Retirement Accounts

How Many Of The 77 Million Americans Who Will Be 65 Or Older In 2030 Will Be Prepared To Survive Retirement?

Most people think of survival in the short-term, but the greatest survival challenge we face may not concern our health or safety, but rather our life after work.

Without our financial needs being met, we may find it hard to pay for our home, transportation, medical care, clothes or even food. Unfortunately, too many of us appear to believe the future will take care of itself, although we should know better.

The Danger Of Procrastination...
We probably procrastinate about our retirement because of our preoccupation with current survival. When we need the money to pay current bills or the mortgage, saving for the future may not be an option. Many families live paycheck to paycheck and for the first time in history, the debt load of the average American household exceeds its annual income.

Steps To A Confident Retirement
Don't rely on the stock market alone to bail you out. Remember what happened to Enron workers who had their retirement funds in company stock? Even if stock prices would otherwise remain stable (a big “if”), those prices will inevitably fall when the Baby Boomers start cashing in their stocks to pay for their retirements. Boomers are responsible for 75 percent of the money invested in stocks. Who will replace that volume once the Boomers retire?

BAD ASSUMPTION #1: THERE'S NO NEED FOR DIVERSIFICATION
If all of your retirement assets react in the same way to changing economic conditions, they will all rise and fall at once. When those assets suffer from inflation or weakening of the Dollar, they will all go down at once. However, if your portfolio includes other assets that react the exact opposite to the same economic conditions, then your overall portfolio has a chance to remain healthy. Now when your Dollar sensitive assets go down, gold will rise. Gold is an investment that can stabilize your portfolio by offsetting losses in paper holdings.

BAD ASSUMPTION #2: YOUR COMPANY WILL TAKE CARE OF YOU
Even if your company is still there for your retirement years (think United), you may not be able to predict your actual pension. If you've changed jobs (as most people do seven to eight times in their lives) you may find yourself playing the pension game under different rules. Even if you are with a company long enough and all contributions are made, the value of the assets held in the pension plan may fluctuate due to poor investments or management failures. Even though laws supposedly exist to protect pension plans in the event of a company bankruptcy, you may find yourself the victim of an under-funded plan. Your company could be planning to change the rules and convert to a cash balance plan, as have more than 20 percent of the nation's Fortune 500 companies. While the company saves money, it may come at your expense through loss of paid benefits.

Sterling Trust Company
CGE recommends Sterling Trust Company for investors who want IRA's that will accept precious metals. Based in Waco, Texas, Sterling Trust has specialized in providing quality non-discretionary custodial services on self-directed IRAs, business retirement plans, and personal custodial accounts. In addition, Sterling Trust provides third-party escrow and paying agent services. Sterling Trust services individual and business retirement accounts in all 50 states, whose assets exceed $4.1 billion.

Establishing A Precious Metal IRA With Sterling Trust Company
A direct rollover of all or a portion of your retirement account to a self-directed IRA with Sterling is easy. First, call CGE at 1-800-300-0715 and one of our IRA specialists will walk you through the Sterling Trust paperwork. There are three simple steps involved in opening your account:

1. Submitting completed paperwork.
2. Funding the account by transfer from an existing account.
3. Directing CGE to purchase your precious metals.

Step #1 Involves completing the paperwork and sending it to Sterling Trust Company for processing. Please enclose a copy of a recent statement from your current custodian.

Step #2 Involves completing the proper forms to transfer the funds to Sterling Trust. Normally, the funds are transferred directly from an existing IRA or Qualified Retirement Plan.

In Step #3 The IRA investor directs CGE as to which precious metals to buy, once agreed upon, client signs an invoice agreeing to the purchase of metals for their Sterling Trust account, CGE faxes the signed invoice to Sterling Trust and once payment is received, the metals shipped to Sterling Trust’s depository in the account holder’s name.

Investors wanting to discuss setting up an IRA with Sterling Trust Company are encouraged to call Certified Gold Exchange at 1-800-300-0715. If you want to proceed after having your questions answered, CGE will walk you through the necessary forms.

