Eagles vs. Buffalos - My Rollover Experience & RMD Thoughts
- •Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of back and forth lately on the American Gold Eagles vs.
- •Being a doctor in Boston, I definitely lean towards diversification, and gold felt like a sensible hedge given everything going on in the world.
- •When I made the move, I opted almost entirely for Eagles.
Okay, so I've been seeing a lot of back and forth lately on the American Gold Eagles vs. Buffalo gold coins for IRA rollovers, and I wanted to throw my hat in the ring with my own experience, especially since I'm staring down RMDs in a few years. I rolled over a chunk of my old 401k into a Gold IRA about five years ago – we’re talking somewhere in the high six figures, closer to a cool half-mil initially. Being a doctor in Boston, I definitely lean towards diversification, and gold felt like a sensible hedge given everything going on in the world.
When I made the move, I opted almost entirely for Eagles. My thinking at the time was the small premium was worth it for the wider recognition and easier liquidity if I ever needed to sell quickly. Plus, the fractional options were a bit more accessible then for balancing my holdings. Now, five years on, I sometimes wonder if I should have snagged more Buffalos. The purity argument is compelling, and honestly, the design is just a bit more striking to me. I’m not planning on selling anytime soon, but knowing they're 24K and don't carry that copper alloy makes me wonder if I missed out on some purist appeal.
My main concern right now isn't really the aesthetic, though. It's more about how these assets will factor into my Required Minimum Distributions when they kick in. I've been playing around with an RMD Calculator to get a clearer picture of what I'll be facing. It’s been super helpful for planning, but it also makes me think about the future value and potential distribution logistics of the physical gold itself. Does anyone have experience with taking physical distributions of Eagles vs. Buffalos once RMDs hit? Was one easier or more straightforward than the other?
I feel pretty good about my overall portfolio, but this specific gold allocation has always been a point of slight internal debate. Did I make the right call sticking with Eagles, or should I have balanced with more Buffalos? For those of you who've been in this game longer, particularly with larger gold IRA positions, what's your take? Any regrets or strong preferences?