FAQ

We offer gold, silver, platinum and palladium in a variety of coins, bars, rounds and fractional bars.

No. Different storage facilities accept different products. Visit our products page to see which products are available at each storage location.

ASI has partnered with several leading London Bullion Market Association approved dealers to purchase precious metals on behalf of its customers.

The Good Delivery specification is a set of rules issued by the London Bullion Market Association (LBMA). This describes the physical characteristics of gold and silver bars used in settlement in the wholesale London bullion market. These bars are notable for their large size and high purity.

We only offer precious metals bullion products on ASIPMDirect. No collector products, limited edition or proof coins are available on the platform. If you have any interest in these programs, please call our office at 800-831-0007.

Only certain bars have unique serial numbers. We only send serial numbers for variable weight bars. The stamp on most bars are stamps from the refiner and are not unique identifying numbers. Bars with unique serial numbers include 100 oz. and 400 oz. gold bars and 1000 oz. silver bars (all three are considered 'variable weight' bars). When a client purchases a bar with a unique serial number, they will maintain ownership of that particular bar. All others are allocated.

The trading hours for ASIPMDirect are: 9:30 am - 6 pm EST Monday through Thursday, and 9:30 am - 5:15 pm EST on Friday.

Bank Wire: Depending on the time of day the wire is initiated, it can be same day, but, it usually takes 1 business day. ACH Electronic Transfer: 3 business days to clear. Personal Check: 5 business days to clear. Bitcoin: 2 to 4 hours to clear; however, they can take up to 2 days to clear if the market is particularly active.

To fund your ASIPMDirect account with bitcoin, you will first need to email support@asipmdirect.com or call us at 800-831-0007 to request a payment. Once ASI has processed your transaction with BitPay, you will receive an email with the subject line “You have received an invoice from GBI Payment.” The invoice you receive will accordingly be priced in bitcoin. When you receive the email, please follow the directions provided.

Because all requests must be placed with one of our Preferred Client Relations representatives, we can only accept bitcoin payments during our normal hours of operation. These hours are Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 5 PM EST.

Because of the volatility associated with bitcoin price, all payments must be completed within 15 minutes of clicking the link provided via email, or your order may be canceled. To avoid sending the incorrect amount or sending your bitcoins to the wrong place, BitPay has approved a few compatible wallets. These approved wallets can be found here. Always make sure you have sufficient bitcoins before making a payment.

Bitcoin payments typically take 2 to 4 hours to clear; however, they can take up to 2 days to clear if the market is particularly active.

No. We are currently unable to liquidate precious metals holdings back into bitcoin.

No. Because ASIPMDirect is for precious metals purchases only, we do not allow investors to store bitcoin on their account.

Upon the sale of metals on the platform, the proceeds from the sale will be deposited into your ASIPMDirect holding. From there you can request a check be sent to you (free) or have a bank wire sent to you ($25 fee).

Typically, all trades on ASIPMDirect take two full business days to settle. Once your transaction has settled, you can choose the method of withdrawal you prefer.

Available account types are Personal, Trust, Corporate, UTMA and IRA.

The sign up process with ASIPMDirect takes about 10 minutes. Once your holding is open, you can send funds immediately via bank wire or you can set up free ACH deposits and withdrawals. If you choose to deposit funds via ACH, you will first be given two small deposits to verify your account (1-2 business days). After which you can initiate an ACH transfer (3 days to clear).

There is no minimum investment* on ASIPMDirect. We are proud to say this has been true since day one. *The minimum investment for New York storage is $1,000 and delivery to any New York state address is $1,000.

There is no upfront cost for establishing your ASIPMDirect relationship. You can remit funds at any time, for any amount.

No. Domestic and international clients have full access to all of our online programs (subject to U.S. and local laws).

Yes. Our Preferred Client Relations team is available to help you during regular trading hours (9 AM EST - 5 PM EST), excluding market holidays. If you would like to initiate a trade over the phone, please call us toll-free at 800-831-0007.

We are working on adding this function to our system, but currently this is available only on an individual basis by contacting a member of our Preferred Client Relations staff.

ASI strives to settle orders within 2 business days following their execution. In the unlikely case that ASI is unable to purchase or sell precious metal bars totaling the exact order amount, the Broker will only be required to pay (in the case of a purchase), or will only receive (in the case of a sale) the amount due or received in connection with the executed transaction.

When purchase or sale orders are placed and ASI cannot match precious metal bars from a precious metal supplier or the retail client, as applicable exactly to the dollar amount, ASI will use its reasonable discretion to execute the transaction as close as possible to the dollar amount.

With ASIPMDirect's secure online portal, opening an account is fast and convenient. Once your application is approved, you can remit funds and start trading immediately.