Retirement Account FAQ

Q. What costs are involved with opening my Sterling Trust account?
A. For a full disclosure of fees, please visit: www.sterlingtrustcompany.com

Q. What types of retirement accounts qualify for a rollover?
A. You can transfer a portion or all of an existing Roth, Sep, Traditional or Keogh as well as inactive (previous employer) defined, 401k or 403B plan.

Q. Who is eligible to make IRA contributions?
A. Generally anyone under the age of 70 1/2, who earns income from employment, including self-employment, can make annual contributions to an IRA.

Q. How much may I contribute to my IRA annually?
A. You may contribute a maximum of $3,000.00 or 100 percent of your compensation whichever is less, to an IRA each year.

Q. If my spouse is also employed, how much may he/she contribute to an IRA?
A. Each employed spouse may open a separate IRA and contribute 100 percent of his/her compensation, up to $3,000.00 a year. Therefore it's possible for a working couple to make contributions of up to $6,000.00 annually to their IRA's.

Q. What if my spouse does not earn compensation?
A. If your spouse earns no compensation (or earns less than $3,250.00 for the year), your spouse and you may be eligible to increase your total IRA contribution as a couple by establishing a "Spousal IRA." With a Spousal IRA your maximum annual IRA contribution may be increased to $3,250.00.

Q. How can I determine whether or not my IRA contributions will be deductible for Federal Income Tax purposes?
A. Your IRA contributions will be deductible for federal income tax purposes if: Neither you nor your spouse is an active participant in an employer-maintained retirement plan, or your adjusted gross income for the year does not exceed certain Dollar limits.

Q. When am I considered an active participant in an employer-maintained retirement plan?
A. You are generally considered to be an active participant for a tax year if you participate in an employer-maintained retirement plan (including any pension, profit-sharing, 401(k), 403(b), SEP or Keogh plan) during any part of the year. You are considered an active participant regardless of whether or not you are vested under the plan. The W-2 form you receive from your employer each year should indicate whether you are an active participant in the employer's retirement plan.

Q. Will my IRA contributions be fully deductible if I am not covered by an employer-maintained retirement plan?
A. Yes. If neither you nor your spouse is an active participant in an employer's retirement plan, your IRA contributions will be fully deductible regardless of your income level.

Q. What's a prudent gold coin investment in my IRA?
A. For a diversified portfolio many university studies and financial advisors recommend having 10 to 30 percent of your assets in gold.

Q. Can I put gold coins I already own in my IRA?
A. No, IRS regulations concerning IRA's prohibit it.

Q. Can I hold the metals myself?
A. No, IRS regulations require IRA metals be held by a government-approved depository.

Q. Are there any penalties or governmental fees involved in my transfer?
A. No, there are no tax penalties on a direct transfer; additionally there is no extra paper work at tax time with a direct transfer.

Q.What is the minimum I can transfer?
A. Certified Gold Exchange is a large volume discount firm; our minimum for an IRA account transfer is $10,000.00.

Q. Can I put gold and silver into my IRA?
A. Yes, you can put together any combination of gold, silver and platinum you desire.

Q. Can I take distributions from my Precious Metal IRA?
A. Yes, by calling your account representative you can sell any portion at any time. However, you will be responsible for the normal distribution tax as well as any penalties for early distribution, so please ask your accountant to set up a plan.

Q. Does Sterling Trust Company have a website?
A. Yes, their web address is http://www.sterlingtrustcompany.com

Q. If I transfer a portion of my IRA to Sterling Trust, can I still keep my current account?
A. Yes, you can keep as many accounts as desired; in fact it makes sense not to keep all your eggs in one basket, even if that basket happens to be made of Gold.

Q. What other type of investments does Sterling Trust offer?
A. Sterling Trust Company will accept and hold a variety of investments in your IRA, including Church Bonds, Precious Metals, Stocks, Mutual Funds, U.S. Treasury Securities, CD's, Swiss Annuities, as well as foreign CD's at Non-U.S. Banks, Managed Accounts with Non-U.S. Banks and Notes Secured by Real Estate.

Call Our Certified Gold Specialist at 1.800.300.0715  

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