Gold IRA Custodians Explained

What a custodian does, what it does not do, and questions to ask before opening an account.

What a custodian does, what it does not do, and questions to ask before opening an account. This guide is designed to help you identify the rules, costs, and decision points that matter before you contact a dealer or move retirement assets.

The custodian’s role

The custodian or trustee administers the IRA, maintains records, processes transactions and helps keep the account within its permitted structure. It is not automatically your investment adviser and may not evaluate whether the metal price you pay is competitive.

Dealer and custodian are different

A dealer sells precious metals. A custodian administers the retirement account. Some marketing funnels make the process feel unified, but you should understand which entity is performing each role and how each is compensated.

Questions before opening an account

• What are the setup and annual administrative fees?
• Which depositories are supported?
• Which metal products will the custodian accept?
• How are distributions processed?
• What happens if you want to change dealers?
• How quickly are transfer requests handled?