Capstone Metals — gold and silver IRA dealer
Speak with a specialist: (800) 200-9553Monday – Friday, 7am – 4pm Pacific

Silver IRA and rollovers

Explore Physical Silver for a Self-Directed Retirement Account

A silver IRA is an ordinary self-directed retirement account that holds IRS-eligible physical silver instead of funds and shares. This page explains which silver qualifies, how a 401(k) or IRA is moved without creating a taxable event, who holds the metal, what it costs, and what can go wrong — before anyone asks you for a decision.

Get the Silver IRA Guide Talk With Capstone — (800) 200-9553

Monday – Friday, 7am – 4pm Pacific. Call or text (800) 200-9553.

  • Education first — the rules before any product
  • Physical metal of a stated fineness, never paper substitutes
  • Independent custodians and depositories: Preferred Trust, GoldStar
  • Premium, spread and account fees itemized in writing
  • Advisory delivered under licensing held since 1970

Get the Silver IRA Guide

Educational conversation. No obligation.

By submitting your name and phone number you are asking us to follow up, and you agree that Capstone Metals may contact you by phone, text, or email to clarify what you are looking for and make sure you receive it. Message and data rates may apply. You can ask us to stop at any time by replying STOP or telling us on the phone, and we never sell or share your information. This is a request for information and a conversation — not a purchase, an application, or advice. SMS Opt-In Policy · Privacy Policy · Terms & Conditions · How pricing works · Disclosures · Due diligence & financial risks

What happens next: we read what you send, then a licensed specialist calls during business hours to answer your questions. No account is opened and nothing is purchased on that call.

Established 2014 — licensed and insuredAdvisory under licensing held since 1970Independent custodians: Preferred Trust, GoldStarACH or wire funding — no card payments

At a glance

What the law permits

IRC §408(m)(3)

Certain bullion and coins of a stated fineness may be held by an IRA when a qualified trustee holds them.

Internal Revenue Service — 2025 edition

Direct transfer

Not a distribution

A trustee-to-trustee transfer moves funds between plans without a taxable distribution. Tax-deferred, not tax-free.

Internal Revenue Service — Current

Indirect rollover

60 days, one per year

Funds paid to you must be redeposited within 60 days, and the once-per-12-months limit applies across your IRAs.

Internal Revenue Service — 2025 edition

Industrial demand

Over half of silver use

Reported by the Silver Institute, an industry body with a commercial interest in silver. Read it as a position, not a neutral audit.

The Silver Institute — 2025 · industry-funded source

What these figures do not show: they say nothing about the future price of silver, and no rule or demand statistic makes an investment suitable for you. Silver produces no income and can be sold for less than you paid.

How a silver IRA is actually opened

  1. 1. An educational call

    A licensed specialist asks what account you hold, whether you are still employed by that plan sponsor, and what you are trying to accomplish. If a silver IRA is a poor fit, that is the answer you get.

  2. 2. The self-directed account is opened

    You open the account with an independent custodian — Preferred Trust Company or GoldStar Trust Company. The custodian is the trustee, not us, and their fee schedule comes from them.

  3. 3. Funds are transferred

    Usually a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer, which is not a taxable distribution. Where an indirect rollover is unavoidable, we walk through the 60-day rule and the once-per-year limit before anything moves.

  4. 4. Metal is chosen and priced

    You see the spot reference and the premium separately, product by product, plus the custodian and storage cost. Nothing is bundled into a single number.

  5. 5. The depository takes custody

    The metal ships to an approved depository chosen with the custodian, who reports the holding to you. IRA metal cannot be stored at home.

Why silver, and why that argument cuts both ways

Silver is unusual: it is a monetary metal with a five-thousand-year record and an industrial input with no equal in electrical and thermal conductivity. The Silver Institute reports that industrial applications — solar cells, electrical contacts, brazing alloys, vehicles, electronics — account for more than half of annual demand. The United States added silver to its 2025 final List of Critical Minerals.

