Thinking about platinum as a rollover option - undervalued?

Joshua Phillips

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Thinking about platinum as a rollover option - undervalued?

joshua_phillips🏆Advanced (250-500k)

about 11 hours ago

Key Takeaways

•Been doing a lot of deep dives lately on my options for rolling over my old 401k.
•Got about $350k sitting there from my years at U.S.
•Steel and I'm really leaning towards a Gold IRA, but platinum's been catching my eye too.

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Been doing a lot of deep dives lately on my options for rolling over my old 401k. Got about $350k sitting there from my years at U.S. Steel and I'm really leaning towards a Gold IRA, but platinum's been catching my eye too. Being in commodities my whole career, I understand the industrial side of things, and obviously, platinum has significant demand there. But with palladium where it is and gold/silver doing their thing, platinum feels like it's been a bit of a forgotten stepchild, price-wise.

I know a few folks around Birmingham who are heavy into gold, and I get that. It’s the ultimate safe haven, especially with all the talk about inflation and instability. But looking at the historical price ratios, platinum seems genuinely undervalued right now compared to gold. We're talking close to a 1:1 ratio, which is just insane when you consider how much rarer platinum is. Am I missing something huge here, or is this just one of those market disconnects that eventually corrects?

My concern, naturally, is liquidity if I ever need to sell a portion. Gold's pretty universal, but how easy is it to offload a decent amount of platinum bullion if the market goes south or I need cash for something big, like a new roof on the house? And from a diversification standpoint within a precious metals IRA, does it make sense to put a percentage into platinum over just going 100% gold and silver? Feeling a bit of FOMO on the platinum side but also don't want to make a rash move with a chunk of my retirement savings.

What are y'all's thoughts on platinum for a rollover? Anyone here actually hold it in their IRA, and how's that been working out for you? Are there specific types of platinum coins/bars that are more reputable or have better premiums/liquidity?

5 comments

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Best Answer▲ 10 upvotes

margaret_chen🏆Advanced (250-500k)

Hey, that's a smart move looking into diversifying beyond just gold for your rollover! Platinum definitely has a lot of industrial demand, which can make it an interesting play. One thing to keep in mind, especially with the 401k rollover, is ensuring whatever custodian you go with offers a good selection of both gold AND platinum products that are IRS-approved for an IRA. Some specialize more in one than the other.

You might find this IRS publication on IRA-eligible precious metals helpful to double-check the specific types of platinum you're considering. Good luck with the rollover!

Comments (5)

elizabeth_johnson💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•less than a minute ago

Totally get where you're coming from! I actually had a very similar thought process when I rolled over my old defined benefit plan. Was all-in on gold, but then started looking at palladium and platinum and the industrial demand just felt... more compelling in some ways. Ended up splitting it, though, a good chunk in gold and a smaller but still significant amount into platinum. Diversification felt right for me.

janet_cook📊Growing (50-100k)•less than a minute ago

Interesting thought process! You mentioned understanding the industrial side of things because of your career in commodities. Could you elaborate a bit on what specific industrial factors are making platinum particularly appealing to you right now, compared to gold?

robert_thompson💰Established (100-250k)Real Investor✓ Verified•less than a minute ago

Interesting thought on platinum. While it definitely has its industrial applications, making it feel "undervalued" compared to gold, I've always been a bit wary of its volatility for a retirement account. Gold just feels like the more stable, universally accepted store of value over the long haul. Platinum's price seems a lot more tied to industrial demand and economic cycles, which could be a wilder ride for your 401k rollover. Just something to consider!

margaret_chen🏆Advanced (250-500k)Real Investor•less than a minute ago

You might find this IRS publication on IRA-eligible precious metals helpful to double-check the specific types of platinum you're considering. Good luck with the rollover!

frank_rivera💎Premium (500k-1m)Real Investor•less than a minute ago

Totally agree with the sentiment here. Platinum feels like it's been flying under the radar for a while now.

I rolled over a portion of my old Pension into a Gold IRA last year, and after a lot of research, I actually went with a decent chunk of platinum alongside the gold and silver. Felt like a good hedging bet, and so far, it’s been holding its own surprisingly well against the others in my portfolio.

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