A DOCUMENT CHECK BEFORE YOU BUY
Compare the account agreement and storage arrangement before authorizing a metals purchase. Use the public checklist below to record which questions are answered.
DELAWARE DEPOSITORY
| Question | Segregated | Non-segregated |
|---|---|---|
| How are metals held? | Identified holdings physically separated by customer. | Customer holdings recorded; like products stored together. |
| What returns on withdrawal? | Ask how your deposited items are identified and returned. | Confirm the equivalent product, weight and quantity to be returned. |
| Which costs apply? | Obtain the applicable minimum, recurring storage, handling and withdrawal charges in writing. | |
| Which location and protection? | Confirm the actual facility, agreement, insurance coverage and exclusions. Insurance does not protect against a fall in metal prices. | |
Compare the depository’s own storage descriptions with your custodian’s documents. Availability depends on the selected account and products.
USE THE CHECKLIST · NO SIGNUP
Mark a step when you have the answer in writing. Progress stays on this page and resets when you leave. Print a copy for your own records.
0 of 7 steps checked
A completed checklist is preparation, not confirmation of eligibility or a recommendation to roll over funds.
A gold IRA is an IRA that holds permitted precious metals under the account’s custody rules. The custodian administers the account and processes authorized instructions; the dealer supplies the quoted products; the depository provides the agreed storage service. Ask each organization for the documents covering its role, then reconcile the purchase invoice with the holdings record. Custodian administration is not an endorsement of the dealer or an independent check that the investment is fairly priced or suitable for you.
Investments in collectibles in individually directed qualified plan accounts
Delaware Depository describes non-segregated holdings as allocated in its records and grouped physically by product. Its segregated service separates each customer’s metal and returns the deposited material on withdrawal. Confirm the arrangement actually offered through your custodian; availability and fees are account-specific.
Place the fee schedule, storage terms, invoice and holdings statement together. Check that the product description and quantity agree across the records. Ask who corrects a mismatch, what documentation you receive and how long resolution usually takes.
Find out who accepts sale instructions, how a bid is obtained, when a price is locked and how proceeds return to the IRA. Record any shipping, transaction, distribution or closure charges. Storage insurance and a future repurchase policy do not guarantee an investment return.
Keep a private record linking each answer to a dated document. Mark each item documented, unanswered or conflicting; a checked box is not institutional approval.
Do not treat personal possession as ordinary storage for IRA bullion. IRS guidance requires qualifying bullion to be held by a bank or an IRS-approved nonbank trustee; it also addresses indirect acquisition through an IRA-owned LLC. A home safe or LLC label does not remove that custody condition. Taking metals out of the account is a separate distribution question with possible tax consequences. Ask the custodian and a qualified tax adviser about the proposed distribution before arranging delivery.
IRA collectibles are generally restricted, with exceptions for specified coins and qualifying bullion. The exact issue, metal, fineness and custody arrangement matter; a “premium,” “proof” or “IRA approved” label alone does not establish eligibility. Obtain the full product specifications and the custodian’s acceptance before ordering. Buying an impermissible collectible through an IRA can be treated as a distribution. Keep the acceptance, invoice and custody records together.
Investments in collectibles in individually directed qualified plan accounts
PRACTICAL REFERENCE
Learn what IRA-eligible silver means, how a silver IRA rollover differs from buying silver for delivery, and which product and custody questions to resolve before an order.
Read physical silver in retirementChris Clark Gold’s minimum IRA metals purchase is $5,000. A personal physical gold or silver purchase starts at $2,500. Understand what those company minimums cover before comparing accounts or requesting a quote.
Read minimums, fees & your first quoteReview custodial fees and Delaware Depository storage arrangements before authorizing a purchase.
Explore fees and storageMAKE THE NEXT STEP SPECIFIC
Print this public checklist for your records. Confirm account and storage arrangements with the responsible institutions. Ask Chris Clark Gold about products or written quote terms; the separate Gold, Silver and IRA guide collection requires signup.