You have been following the stock market for some time. You are considering retirement planning but also wondering about the best investment to help protect your future. After much research, you decide that a physical investment in precious metals is the best option. You can do a 401K rollover to a gold IRA. It is now time to decide which precious metals will work best for your gold IRA and whether they are allowed. The Self Directed IRA, Gold 401K, or Roth IRA are all possible names for an IRA gold.

Prior to 1997, regulations and rules allowed only American Gold Eagles and Silver Eagles to be put into a Gold IRA. With the passage of the Tax Payer Relief Act 1997, it was possible to diversify your gold 401k amongst various precious metals. Current regulations permit placement of gold bullion coin and bars, silver bullion coin and bars, platinum, and palladium within Gold IRA portfolios.

American Eagle Gold bullion is a very popular IRA gold investment. This particular coin was originally introduced to America in 1986 to compete against the Canadian Maple Leaf, a second gold bullion coin that’s permissible in an IRA gold 401K. You can also invest in the Austrian Philharmonic, American Buffalo, or Australian Kangaroo gold coin.

The Krugerrand and Mexican 50 Pesos gold bullion coins are restricted IRA investments. Rare coins include the liberty head, Saint Gaudens or Swiss Franc as well as rare coins like the British Sovereign, liberty head, Saint Gaudens, Swissfranc and Swiss Franc. Silver investing is now more popular than ever, having outperformed all precious metals investments in 2010. In a Self Directed IRA, you can buy the American Eagle Silver Bullion coin, the Australian Kookaburra and Austrian Vienna Philharmonic coins.

You can also invest in silver bars or privately minted sterling rounds produced by manufacturers that have been accredited by the NYSE and Comex.

Finally, we have platinum as well as palladium. Permissible Platinum investments are the American Eagle, Canadian Maple Leaf, Australian Koala and Isle of Man Noble platinum coins. Palladium investments can be made by national mints.

The Self Directed IRA, or Gold IRA, is a powerful tool that can diversify your investment portfolio while protecting your future. As long as your current retirement plan meets certain requirements, it can be set up quickly.