Retirement Tax
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IRA Early Withdrawal Exceptions: The Full List (and What Still Gets Taxed)
Every IRS exception to the 10% early withdrawal penalty on IRAs, with 2026 limits, Form 5329 tips, and what is still taxed. Sourced from IRS.gov.
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72(t) SEPP: How Substantially Equal Periodic Payments Work
How 72(t) SEPP works under IRS Notice 2022-6: the three methods, interest rate limits, the 5-year rule, recapture tax, and Rule of 55 differences.
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Qualified Charitable Distributions (QCDs) From an IRA
QCD rules for 2026: age 70½, the $111,000 limit, which charities and IRAs qualify, how to report a QCD, and common mistakes. Sourced from IRS.gov.
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How to Name an IRA Beneficiary (and What Happens If You Don't)
How to fill out an IRA beneficiary designation form: primary and contingent beneficiaries, spouse rules, trusts, and what happens if no one is named.
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Divorce and Retirement Accounts: QDROs, IRA Transfers, and What Splits
How a qualified domestic relations order divides a 401(k) or pension, why an IRA uses a transfer incident to divorce instead, and the tax traps for each.
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Social Security and IRA Withdrawals: How the Two Interact
How traditional and Roth IRA withdrawals affect the tax on Social Security benefits, the IRS combined income thresholds, the earnings test, and timing.
IRA Investing Hub
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Traditional IRA vs 401(k): Limits, Taxes, Match, and When to Use Each
Traditional IRA vs 401(k): compare 2026 contribution limits, employer match, tax deductions, investment options, and withdrawal rules, and see which to fund…
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Roth 401(k): How It Works and How It Differs From a Roth IRA
A Roth 401(k) takes after-tax contributions and pays out tax-free in retirement. See 2026 limits, the 5-year rule, employer match rules, and how it compares.
Retirement Planning Tools
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IRA vs Taxable Brokerage Account: Where to Hold Which Assets
IRA vs taxable brokerage account: compare taxes, 2026 capital gains rates, contribution limits, and access, and learn which investments to hold in each.
Guides written by Tim Schmidt and reviewed by Sean Webster, CPA. These guides are for general education. They are not tax, legal, or investment advice. IRAInvesting.com is not a custodian, broker-dealer, or investment adviser. Before you act, talk with a licensed tax professional who can review your situation. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.