Question 1

What is a Silver IRA?

Accepted Answer

A Silver IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account that holds physical silver instead of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds. It carries the same tax treatment as a conventional IRA — the difference is what the account owns.

Question 2

How is a Silver IRA different from a regular IRA?

Accepted Answer

The tax rules are identical. The difference is the custodian and the asset. A self-directed custodian such as Equity Trust holds the account, and the metal is stored at an approved depository rather than held as a brokerage position.

Question 3

Can I roll over my 401k into a Silver IRA without penalty?

Accepted Answer

Yes, when it is done as a direct rollover or trustee-to-trustee transfer. The funds move between custodians without passing through your hands, so there is no taxable distribution and no early-withdrawal penalty.

Question 4

Do I qualify for a Silver IRA?

Accepted Answer

Former employer 401k, traditional or Roth IRA, and annuity rollovers qualify at any age with a $25,000 minimum. A current employer 401k generally requires age 59½ or older for an in-service distribution. Cash purchases start at $10,000.

Question 5

How long does the rollover process take?

Accepted Answer

Account opening takes approximately 15–20 minutes online. Funding typically takes 10–21 business days depending on how quickly your existing custodian releases the funds.

Question 6

What silver products are IRA-eligible?

Accepted Answer

IRA silver must be .999 fine or better. That includes American Silver Eagles, Canadian Maple Leafs, Australian Kangaroos, and .999 bars from approved refiners such as PAMP Suisse, Valcambi, and Engelhard.

Question 7

What is the minimum purchase?

Accepted Answer

Our minimum for physical silver delivered or stored is $5,000.

Question 8

What products do you sell?

Accepted Answer

American Silver Eagles, Morgan and Peace dollars, Canadian Maple Leafs, 10 oz and 100 oz bars, pre-1964 junk silver, and generic .999 rounds.

Question 9

How is silver shipped?

Accepted Answer

Fully insured via Brinks, Loomis, or USPS Registered Mail, with declared-value insurance covering full replacement cost. Signature confirmation is required on all orders over $5,000.

Question 10

Can I store my silver at a depository instead of at home?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We can arrange allocated storage at Delaware Depository — your specific bars or coins held in your name, insured, with online access.

Question 11

What is a premium over spot?

Accepted Answer

Spot is the real-time market price of raw silver. The premium is the additional amount that covers minting, distribution, and dealer margin. Generic rounds carry the lowest premiums; government coins carry higher premiums.

Question 12

Why is silver up so much recently?

Accepted Answer

Historically, the main drivers cited are record industrial demand from solar, EVs, AI infrastructure, and 5G, combined with essentially flat mine supply. We can explain the data, but no one can predict where prices go next.

Question 13

What is the gold-to-silver ratio?

Accepted Answer

It is the number of ounces of silver it takes to buy one ounce of gold. It currently sits at approximately 67:1 against a long-run historical average of roughly 50–60:1.

Question 14

Why does silver have a supply deficit?

Accepted Answer

Mine output has been roughly flat since 2015 while industrial demand has grown. Approximately 70% of silver is a byproduct of copper, zinc, and lead mining, so supply does not respond quickly to silver prices.

Question 15

Are China and Russia really stockpiling silver?

Accepted Answer

Several nations, including China, India, and Russia, have been reported to be accumulating physical silver as a strategic industrial reserve. Reserve data from sovereign buyers is not always fully transparent, so we present it as reported rather than as certainty.

Question 16

Is silver a good inflation hedge?

Accepted Answer

Historically, silver has preserved purchasing power over long inflationary periods, though it is more volatile than gold because of its industrial demand component. It is one tool among several — not a guarantee.

Question 17

How do I get started?

Accepted Answer

Request a callback on our Get Started page or call (310) 555-0192. A specialist will spend about 10 minutes understanding your situation before recommending anything.

Question 18

Do you charge for consultations?

Accepted Answer

No. Consultations are free and carry no obligation.

Question 19

Are you a licensed precious metals dealer?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Sage Silver Capital is a California-registered precious metals dealer. We are not a registered investment advisor, broker-dealer, or financial planner.

Question 20

What are your fees?

Accepted Answer

For IRAs: Equity Trust charges approximately $80–100 per year, and Delaware Depository storage runs approximately 0.10–0.15% of metal value annually with a $100–150 minimum. Our dealer premium varies by product and volume and is always quoted before purchase.

Question 21

What is your buyback policy?

Accepted Answer

We buy back metals we sold at prevailing market bid pricing, with no buyback fee. We will always quote you a firm price before you ship anything back.

Frequently Asked Questions

Silver IRA Basics

Physical Silver Purchase

The Silver Market

Working With Us

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