You have been closely following the markets for a while. You’re considering retirement planning. But you are also curious about which investment would be best to safeguard your future. After conducting some research, your decision is to make a physical precious metals investments by transferring 401K into a IRA. Now, you need to decide what precious metals are best for your gold IRA portfolio. You also need to check if they’re allowed. An ira gold is also known as a Self Directed IRA.

Prior to 1997 rules and regulations allowed only American Gold Eagles, Silver Eagles, and Silver Eagles in a Gold IRA. Tax Payer Relief Act of 1997 allowed diversification of a gold401k among many precious metals. Current regulations allow placement of bullion gold coins and bullion silver coins and bullion bars.

American Eagle Gold bullion gold coin is a popular IRA Gold investment. This particular coin, which was first introduced to America by the Canadian Maple Leaf in 1986, is another bullion gold coin that is allowed in a gold-401K. Investments are also permitted for the American Buffalo, Austrian Philharmonic, and Australian Kangaroo.

Restricted IRA investment gold includes the Krugerrand, Mexican fifty Peso gold bullion currency, as also rare coins such the liberty, Saint Gaudens and Swiss Franc. Silver investing is becoming more popular than ever after outperforming all other precious metals in 2010. The American Eagle Silver Bullion and the Australian Kookaburra coins, as well as the Austrian Vienna Philharmonic, Canadian Maple Leaf, Canadian Maple Leaf, and Mexican Libertad Silver bullion coins are all allowed in a Self Directed IRA.

Investors are allowed to invest in silver bars and privately minted Silver rounds, provided they are manufactured by Comex-accredited manufacturers.

Finally, we have Palladium and Platinum. Permissible Platinum investments include: the American Eagle platinum currency, the Australian Koala (or Canadian Maple Leaf), and the Isle of Man Noble gold coin. Palladium investments consist of coins and bars made by a national mint.

The Self Directed IRA / Gold IRA can be a powerful tool to diversify and protect your investment portfolio. It is possible to set it up with minimal effort, as long as you have a current 401K that meets certain requirements.