5 years in with my Gold IRA - some thoughts on returns from a Denver small biz owner

Patricia Miller

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5 years in with my Gold IRA - some thoughts on returns from a Denver small biz owner

patricia_miller📊Growing (50-100k)

about 2 months ago

Key Takeaways

•For context, I’m a small business owner here in Denver, and when I started, my whole retirement portfolio was pretty heavily weighted in stocks.
•Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous about diversifying into something I didn't fully understand.
•I started with around $75k that I rolled over from an old 401k.

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Okay, so it’s been about five years since I first dipped my toes into the gold IRA waters, and I thought I’d share my experience a bit, especially since I know a lot of folks here are new or thinking about it. For context, I’m a small business owner here in Denver, and when I started, my whole retirement portfolio was pretty heavily weighted in stocks. Not gonna lie, I was a little nervous about diversifying into something I didn't fully understand.

I started with around $75k that I rolled over from an old 401k. My main goal wasn’t to get rich quick, but really just to protect my savings from inflation and market volatility, especially after seeing some wild swings in the regular market. I remember feeling a bit overwhelmed by all the different custodians and coin types, but I eventually went with a company that seemed to have good reviews and a fairly straightforward process for buying actual physical gold and silver. It was a bit more paperwork than a regular brokerage account, that's for sure!

Looking back now on my initial $75k, it’s probably sitting around $95k today. That's not a crazy return compared to what some of my stock picks have done in the same period, but frankly, I'm okay with that. The peace of mind knowing I have a tangible asset that isn't directly tied to the whims of the stock market has been invaluable. We've had a few economic scares in the last five years, and every time the news gets a bit shaky, I feel a little less stressed knowing a portion of my retirement isn't going to vanish overnight. It feels like a solid, stable anchor for my portfolio.

I’m curious to hear from others who have been in a gold IRA for a while. What are your feelings on the returns? Did your expectations align with reality? Any Denver locals with specific advice on reputable local custodians or dealers if I ever decide to add more to it, or even just take a distribution down the line? Always looking to learn more from seasoned investors.

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10 comments

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Best Answer▲ 18 upvotes

janet_cook📊Growing (50-100k)

My advisor told me 10-15% in gold is the sweet spot but I went heavier. We'll see how it plays out.

Comments (10)

james_wilson👑Elite (1m-5m)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Hey, appreciate you sharing your experience! I'm in a similar boat, though maybe a year or so behind you. Started my Gold IRA when I was looking to diversify a bit from just real estate and stocks for my retirement. It's been interesting to watch, for sure. Definitely gives a different kind of peace of mind than the more volatile stuff. Good to hear your perspective on the long haul.

susan_clark💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

Super interesting to hear your perspective! Especially coming from a small business owner. Quick question: you mentioned your whole retirement strategy was pretty traditional before this. Were there any specific events or market conditions around five years ago that really pushed you to diversify into gold, or was it more of a gradual decision?

ashley_baker💼Starter (0-50k)✓ Verified•about 2 months ago

Hey, appreciate you sharing your experience! It's always good to hear real-world takes.

I'm curious though, when you talk about "returns," are you factoring in the fees associated with a Gold IRA (storage, custodian fees, etc.)? Some people forget about those and they can definitely eat into the overall performance, especially over a five-year period. Just something to consider for those looking at the numbers.

helen_turner💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor•about 2 months ago

Hey, thanks for sharing your experience! It's always great to hear real-world insights from someone who's been in it for a while. As a fellow small business owner, I'm especially interested in how you've balanced your Gold IRA with other investments.

One thing I found super helpful when I was first researching was this guide on choosing a custodian. It really broke down the pros and cons of different providers, which can be a bit overwhelming at first. Might be useful for anyone else just starting out! https://www.investopedia.com/best-gold-ira-companies-6748450

ruth_perez📊Growing (50-100k)•about 1 month ago

I was pretty skeptical about another gold IRA forum but the tools here on GIRAB actually surprised me — the calculator alone saved me hours of spreadsheet work.

michael_anderson🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor•about 1 month ago

Genuinely curious — has anyone here actually tried to liquidate from their gold IRA? How smooth was that process?

joseph_harris📊Growing (50-100k)•about 1 month ago

I keep going back and forth between gold and silver allocations. The gold-to-silver ratio right now is making silver look attractive.

janet_cook📊Growing (50-100k)•about 1 month ago

My advisor told me 10-15% in gold is the sweet spot but I went heavier. We'll see how it plays out.

brian_edwards🌟Ultra (5m+)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 1 month ago

My advisor told me 10-15% in gold is the sweet spot but I went heavier. We'll see how it plays out.

elizabeth_johnson💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 1 month ago

I was pretty skeptical about another gold IRA forum but the tools here on GIRAB actually surprised me — the calculator alone saved me hours of spreadsheet work.

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