Gold & Silver IRA Strategy Guide. Wealth. Stability. Security.

Gold & Silver IRA Strategy Guide Wealth. Stability. Security.

TABLE OF CONTENTS Diversification............................. Precious Metals IRA....................... Getting Started............................ Permissible Metals.......................... Proof Coins............................... Custodian and Depository.................... 1 3 4 5 7 9 Rules of a Precious Metals IRA................ 11 Frequently Asked Questions.................. 12

DIVERSIFICATION OF YOUR PORTFOLIO IS KEY T he best diversification occurs when the assets in the portfolio are not associated or connected to one another. Investors always talk about diversification of their portfolios, and they do so for good reason. A portfolio needs to be well balanced. Any financial advisor or analyst will tell you that the best way to protect the wealth you have accumulated is to have a diversified portfolio, consisting of equity assets such as stocks and mutual funds; fixed income assets such as savings accounts, bonds and CD s; gold and silver; and various forms of insurance. Since gold has traditionally had a very low correlation to stocks and paper backed assets, it is a great diversifier. One of the simplest and Retirement Savings 51% of Americans are not saving for retirement Financial planning requires one to think seriously about their finances, and many Americans would prefer not to and then don t, says Stephen Brobeck, executive director of CFA. But having a personal financial plan helps both rich and poor achieve their financial goals. Traditional 401(k)s 25% of your 401(k) is the standard of living sustainability We re going from bad to worse, Diane Oakley, executive director of the National Institute on Retirement Security, told The Washington Post. Already, fewer private-sector workers have access to stable pension plans. And the savings in individual retirement savings accounts like 401(k) plans - which already are severely underfunded - continue to leak out at a high rate. Diversification quickest ways to diversify a portfolio is to include precious metals in your IRA. Regardless of your portfolio strategy, tangible assets can insulate your retirement from sudden economic and political shifts. History has shown that gold and other precious metals are safe harbor investments. They typically increase considerably in value and tend to be safer investments in times when non-tangible assets such as stocks are diminishing in value. Have you watched as the value of your stock-based retirement account gradually decreases? Diversify your portfolio and guard your retirement savings from further loss. 5% - 10% invested into precious metals Financial professionals recommend diversifying your portfolio by placing a minimum of 5-10% in precious metals, and in some cases as much as 50-100%. The IRS does not restrict the amount of precious metals an individual can place in an IRA, so individuals can choose to allocate as much as they want in precious metals. Adding gold to your retirement account will enhance portfolio performance while reducing losses in times of economic turmoil. Some primary forces that cause the price of gold/silver to rise: Inflation When the government chooses to print more money, the value of the dollar decreases. The United States Federal Reserve Bank has the ability to print money at any time. This can be seen in everyday life with the recent increases in the price of gasoline and groceries. The demand of gold increases in an economic climate where the returns on stocks, bonds, and real estate do not keep up with inflation. Defaults on Loans Gold Prices are expected to rise as governments around the world fail to meet their debt obligations. Weakness in the U.S. Dollar The value of gold rises in times of a weakened dollar. Budget Deficits The deeper the economy has gone into deficit, the more the paper assets have struggled, while gold and silver have acted as a true storage of wealth; maintaining their values. Stock and Bond Market Turmoil A spike in the price of gold is a known sign that market investors are getting nervous. Gold prices will continue to rise as the value of stocks and bonds remain unpredictable. Bank Failures Many financial institutions remain on the brink of failure. Many large institutions and wealthy individuals have been moving large portions of their wealth into precious metals. Average annual percentage increase/decrease over the last 10 years 1 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 2