The honest consequence of that dual role is volatility. Industrial demand ties silver to the economic cycle in a way gold is not tied, so silver tends to move further in both directions. If your objective is the steadiest of the precious metals, that argues for gold; if it is exposure to industrial demand alongside monetary demand, it argues for silver. Neither answer is universal, and neither is a forecast.

Industrial silver applications shown together: solar cells, electrical contacts and data-centre power equipment
More than half of annual silver demand is industrial, per the Silver Institute: solar cells, electrical contacts, brazing alloys, vehicles and the power plant behind computing.
Describe this illustration: Industrial silver applications shown together: solar cells, electrical contacts and data-centre power equipment

The plate collects the documented industrial uses of silver rather than the speculative ones. Silver has the highest electrical and thermal conductivity of any metal, which is why it appears in photovoltaic paste, switchgear contacts, brazing alloys, and electronics throughout vehicles and computing hardware. Solar and electronics consumption is published by the Silver Institute and the USGS. Per-rack data-centre silver figures are not published, and this page does not invent one.

The retirement-account mechanics, in order

A silver IRA is not a special product. It is a self-directed IRA — traditional, Roth, SEP or SIMPLE — whose custodian permits physical metal. The tax treatment follows the account type you already understand: contributions, deductibility, required minimum distributions and Roth rules are unchanged by the fact that the asset is metal.

Two rules do the real work. First, IRC §408(m)(3) permits only bullion and coins meeting a stated fineness, held by a qualified trustee — which is why a coin your dealer likes is not automatically eligible. Second, the account, not you, owns the metal. Taking personal possession of IRA metal is a distribution with the tax consequences of one.

  • Eligible silver is generally .999 fine bullion, plus specific sovereign coins such as the American Silver Eagle.
  • Numismatic and collectible pieces are generally not eligible, whatever premium is attached to them.
  • A direct trustee-to-trustee transfer is not a distribution and is the route we use wherever possible.
  • An indirect 60-day rollover has a once-per-12-months limit across your IRAs and withholding consequences.
  • Whether a current employer plan can move at all depends on the plan's own rules, not on the IRS alone.
Physical silver coins and bars set out beside self-directed IRA paperwork on a desk
Silver inside a self-directed IRA is real metal of a stated fineness, bought by the account and held for it by an independent custodian at an approved depository.
Describe this illustration: Physical silver coins and bars set out beside self-directed IRA paperwork on a desk

The plate shows what a silver IRA actually consists of: IRS-eligible bullion coins and bars, and the account paperwork that determines who owns them. The account, not the individual, is the buyer. A qualified trustee — Preferred Trust Company or GoldStar Trust Company in Capstone Metals' case — holds the metal at an approved depository, which is why home storage of IRA metal is not permitted. Fineness rules under IRC section 408(m)(3) decide which products a custodian will accept.

Custody and storage: who actually holds the metal

Three separate parties exist for a reason. The custodian is the IRA trustee and keeps the account records. The depository physically holds and reports the metal. The dealer — Capstone Metals — sources and delivers it, and then has no control over the holding. Any arrangement that collapses those roles into one deserves your suspicion.

Storage comes in two shapes. Segregated storage assigns specified serial-numbered bars to your account. Allocated or commingled storage records an entitlement to a quantity inside a larger holding, usually at a lower annual cost. Both are legitimate; the difference should appear on the fee schedule you are given before the account is opened. Home storage of IRA metal is not permitted, whatever a 'home storage IRA' advertisement claims.

IRA-approved precious metals depository interior with racked bullion storage
IRA metal is stored at an approved depository selected with the custodian — not at home, and not in the dealer's own vault.
Describe this illustration: IRA-approved precious metals depository interior with racked bullion storage

The interior of an approved depository: racked, catalogued bullion under access control. Depositories are independent of both the dealer and the account owner. That separation is the point — the custodian directs storage, the depository holds and reports, and the dealer's role ends at delivery. This is also why home storage arrangements for IRA metal are not permitted.

