During my tenure as Director of the United States Mint (2006–2011), I witnessed the largest single bank collapse in U.S. history when Washington Mutual shut down in 2008 in the midst of the Financial Crisis of 2007–2008. I also saw how many Americans reacted during this time of uncertainty and the proceeding Great Recession, as during...
401k Retirement Savings
Recent 401k Retirement Savings Articles
5 Reasons to Trust Your Gold IRA
As financial news continues to focus on the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, many Americans are voicing concerns over their own deposits, as well as the security of America’s banking system as a whole. But rest assured, when you place a portion of your wealth in an IRA backed by physical gold, silver, or other precious metals, that...
What Is the Relationship Between Inflation and Gold?
We’ve explored the relationships between gold and oil and gold and interest rates. But what about the relationship between gold and inflation? In the current economic environment, understanding how the two are tied together may be critical. How Are Inflation and Gold Related? It might seem logical to assume that when inflation goes up,...
Central Banks Continue to Buy Gold. Should You?
I’ve written before about how important I think it is to keep an eye on financial news. This is not necessarily because every headline deserves immediate action, but because staying generally informed is, in my opinion, one of the best ways to achieve peace of mind when making decisions regarding your financial portfolio. For example,...
Can You Contribute to an IRA After Retirement?
Retirees who want to continue growing their retirement fund can contribute to an IRA after retirement as long as they receive taxable compensation or “earned income” during the year. As of 2020, the IRS does not have an age limit on making contributions to Traditional IRAs or Roth IRAs. Making IRA Contributions After Retirement There...
Tax Day Is Coming. Have You Contributed to Your Gold IRA Yet?
When it comes to protecting my wealth and retirement, I firmly believe that preparation is key. This includes doing careful research, keeping my eye on financial headlines, and making sure I don’t miss important deadlines. For example, Tax Day this year is April 18, 2023—which also means that it’s the deadline for IRA contributions for...
How Much Gold & Silver Should You Consider Owning?
Some analysts recommend allocating 5–10% of your portfolio toward gold and silver. Others suggest allocating up to 25%. So you may be wondering, “How much gold and silver should I own?” It depends on your situation and needs. The allocation will differ for every individual. To help you decide how much gold and silver you may want to...
When Economists Can’t Agree, It’s Time to Rely on Yourself
When it comes to our economy, uncertainty will always be a factor. No one can ever say for sure what the future will bring. This is what makes diversification such a powerful tool—it allows you to control your portfolio’s level of risk exposure, keeping you within a range of risk that you’re comfortable with as events unfold. But when...
Gold IRA vs. Physical Gold: What’s the Difference?
What You Should Know About Gold IRAs vs. Physical Gold People often want to compare gold IRAs and physical gold. When weighing your gold ownership options, its important to keep in mind that the former contains the latter. When you open a gold IRA, you use physical gold as an asset in your retirement portfolio. There are, however,...
Americans Are Once Again Turning to Gold. Here’s Why.
Some things never go out of style—and that includes gold. So when times get tough or the future seems uncertain, Americans often rediscover their love of the precious metal. On Tuesday, February 14, 2023, news came out that inflation (as measured by the Consumer Price Index) once again came in hotter than expected. According to Kitco...
The Complete 401k to Gold IRA Rollover Guide: How You Can Turn Your 401k to Gold Without Penalties
Research from the Investment Company Institute (ICI) found that more than 40% of households owned an IRA in 2022. Are you part of this group but considering what more you could do to help increase the strength of your retirement portfolio? If so, a gold IRA rollover might be a good option. This gold IRA rollover guide is a great...
As Tensions Rise Between the U.S. and China, Russia Is Hoarding Gold
Like millions of Americans, I like to check the weather forecast each morning so I have a good idea of what to expect and don’t get caught unprepared. It’s the same reason I like to keep my eye on headlines from around the world—the more I know about my environment and the world around me, the better I can prepare for the future. And...