PRECIOUS METALS IRA GETTING STARTED The Traditional Security of Gold Meets The Modern Features Of An IRA For generations, gold has been a trusted form of currency, and a secure way to store and protect wealth. Today, investors can add a wide range of gold, silver and other precious metals directly into their precious metals IRA, with the Heritage Gold Group Advantage IRA account. This type of account is ideal for first time investors seeking the security of physical gold and silver, as well as individuals with existing retirement accounts, including existing IRAs, 401(k), 403(b) plans. The Diversification Benefits of Silver Meets The Modern Features Of An IRA In the past decade, silver has become overwhelmingly popular among retirement savers and investors. Like gold, silver has been used as currency consistently across history, and has always been a secure way to store and protect wealth. Today, investors can add a wide range of silver and other precious metals directly into their precious metals IRA with the Heritage Advantage precious metals IRA account. This type of account is ideal for first time investors seeking the security of physical gold and silver, as well as individuals with existing retirement accounts, including existing IRAs, 401(k), 403(b) plans What Are The Benefits Of Physical Gold and Silver In IRAs? In the past, IRA accounts have primarily included stocks, bonds, and other paper currency-backed assets like US Treasury Bills and mortgage-backed securities (MBS). Now, investors and retirement savers can have the security of an IRA account backed by physical gold and other precious metals. Gold IRAs have become an important way for individuals to diversify their assets, and reduce the effects of inflation on their retirement savings. Gold IRAs can be funded by certain coins and bars approved by the IRS. Gold is the purest and oldest form of money. Its value is not subject to the whim of governments, politicians, or central bankers. Gold has survived every economic circumstance that civilization has ever known. For 5000 years, gold has preserved wealth in times of economic hardship and crisis. Gold continues to be an important aspect of a rational retirement plan. How Do I Rollover An Existing Retirement Account? Rolling over your existing IRA is a straightforward and easy process. You can choose to transfer all, or just a part of your existing IRA, with a tax-free transaction. Many retirement savers have accounts other than IRAs that may qualify for a tax-free conversion to a Heritage Advantage IRA account, including 401(k), 403(b), Pension and TIAA CREF plans. Call us to talk with a Silver IRA rollover expert for more details about how to put this opportunity to work for you. step1 How Do I Open A New Heritage Advantage Precious Metals IRA Account? When you re ready to open a precious metals IRA, or even if you just have questions, Heritage Gold Group will be there to make sure you have the information and resources you need to make a decision that is best for your personal situation. We pride ourselves on making the process easy, and we ll be there with you step-by-step. A Heritage Advantage IRA is the first step toward securing your financial future with physical gold and silver, and to make sure you get the best value for your money, we ll even pay the account fees for the first three years a $675 dollar value. The process is easy, and involves three easy steps. Open Your Precious Metals IRA Account Once you have decided to protect your retirement account with precious metals, contact your account executive at Heritage Gold Group to open an account with a Precious Metals IRA custodian. Your Account Executive will assist you in completing your Precious Metals IRA account application. Once your application has been submitted, Heritage Gold Group will open your new precious metals retirement account. step2 Fund Your Precious Metals IRA Heritage Gold Group will work directly with your current custodian in rolling over the assets in your 401(k) or IRA into your new precious metals retirement account. step3 Add Precious Metals to the Account Once your application has been submitted, your account has been opened, and the funds have been moved into your new account, Heritage Gold Group will exchange the existing paper assets for physical precious metals. You will work directly with your Account Executive to discuss the precious metals that best fit your investment portfolio. 3 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 4

PERMISSIBLE METALS T he Internal Revenue Code allows certain approved precious metals that meet applicable fineness standards into Individual Retirement Accounts. Heritage Gold Group offers a wide range of precious metals products that meet these specific requirements. Below is a list of some of the approved gold and silver products currently allowed in Precious Metals Retirement Accounts. The Advantages of U.S. Proof American Eagles in your Retirement Account... Proof American Eagles can help protect you from a financial crisis such as massive money printing, inflation, a depreciating US dollar and stock market adjustments. Liquidity: United States Government backing means that, American Proof coins are recognized and accepted in major investment markets which means they are highly liquid and can easily be converted to cash. Diversification: Many financial advisors recommend that investors allocate a percentage of their investment portfolio in tangible assets which have low correlations to the mainstream markets. GOLD AMERICAN EAGLE SILVER AMERICAN EAGLE GOLD AMERICAN EAGLE PROOFS AUSTRIAN PHILHARMONIC AUSTRIAN PHILHARMONIC SILVER AMERICAN EAGLE PROOFS.995+ PURE GOLD BARS U.S. GOLD BUFFALO UNCIRCULATED.999+ PURE SILVER BARS MEXICAN LIBERTAD 5 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 6