The verification question worth asking

A photograph of a vault proves nothing. What matters is the reporting and audit arrangement: who verifies the inventory, how often, whether the auditor is independent of the depository, and whether you receive a statement that identifies your holding. Ask us, and ask any dealer you are comparing us to.

An independent auditor verifying and weighing bullion bars inside a depository
Independent verification is the part of custody worth asking about: who counts the metal, how often, and whether you receive the report.
Describe this illustration: An independent auditor verifying and weighing bullion bars inside a depository

An auditor from a firm independent of the depository weighing and checking bars against the inventory record. The check that matters to an account owner is not the photograph of a vault but the audit and reporting arrangement behind it: frequency, who performs it, and whether the holder receives a statement identifying their holdings.

How this differs from a silver ETF

A silver ETF share is a claim on a pooled holding, traded like a security: highly liquid, cheap to enter and exit, carrying an expense ratio, and generally with no delivery right for an ordinary holder. Physical bullion in an IRA is a holding: identifiable, with storage, insurance and a dealer spread attached, and less liquid.

The choice is a trade-off, not a moral question. If low cost and instant liquidity matter most, an ETF does that better. If direct holding and custody matter most, physical metal does that better. We sell physical metal, so weigh that when reading our view, and read the comparison page rather than taking our word for it.

Diagram contrasting a paper silver ETF claim on a pooled holding with delivered physical bullion
An ETF share is a claim on a pooled holding, priced and traded like a security. Physical bullion is a holding with custody, storage and insurance attached. Each has trade-offs.
Describe this illustration: Diagram contrasting a paper silver ETF claim on a pooled holding with delivered physical bullion

On one side, a share class representing an interest in a trust's pooled metal: liquid, cheap to trade, with an expense ratio and no delivery right for an ordinary holder. On the other, allocated physical bullion: identifiable, deliverable, with storage, insurance and a dealer spread. Neither is presented as superior. The trade-offs are liquidity and cost against direct holding and custody.

What it costs — all of it

There are four separate costs in a silver IRA, and bundling them into one number is how buyers get hurt. Every figure is quoted to you in writing before you commit to anything.

Dealer premium
The amount above the spot reference for the specific product. Sovereign coins carry a higher premium per ounce than large bars. We quote spot and premium separately, always.
Buy/sell spread
The difference between what a dealer sells at and buys back at. It exists at every dealer and mint. Ask any firm what theirs is on the exact product you are considering.
Custodian fees
Account setup and annual administration, set by the custodian — Preferred Trust or GoldStar — not by us. You receive their schedule from them.
Depository storage
An annual charge, usually a small percentage of value or a flat minimum, with segregated storage costing more than allocated storage.

Capstone Metals does not accept card payments. Funding is by ACH transfer or bank wire, so no card processing cost is buried in your price.

Risks and considerations you should weigh

This is the section most advertisements omit. Read it before you talk to anyone, including us.

  • Silver produces no interest, dividend or income. Its entire return depends on the price when you sell.
  • Silver is more volatile than gold because industrial demand ties it to the economic cycle.
  • Premiums and spreads mean the metal must appreciate before you are level, particularly on small orders of coins.
  • Concentration is a real risk: a large share of retirement savings in any single asset increases the range of outcomes.
  • Liquidity is good but not instant — selling physical metal takes a transaction, not a click.
  • Custodian and storage fees continue every year whether the price rises or falls.
  • Taking personal possession of IRA metal is a distribution and can trigger tax and penalties.
  • Nothing on this page is a forecast. No one, including us, knows what silver will do.

Questions people actually ask

Can silver be held in an IRA?

Yes, within limits. IRC §408(m)(3) permits certain bullion and coins meeting a stated fineness when a qualified trustee holds them, which in practice means .999 fine silver bullion and specific sovereign coins such as the American Silver Eagle. Collectible and numismatic pieces are generally excluded. The custodian, not the dealer, has the final word on whether a specific product is accepted.

How does a rollover work?