Click the 'Apply Now' button on our homepage. Follow the prompt during sign up and select 'IRA' as your account type. The system will have you enter your information to approve the signup. At the end of the process you will be asked whether or not you want to make a contribution to your IRA or roll funds over from your previous IRA custodian. You will be provided with a form to fill out for either option that must be returned to ASI for processing. The custodian we utilize for ASIPMDirect is Millennium Trust Company.

To open a precious metals UTMA on ASIPMDirect, click the 'Apply Now' button on our homepage. Follow the prompt during sign up and select 'UTMA' as your account type. The system will have you enter your information to approve your sign up.

All pricing on ASI Precious Metals Direct is based off of current market prices (spot price) of precious metals. When you are buying or selling products on the site you are charged a premium for the bullion you buy or sell. Either way, the prices offered on our site are an average of the best 3 prices available from our dealer network. This allows you to get the lowest possible purchase price available and the highest possible selling price. When you place an order, your price is 'locked in' within 15 minutes of placing the order.

Keep in mind there are NO minimums on the platform. Silver can be an option for you if you don't have enough for an ounce of gold but ideally we would point you towards our Wealth Accumulation Plan. This will allow you to purchase fractional amounts of gold or silver on a dollar cost averaging basis with no minimum.

ASIPMDirect does not charge sales tax. Be sure to consult your tax advisor for your specific local tax laws.

VAT tax is not applicable on delivery to a U.S. address. However, if you are delivering to an international address, additional fees or VAT may apply. If you are using an international address, be sure to consult your local tax laws before taking delivery.

When you place an order through ASIPMDirect, you are locking in your price. You are no longer subject to market fluctuation on your order once it has been executed. Your price will not go higher nor lower.

If you place an order after hours, your order will be executed at the next opportunity when the market is open. For example, if you place an order after hours on a Saturday night, the system will execute your order once the market opens Monday morning.

Currently, precious metals are stored on behalf of our clients in protected and insured vaults in New York, Salt Lake City, London, Zurich, Singapore and Melbourne. In the future, ASI may offer other storage locations based on security and customer preferences. ASI has partnered with approved third party vaulting partners to provide storage, insurance and transportation services.

Precious metal holdings are audited on a daily basis and a report containing bar lists is sent to us by our approved vaulting partners. In addition, an internationally recognized big four auditing firm audits all of the precious metal holdings on a quarterly basis. Precious metal bar holdings are confirmed with ASI and individual holdings are reported to each client.

ASI stores precious metals on an 'allocated' basis. Allocated means the precious metal is held in the vault specifically on behalf of each client. The client has the right to confirm their holdings.

The storage fee is .7% annually for gold platinum and palladium and .8% for silver.

When you order bars or coins through the site, they are typically available in the vault of your choice one business day after your trade is settled.

No. Retirement funds must be kept separate for tax purposes. In order to utilize retirement funds, you will need to establish a separate trading account in the name of your IRA.

Please allow 24 hours from the time of submission for the new IRA to be established with Millennium Trust Company. If Millennium requires any additional information for the establishment of your new IRA, a representative will contact you within that 24 hour period.

IRA to IRA transfers typically take 5-7 business days, depending on the turnaround time of the firm from which the funds are being transferred from. Rollovers from employer sponsored plans typically take 10-15 business days, depending on the turnaround time of the current plan administrator.

As with a personal trading account, you will have full trading authority over the assets. However, all deposits to the IRA and all distributions from the IRA must be processed through and reported by Millennium (IRA administrator).

There are three methods of depositing funds to your IRA trading account. You may transfer funds from any existing IRA, you may rollover funds from a previous employer plan (i.e. 401k, 403b, 457) or you may make an annual contribution to the IRA.

Yes. You may take physical possession of your metal at any time. In-kind distributions from your IRA are reportable to the IRS. The market value that will be reported on your 1099R is the previous day's closing price of that product.

An IRA transfer is the movement of funds from one IRA trustee/custodian directly to another trustee/custodian. You can request as many transfers as you like each year. Transfers are tax-free and there are no waiting periods between transfers. IRA transfers are not reportable on your tax return.

An IRA transfer is initiated by completing the accepting custodian's IRA transfer paperwork. Once the paperwork is submitted, the accepting custodian will initiate the transfer on your behalf. Transfers between trustees/custodians typically take 5-7 business days.

