An important consideration when acquiring gold and silver is the proper storage of precious metals.  Since every investor’s situation and needs are different there are a variety of ways in which you can secure your precious metals for safekeeping.  The most common method is to use a safety deposit box at your local bank for a small annual fee.  This is a secure option, but recent Internet reports have indicated that the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) is instructing major banks to restrict withdrawals of personal assets during a national emergency (such as a financial crisis).  A safety deposit box can be used for a short period, but you must remember that these assets are not FDIC insured (they are merely secure).  There are other alternatives you may wish to consider.

       Around the house you could hide valuables behind baseboards, walls, paneling, ventilation vents, electrical outlets, even in houseplants or PVC pipe buried in your backyard.  For individuals who own a farm or large property they should have no problem hiding their valuables.  Just remember to tell a trusted friend, family attorney, or trustee of your estate.  To guard against fire damage, we recommend a small Sentry Safe which is available at WalMart, Office Max, Home Depot, Lowe’s, or Ace hardware stores.  For more information you can call 1-800-828-1438 or go to their Web site at www.sentrysafe.com for a full selection of safes.   For the ultimate safety you can purchase a new or used gun safe, or even create a hidden floor or wall safe.  For a full line of sturdy safes you can go to www.amsecusa.com or www.libertysafe.com.  You can also order the book How to Hide Anything by Michael Connor for some useful ideas on hiding assets at www.amazon.com.

     For large acquisitions of gold and silver an independent commercial depository is highly recommended for safekeeping.  This is particularly the case with COMEX approved 1,000 ounce silver bars (weighing 70 lbs.) and certified bags of 90% junk silver (pre-1965 halves, quarters, and dimes).  Delaware Depository Service Company  (DDSC) is a nationally recognized leader that provides an array of corporate and individual precious metals investments and account administration services for individual investors and financial advisors.  All bullion products are safely secured in segregated and non-segregated accounts using state-of-the-art vault facilities that are fully insured and also carry a $100 million financial institutional bond.  DDSC is a fully independent depository and not subject to banking regulations imposed by the Federal Reserve or FDIC.  This is an important distinction for investors looking for an alternative to normal bank industry regulations.

      As a full service depository, DDSC is federally regulated by the Commodity Futures Trade Commission (CFTC), licensed with the state of Delaware and city of Wilmington, and registered with the National Futures Association (NFA ID #0284805).  DDSC is also an approved depository for the New York Commodity Exchange (COMEX), the New York Mercantile Exchange (NYMEX), and the Chicago Board of Trade (CBOT).  Memberships also include the Industry Council for Tangible Assets (ICTA), the Silver Institute, Silver Users Association, the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce, the International Precious Metals Institute, and all major futures exchanges. The managing principals of DDSC and its parent company are highly respected and have a combined experience of over 100 years in the precious metals and commodities trading industry (www.delawaredepository.com).

      IDP Consulting Group is privileged to have a commercial “in-house” account with this depository through its parent company located in Wilmington, Delaware.  This competitive edge  allows IDP Consulting Group to place all coins and bullion products into our client’s depository accounts with no additional shipping or handling charges – this represents a considerable savings to each client.  DDSC offers safe storage of precious metals with approved and recognized hallmarks from Johnson Mathey, Englehard, Credit Suisse, Royal Canadian, Sunshine Minting, and others for a nominal semi-annual administration fee of .015% for segregated accounts and .0075% for non-segregated accounts.   As noted on this Web site, IDP Consulting Group clears all Precious Metals IRA accounts through Sterling Trust Company (STC) custodial services.  STC has a Master Account with DDSC and offers a low annual storage fee of only $100 for each IRA account.  Clients can liquidate their IRA or normal accounts and take physical possession of their metals, receive a cash distribution, or transfer into a foreign currency account.  For more information you are advised to contact our office.