Partial Rollovers: Moving Only Part of an Account
A partial rollover moves only a portion of a retirement account into a self-directed IRA that holds precious metals, leaving the rest where it is. Most IRAs and many employer plans allow it. People choose it to keep diversification, to preserve features of the old account, or to move gradually rather than all at once.
Why Move Only Part
There's no rule that a rollover must be all or nothing, and there are several practical reasons to split:
- Diversification. Precious metals can be one way to diversify a portfolio, but metal pays no interest or dividends and its price can swing. Holding a portion alongside other assets is a common approach. See how much gold to own and gold for diversification.
- Keeping old-account benefits. An employer plan might have low costs, loan access, or a stable value fund. A governmental 457(b) has an early-distribution advantage that IRAs don't; see the 457(b) rollover guide.
- Avoiding exit costs. An annuity may allow a penalty-free withdrawal of part of its value each year, while surrendering the whole contract would trigger charges.
- Staggering purchases. Some people prefer to buy metals over time rather than at a single price. Our page on buying gold on a schedule discusses that approach.
- Managing liquidity. Keeping some savings in assets that are easier to sell can help with expenses or required distributions.
How to Request a Partial Move
Moving part of an existing account into metals
Ask the receiving self-directed custodian for a transfer form and specify a partial transfer, either a dollar amount or specific holdings to sell. If the old IRA holds funds or stocks, sell enough to raise the cash first, or ask whether the old custodian will sell on instruction. Leave enough cash in the old account to cover any fees it might charge. A partial trustee-to-trustee transfer doesn't count toward the one-rollover-per-year limit. See IRA-to-IRA transfers.
Moving part of an employer plan into metals
Check whether the plan allows partial distributions. Some plans permit only full distributions after separation, or limit how many partial withdrawals you can take each year. If allowed, elect a direct rollover for the amount going to the self-directed IRA. If you take the rest in cash, 20% is generally withheld from that cash portion only, and it's taxable.
Moving part of a TSP balance into metals
The TSP allows partial withdrawals after separation, subject to its rules. See TSP rollovers.
A Simple Way to Think About the Split
Rather than starting with a percentage someone else picked, many people work through questions like these, ideally with a licensed professional:
- What role do I want metals to play: a diversifier, a long-term store of value, or something else?
- How much of my total savings, across all accounts, is already in any single asset type?
- Will I need to take distributions from this account soon? If so, how will I raise cash from metal?
- Do the custodian and storage costs make sense for the amount I'm moving?
- Am I comfortable with metal prices moving up and down?
Answering these tends to produce a range that fits your circumstances rather than a single "right" number.
An Illustration
Consider someone with a $200,000 traditional IRA at a brokerage, held in a mix of stock and bond funds. They decide, after talking with a tax professional, to move a portion into physical metal. They open a self-directed IRA, sell $40,000 of fund shares inside the brokerage IRA (no tax, since the sale happens inside the IRA), and sign a partial transfer request for $40,000. The brokerage sends the cash to the new custodian, which then pays a dealer for eligible gold and silver delivered to a depository. The remaining $160,000 stays in the brokerage IRA, untouched. Both accounts remain traditional IRAs, and nothing is reported as a distribution.
Things to Watch
- Minimums. Self-directed custodians and metals dealers may have account or purchase minimums. Goldco's IRA terms are in its published fee statement, discussed on our Goldco minimums page.
- Fixed costs. Flat annual custodian or storage fees weigh more heavily on a smaller account.
- Required distributions. If you're subject to RMDs, each IRA's RMD is calculated separately, though IRA RMDs can generally be taken from any of your IRAs. Holding some cash or easily sold assets can make RMDs simpler. The IRS RMD page explains the rules.
- Record keeping. Two accounts mean two sets of statements and tax forms.
Partial Rollovers With Goldco
Goldco is a precious metals company that offers gold and silver for IRAs funded by transfer or rollover. It says it works with all major self-directed IRA custodians. Its precious metals specialists can explain how a partial transfer request is filled out, but how much to move is your decision to make, ideally with a licensed advisor; the specialists are not licensed to give financial advice. See the Goldco rollover process.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add more to my metals account later?
Yes. You can make additional transfers or rollovers later, and annual contributions within IRS limits.
Is a partial rollover taxed differently from a full one?
No. The portion moved by direct rollover or transfer is generally not taxable; any portion you take in cash is.
Can I partially roll over a pension?
If the plan offers a lump sum, you may be able to roll part directly and take the rest; check the plan's election options.