How to roll over your 401(k) to a gold IRA

Traditional 401(k)s have done well over the last eighteen months.According to Fidelity, the average annual 401(k) account balance increased by double digits again in 2025 for the third year in a row.But if you read the news you have seen storm clouds gathering on the horizon of the economy.

Surging energy prices due to the war in Iran, a recent 3.3% annual inflation print eroding consumer purchasing power and a slowing labor market are piling on top of longer-term economic headwinds including continuing tariffs on imports and a sluggish job market.Economic uncertainty has many investors looking for alternatives to help them lock in their stock gains of the last few years and rebalance to more durable assets.Physical gold, provided by a specialized provider like Lear Capital, is a shining example of an asset that has not only appreciated in value recently but is also an uncorrelated asset that offers unique risk protection in an uncertain world.When a worker who has an employer-sponsored retirement plan leaves their job, they can either leave their 401(k) with their provider, roll it over into a different retirement plan or take possession of it.The last option is the least attractive.

If you ask your employer to cut you a check, you will have to pay income tax on the money, and if you’re under 59½ you will also have to pay a 10% penalty.The best option is to roll the 401(k) over into your new employer’s 401(k) program or into an individual retirement account (IRA).This avoids taxes and allows your investments to continue to grow tax free.

But most employer 401(k) don’t give you much choice in your investments, and traditional IRAs don’t give you access to physical gold.That’s where a self-directed IRA (SDIRA) provider like Lear Capital comes in.An experienced provider can help you with the paperwork and walk you through the necessary steps to set up a SDIRA, fund it with your current 401(k) money and make sure your assets are securely stored with a cu...