Silver Eagle Premiums - Worth it for the IRA?

Frank Rivera

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Silver Eagle Premiums - Worth it for the IRA?

frank_rivera💎Premium (500k-1m)

about 1 month ago

Key Takeaways

•Been wrestling with this for a bit and curious what everyone else's strategy is.
•I've got a decent chunk, about 15% of my 750k portfolio, in my Gold IRA already, mostly actual gold, but I'm looking to add some silver.
•Now, I'm torn between buying the cheaper generic silver rounds or sticking with American Silver Eagles for the IRA.

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Been wrestling with this for a bit and curious what everyone else's strategy is. I've got a decent chunk, about 15% of my 750k portfolio, in my Gold IRA already, mostly actual gold, but I'm looking to add some silver. Now, I'm torn between buying the cheaper generic silver rounds or sticking with American Silver Eagles for the IRA. The premium on ASEs feels pretty steep sometimes, especially when you're buying a fair amount. Don't get me wrong, I love the Eagles, got a tube or two stashed away at home, but for the IRA, where I'm just looking for that wealth preservation and hedging against inflation, does that premium really make sense?

I'm retired military, seen enough volatility from my time in the Pacific to know that having tangible assets is crucial. The geopolitical climate, especially with what's happening in Asia, makes me feel even stronger about physical metals. I live in Honolulu, so shipping costs are always a consideration too, even if it's going to a depository. My initial thought was: lower premium, more ounces, better hedge. But then I hear arguments about the Eagles being more recognized and potentially easier to liquidate if push ever comes to shove. What's everyone's personal experience with this in their IRAs?

Are the perceived benefits of ASEs in an IRA actually realized when it comes to selling, or does that premium just vanish? I'm not looking to actively trade these, this is long-term, 'break glass in emergency' type stuff. I've been using that Retirement Planner tool a lot lately to stress-test different scenarios, and it's making me really scrutinize every dollar I put into these assets. Any thoughts from folks who've gone either way?

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3 comments

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Best Answer▲ 10 upvotes

jason_morgan💰Established (100-250k)

Totally get where you're coming from. I had a similar dilemma when I was filling out my own Gold IRA a few years back. Ended up going with primarily generic rounds for the bulk of my silver, just to maximize the ounces. Figured the premiums on Eagles, while cool for collecting, didn't really make sense for an investment vehicle I wasn't planning on liquidating anytime soon. It’s all about those ounces for me in an IRA.

Comments (3)

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

steven_mitchell🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 1 month ago

Hey, interesting question. When you say "cheaper generic silver rounds," are you talking about specific refiners or just general non-government issued coins? I'm curious what kind of premium difference you're seeing there compared to the Eagles.

thomas_walker🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor✓ Verified•about 1 month ago

Honestly, while I get the appeal of ASEs for collectibility and perceived "safety," I'm not sure they make the most sense for an IRA, especially not for significant allocation. You're talking about a retirement account – the goal is growth and preservation of wealth, not necessarily collecting. Those premiums eat into your potential returns pretty significantly over the long haul. You mentioned generic rounds... have you looked into reputable silver bars? Often a better cost-per-ounce than even generics, and still perfectly eligible for an IRA. Just something to consider if you're trying to maximize your silver exposure without overpaying.

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