In most cases a direct trustee-to-trustee transfer: your existing custodian sends funds straight to the new self-directed custodian, which is not a taxable distribution. An indirect rollover pays you first and requires redeposit within 60 days, subject to a once-per-12-months limit across your IRAs and possible withholding. Whether a current employer plan can move at all depends on that plan's own rules. The IRS rollover chart is the reference we read with you.

What is physical custody, and can I keep the metal at home?

Physical custody means an approved depository holds the metal for your IRA and reports it, with the custodian as trustee. You cannot store IRA metal at home. Advertisements for 'home storage IRAs' describe arrangements the IRS has challenged, and taking possession of IRA metal is treated as a distribution. Metal you buy outside a retirement account is a different matter — that is yours to store as you choose.

What fees should I compare between dealers?

Four things, separately: the premium over spot on the exact product, the buy/sell spread on that product, the custodian's setup and annual fees, and the depository's annual storage charge including whether it is segregated or allocated. If a firm will only give you one bundled number, that is the answer to your question.

How is silver different from a silver ETF?

An ETF share is a security representing an interest in a pooled holding: liquid, cheap to trade, with an expense ratio and generally no delivery right for a retail holder. Physical silver is a holding with storage, insurance and a dealer spread attached, less liquid but directly held. We sell physical metal, so weigh our view accordingly — the trade-off is genuine in both directions.

What risks should I understand before opening one?

That silver pays no income, that it is more volatile than gold, that premiums and spreads must be recovered before you are level, that annual custodian and storage fees continue in flat or falling markets, and that concentrating a large share of retirement savings in one asset widens the range of outcomes. Also that no one can tell you what the price will do.

Does silver always rise with inflation?

No. Silver and gold have gone long stretches without keeping pace with measured inflation, including multi-year periods after previous peaks. The relationship between metals and inflation is real over long horizons and unreliable over short ones. Anyone promising inflation protection as a guarantee is selling something.

Is Capstone Metals the custodian?

No, and that separation matters. We are a dealer and advisory firm. Preferred Trust Company and GoldStar Trust Company act as independent custodians, and an approved depository holds the metal. Their fees come from them, and their reporting comes to you.

Read further on our research pages

Sources

Get the silver IRA guide, then decide whether to talk

The guide covers eligibility, the transfer mechanics, custody, fees and the risks in more depth than this page. If you would rather just ask a person, call or text — a licensed specialist answers, not a call centre.

Get the Silver IRA Guide (800) 200-9553 Text us

Disclosures

Who you are dealing with. Capstone Metals is a DBA (“doing business as”) name of TB Alternative Assets LLC, a California-registered company. TB Alternative Assets LLC is the legal entity that owns and operates Capstone Metals and is the contracting party on every order, agreement and disclosure on this site. Our office: 5311 Topanga Canyon Blvd, Woodland Hills, CA, 91364. Telephone (800) 200-9553, info@capstonemetals.com. Monday – Friday, 7am – 4pm Pacific.

Market risk. Capstone Metals does not promise or project the future price of any metal. Precious metals are speculative, produce no income, and can be sold for less than you paid. Past performance never guarantees future results, and nothing on this page is a forecast, projection or assurance of any outcome.

Costs. Every physical metals transaction includes a premium over the spot price, and dealer buy and sell prices include a spread. Retirement accounts additionally carry custodian setup, annual administration and depository storage fees set by those independent firms. All applicable amounts are disclosed to you in writing before you commit to anything.

Not advice. This page is education, not investment, tax or legal advice, and it is not an offer or a recommendation. Custodians and depositories are independent third parties, not affiliates of Capstone Metals. Discuss your situation with your own tax professional, attorney and any advisor you trust before acting.

By submitting your name and phone number you are asking us to follow up, and you agree that Capstone Metals may contact you by phone, text, or email to clarify what you are looking for and make sure you receive it. Message and data rates may apply. You can ask us to stop at any time by replying STOP or telling us on the phone, and we never sell or share your information. This is a request for information and a conversation — not a purchase, an application, or advice.

Read the full risk disclosures, disclaimer and privacy policy.

Get the Silver IRA Guide
Call (800) 200-9553 Text Email