PROOF COINS THE GOLD STANDARD FOR PRECIOUS METALS RETIREMENT ACCOUNTS Driving Factors of Performance: Proof Gold American Eagle Coins Offered in ¹/ 10 oz, ¼ oz, ½ oz, and 1 oz. weights, the Proof Gold American Eagle Coin is an uncirculated series of Gold American Eagles that have never been touched by human hands. These coins are struck with extra precision and care at the US Mint s historic West Point, New York facilities. Proof Silver American Eagle Coin The Proof Silver American Eagle Coin is a specially crafted series of Silver American Eagles that are made in specially treated minting casts, in limited quantities. These coins are struck with extra precision and care at the US Mint s historic West Point and Philadelphia facilities. Unique Finish Coin blanks are fed manually into the presses where they are struck multiple times to ensure detailed coin images. Intrinsic Value In order to be a truly anti-inflation investment, proof coins have produced returns that compare to inflation rates. Proof Gold and Silver coins are presented in a special felt case, and in addition to their intrinsic value as silver coins, over time they may also appreciate because of their collectability, perfect condition, and restricted supply. Proof Gold and Silver American Eagle Coins are approved investments for Gold and Silver IRAs. Talk with a Heritage Gold Group representative to get more information on owning these untouched masterpieces in your Gold IRA. Never Been Touched by Human Hands Each proof coin is specially inspected, never touched by human hands, and is finally sealed in an air-tight container. Limited Mintage and Rarity Only a limited number of proof coins are struck each year and certain years have sold out soon after being issued. Certified by the US Mint Every proof coin comes with a beautiful velvet presentation case with an official U.S. Mint Certificate of Authority. This certificate outlines the United States government guarantee of the coin s gold purity, content, and weight. 7 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 8

CUSTODIAN AND DEPOSITORY As a Precious Metals IRA account holder, you own the actual metals themselves. However, because taking physical possession of the metals in a Precious Metals IRA is considered by the IRS as a distribution, the metals are held by a secure Precious Metals Depository. The metals in the depository are kept in individual accounts with specific assets assigned to you. It is similar to having gold in a safe deposit box at your bank. You can visit your assets at any time to physically see and touch them, but you cannot take them home with you until you make a qualified IRA withdrawal. The depository also makes ownership easier for you, since you will not have to maintain separate theft or fire protection for your metals. Do You Have One or More 401(k)s From a Previous Employer? Depository: Heritage Gold Group recommends Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC) for the storage of your metals. Their facilities are extremely secure and are insured by Lloyd's of London, meaning that you can be sure that your metals are safe and accounted for at all times. The Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC) was established in 1999 to provide a full range of specialized precious metals custody, accounting, and shipping services. Their customers include investment banks, brokerage firms, refiners, manufacturers, commodity trading houses, major retailers, and coin dealers. DDSC is approved by the Commodity Futures Trading Commission as a licensed depository of the CME Group (COMEX and NYMEX Divisions) for the storage of gold, silver, platinum, and palladium. Custodian: Heritage Gold Group recommends Sterling Trust to be your Precious Metals custodian. Sterling Trust is recognized as the premier Precious Metals IRA custodian of the United States, managing billions of dollars in assets. The strong relationship we have built with Sterling Trust means that all of our clients receive the benefits of working with a trusted partner, resulting in the highest level of service possible. Since 1974, Sterling Trust and its affiliates have provided services to over 128,000 individuals and businesses nationwide. They have managed over $10 billion in assets under their custodial and retirement administration. However, there are a handful of other custodians just like Sterling Trust that can hold precious metals, and your account executive can go over all of the choices with you. Today, the average person works 2.3 years at a job before changing it. Often, when you do change jobs and companies, you have to decide what to do with your 401(k) or other retirement plans that you have built during the duration of your employment. You can easily convert your 401(k), 403(b), or TSP along with other forms of qualified retirement plans from a previous employer into a Precious Metals IRA. Your Heritage Gold Group Account Executive will assist you in completing all of the paperwork and walk you through the process of securing your retirement funds with physical gold and silver. It is likely that your current employer's plan will not allow assets to be moved to a Precious Metals IRA. However, upon separation, you have the ability to control the assets that you have accumulated without penalty while maintaining the tax deferred status of those funds. Trusted Precious Metals Custodians 9 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 10