A 'direct rollover' is the movement of retirement funds directly from a previous employer plan to a traditional IRA. A direct rollover is initiated by the plan participant (employee) and is typically initiated by completing the employer's 'direct rollover' form. The current administrator/employer is not required to withhold federal taxes on direct rollovers to a qualified IRA.An 'indirect rollover,' in contrast, is a distribution to you of assets from one retirement plan that you then contribute to an IRA. To avoid taxes on the distribution, the funds must be deposited back into an IRA within 60 days of receipt of the distribution. If the distribution from a qualified plan is made directly to you, the payer must withhold 20% for taxes. You can avoid the withholding by initiating a 'direct rollover' to an IRA.

No. Transactions made within the IRA are not subject to taxation. No annual IRS reporting is required by the IRA holder for trades made within the IRA.

Only distributions (withdrawals) from the IRA are reportable to the IRS. Taxable distributions from an IRA will be reported to both the IRA holder and the IRS by the IRA custodian (Millennium).

The IRS requires that IRA assets be held by a qualified custodian; an individual may not act as an IRA custodian. The IRA custodian/administrator is also responsible for all record keeping and IRS reporting for the IRA. The custodian will track any contributions, rollovers and transfers made to the account. They will also record any distributions that you take as well as any investments that you make through your IRA.

There are two required annual IRS filings (Form 1099 and 5498) that the custodian will provide to both the IRA holder and the IRS. The 1099 will show any distributions taken from your IRA. Form 5498 shows any contributions made to the account throughout the year, as well as the Fair Market Value of your account.

Millennium charges a one-time establishment fee of $25 and an annual administration fee of $100. Administration fees are charged on the establishment date of the retirement account and each year after.

ASI provides the ability to purchase a fractional amount of gold and/or silver on a monthly basis. WAP will automatically pull funds via ACH from a bank account you specify to fund the allocation amount you setup. On the 25th of the month, ASI will purchase the allocation amount specified and credit your account with the newly acquired position.

ASI Precious Metals Direct offers you the following product options to be purchased within this plan: gold 1Kg bars, gold Canadian Maple Leaf coins, gold 1 oz. bars and silver 100 oz. bars.

The allocation date is the date in which we execute your order for the fractional product(s) specified in the WAP Settings.

If you elect to fund this plan via ACH, your bank account will be debited approximately two business days after the 16th of the month.

You can convert your fractional allocated product into a whole bar position when the quantity of unallocated ounces is equal to or greater than the amount of fine ounces backing your product.

On the portfolio page, an option to convert the product is displayed when you have an unallocated position equal to or greater than the amount of fine ounces backing your product.

All products in this program will be stored in our Salt Lake City vault.

An UTMA is a good way to let minors own assets besides stocks, bonds, or mutual funds – which are generally more difficult for them to own.

Nearly any type of asset can be invested in an UTMA account, including (but not limited to) real estate, equities, and physical commodities.

The custodian who is designated at the time of the creation of an UTMA account manages the assets. Only one custodian may be designated per UTMA account.

No. From the creation of the account through the final transfer to the minor, the assets are considered the child's property.

Depending on your tax status, there may be donation restrictions. Speak to a registered tax advisor for more information regarding your personal status.

No. While the assets are usually used for college, the minor can use the funds for whatever they would like with no penalty.

No. All transfers to an UTMA account are irrevocable.

Asset Strategies International
1700 Rockville Pike, Suite 400
Rockville, Maryland 20852-1631

Tel: 301-881-8600Toll Free: 800-831-0007
Fax: 301-301-881-1936
Email: support@asipmdirect.com

Asset Strategies International (ASI), located in Rockville, Maryland, is a boutique precious metal, foreign currency, and asset protection. ASI has an impeccable, worldwide reputation for providing fair and honest pricing along with personalized customer service. They are well-known for their words of wisdom, imparted in their weekly email alerts, and monthly newsletter. In addition, ASI is the first precious metal and foreign currency dealer/broker to offer this state of the art platform, enabling their clients to purchase and sell precious metals online.

In 1974, Michael Checkan and Glen O. Kirsch met at Deak Perera. Eight years later, they left, armed with an arsenal of experience and a mission to help clients diversify their assets using the precious metals markets. In 1982, Michael and Glen created International Financial Consultants, now known as Asset Strategies International.

In 1996, Glen O. Kirsch, Michael Checkan and Rich Checkan identified another need and began to develop a Precious Metal Certificate Program with the Perth Mint in Australia. In 1997, they became one of only eight approved dealers in the world to sell the Perth Mint Certificate - the only government guaranteed precious metal certificate program in the world.

With more than 80 years combined experience, as of 2010, Michael and Glen's partnership complimented each other's area of expertise. But in the summer of 2010, Glen unexpectedly passed away. In testimony to Glen's mentoring, the staff at ASI was able to continue servicing clients, and they continue his and Michael's vision to this day.