How to Roll a Vanguard 401(k) into a Gold IRA

Vanguard administers many employer retirement plans. Moving that money into physical gold means opening a self-directed IRA with a metals-capable custodian and requesting a direct rollover from your Vanguard-administered plan.

A direct (trustee-to-trustee) rollover moves money straight from your old plan to your new self-directed IRA custodian — you never take possession, so it is never treated as a taxable distribution. An indirect rollover sends the money to you first; you then have 60 days to redeposit the full amount into the new IRA, and the plan typically withholds 20% up front. Miss the 60-day window and the IRS can treat it as a taxable distribution, potentially with a 10% early-withdrawal penalty if you are under 59½. The direct method avoids all of that, which is why it is the standard path for a gold IRA rollover.

• ✓A Vanguard-administered 401(k) from a former employer is fully rollover-eligible.
• ✓In-service rollovers from a current-employer plan depend on your employer's plan terms; confirm through your plan administrator or Vanguard account.

• §A direct rollover out of a Vanguard-administered 401(k) is not taxable and carries no early-withdrawal penalty.
• §Pre-tax money stays tax-deferred in a traditional gold IRA; Roth balances should roll Roth-to-Roth.

See our deep references on rollover penalties and gold IRA rules for the full rulebook.

1. 01

   Open a self-directed gold IRA

   Set up the receiving SDIRA with a metals-capable custodian.

2. 02

   Request a direct rollover from Vanguard

   Coordinate a trustee-to-trustee transfer to the new custodian.

3. 03

   Buy IRS-approved metals

   Purchase eligible gold once the transfer settles.

4. 04

   Store at an approved depository

   Metals held insured and in your name.