GENERAL RULES FOR A PRECIOUS METALS IRA W hile it is allowable to hold precious metals within your IRA, the IRS does have several rules that an IRA holder needs to be aware of before getting started. rule1 The Gold, Silver, Platinum and Palladium are required by the IRS to meet a certain purity and fineness in order for them to qualify to be held within and IRA. Gold.995% Silver.999% Platinum.9995% Palladium.9995% rule2 Precious Metals that are held in an IRA must be stored in an insured 3rd party depository. Heritage Gold Group chooses the Delaware Depository Service Company (DDSC) to store IRA metals. All precious metal assets held at DDSC are maintained in customer-specific custody accounts, on a fully allocated basis, and off of DDSC s balance sheet. They are not held as deposits or consignments and are fully insured by Lloyd s of London up to $1 billion in All Risk insurance coverage. rule3 Gold and Silver IRA s are regulated by the same tax laws and restrictions of any Traditional, Roth, SEP or Simple IRA plans. For more information on this please visit the IRS s website at: http://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/retirement-plans-faqs-regarding-iras Side Note: It is always important to remember that Heritage Gold Group s precious metals IRA advisors are not licensed financial planners, CPA s, or attorneys. Please remember to consult with your financial planner, CPA or attorney before making any investment or diversification decisions regarding your retirement accounts. FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Who is eligible for a Precious Metals IRA? If you are under age 70 1/2, and have earned income, you re eligible for a Precious Metals-funded IRA. You can chose to set up a Gold IRA, Silver IRA, or an IRA with a combination of precious metals. Are there any penalties for rolling over my old IRA or 401(k) to a Precious Metals IRA? No. An IRA rollover is a common, tax-free process with no fees or penalties, if done correctly. You can decide to roll over your current IRA to a new IRA at any time, as many times as you like, as long as the funds are deposited into your new IRA account within 60 days. Talk to a Gold IRA Expert at Heritage Gold group to learn more. What is the process for rolling over my existing IRA or 401(k) to a Precious Metals IRA? The process is completed in three steps: First, we ll open a new Heritage Advantage Precious Metals IRA for you. Then we ll help you fund your new account with the assets in your old IRA there are no penalties, and you don t need to invest any additional money. Once the funds are transferred to your new precious metals IRA account, we ll then provide you with resources and information to select the precious metals that are best for your financial goals. Heritage Gold Group will be there to walk you through every step of the process, which typically takes about 10 business days. In what form can I receive distributions? You may receive distributions from your Precious Metals IRA in the form of physical gold, silver, platinum or palladium, depending on what metals are in your account. If you prefer to receive cash, Heritage Gold Group will help you convert your precious metals into cash. When will I be eligible for distributions from my Precious Metals IRA? At the age of 59 1/2, the beneficiary of a Precious Metals IRA may begin receiving penalty-free distributions from their account. How do I keep my gold and other precious metals safe while they are in my IRA? When you open a Heritage Advantage Precious Metals IRA, we ll help you deposit your gold, silver and other precious metals in an IRS-approved, secure custodial vault, provided by an independent company. The IRS requires that the physical the metals funding a precious metals IRA account be tracked, and accounted for by this third party, ensuring the safety of each account owner s assets, until they reach age 59 1/2, when they are eligible to take qualified distributions. What other types of retirement accounts qualify for rollover to a Precious Metals IRA? If you have a 401(k), 403(b) retirement plan for public employees or employees of tax-exempt organizations, 457 Deferred Compensation Plan, Pension Plan, Thrift Savings Plan, TIAA CREF, or non-traditional IRA, you may qualify. Call one of our Gold IRA experts to learn more. 11 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 12

Isn t it about time you made gold a part of your Heritage? 3 Simple Steps to Opening a Heritage Advantage Precious Metals IRA 1 2 3 Call and speak with a precious metals specialist to find out how to get started. Discuss with your specialist what types of gold and silver will help you achieve your financial goals. Open your self-directed IRA and add precious metals to your account. 13 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 14

Precious Metals IRA Special For more information, or to get started with your Precious Metals IRA, contact an Account Executive at Heritage Gold Group. Fax Email Toll Free NO NEW ACCOUNT FEES NO TRANSFER/ROLLOVER FEES NO STORAGE/ADMIN FEES * * For up to 3 years when you start a Precious Metals IRA with Heritage Gold Group. Call to reserve this offer and open your Heritage Advantage Precious Metals IRA today! 1-866-589-0768 Corporate Address 6320 Canoga Ave. 15th Floor Woodland Hills, CA 91367 Info@HeritageGoldGroup.com Website www.heritagegoldgroup.com 1-855-465-3472 Overnight Address 19528 Ventura Blvd. Suite 370 Tarzana, CA 91356 Disclosure: There is no assurance that commodities (i.e. precious metals) will achieve their objectives. Return and principal value will fluctuate and your portfolio, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than the original cost. No statement, presentation, article, or any other communication available in this material is to be construed as a recommendation to purchase or sell a security or service, or to provide investment, legal, accounting or tax advice. Client should carefully read sales literature prospectuses, and/or other offering documents, when available, before making purchases. They should carefully consider all risks and/or considerations contained in the documents. Clients should understand that all purchases have some degree of risk. If seeking advice, clients are responsible for providing accurate information about their financial status, goals, and risk tolerance to ensure that appropriate recommendations are provided. Client should promptly notify their Account Executive whenever there are significant changes to their portfolio objectives, risk tolerance, income, net worth or liquidity needs. Client should make certain that they understand the correlation between risk and return. Clients should consult an attorney or tax advisor for specific tax or legal advice. Commodities involve risk and are not suitable for all investors. 15 Call Heritage Gold Group at (855) GOLD-IRA (465-3472) 16