Thinking about adding more silver to my IRA - ASEs vs. generics, what's everyone doing?

I hear you on this! I was in a similar boat last year, trying to decide between ASEs or just going with some generic 10 oz bars for my silver IRA. Honestly, I ended up splitting it – a good chunk in ASEs for the recognition/liquidity, and then some generics to get more bang for my buck weight-wise. No regrets so far, it feels good to have that physical silver locked away.

Hey, interesting question. When you say "generics," are you primarily thinking about 10oz or 100oz bars, or are you also considering things like privately minted rounds that might be a bit closer to ASEs in size but still have a lower premium?

Interesting, I've actually been doing the opposite lately. While ASEs are classic, and generics can be a good value play, I've been slowly reducing my silver exposure in my IRA. My thinking is that gold's historical role as a primary store of value and its lower volatility might be a safer bet for a retirement account, especially with the current economic climate. Just a different perspective to consider!

Hey, that's a good chunk of change you're looking to add! When it comes to ASEs vs. generics for an IRA, definitely consider the premium. While ASEs are beautiful and always recognizable, their premium can eat into your gains, especially on such a large purchase. Generics often have a much lower premium per ounce, which means more silver for your dollar, which is always a plus for long-term holds in an IRA.

One thing I found super helpful when figuring out the best bang for my buck was to actually compare the "dollars per ounce" after all fees and premiums from a few different reputable dealers. Some even have specific IRA-approved silver sections. Good luck with your decision!

Good question, I've been wrestling with this myself. For my latest rebalance in my ~1.5M Gold IRA, I ended up going with a mix, but heavily leaning towards American Silver Eagles after running the numbers again. If you haven't seen it, the guys over at SchiffGold have a pretty solid breakdown of the numismatic vs. bullion premium debate that helped me make up my mind. It’s not just about the upfront cost; resale liquidity is a huge factor, and ASEs typically win there.

Honestly, I've been eyeing more silver too, but the recent stock market volatility in 2024 has me a bit twitchy. I started my Gold IRA with less than $20k a few years back here in Columbus, and I'm pushing $40k now, mostly gold. But looking at the Gold vs Stocks 10-year comparison at goldvsstocks.goldirablueprint.com/?period=10Y, it really puts into perspective how gold steadies the ship when everything else is going nuts. Maybe it's time to diversify into silver more heavily now.

For me, it's gotta be ASEs, hands down. I dipped my toes into silver back in '09 with a chunk of generics, just whatever my dealer had on hand. Thought I was being smart, maximizing pure silver weight. Fast forward to 2018, when I actually wanted to *sell* some to rebalance, and the premium totally evaporated. My dealer offered basically spot, maybe a few cents over. With the American Silver Eagles I bought later, they held their premium much better. The recognition, the limited mintages – it just makes a difference when it's time to liquidate, especially in an IRA where you're not physically holding it to admire. Lesson learned for this Philly investor.