Suze Orman's Women & Money (And Everyone Smart Enough To Listen) Is It Better To Own Actual Gold In My IRA Or In An ETF?
Jan 29, 2026
They debate where to hold gold for retirement and compare owning physical metal versus gold ETFs. Tax strategies like Roth conversions, backdoor Roth timing, and SEP-to-Roth moves come up. Practical withdrawal planning and keeping cash reserves are covered. Estate tips about passing a California home and how annulment can affect Social Security benefits are discussed.
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Keep 3 Years Cash Outside Market Accounts
- Hold at least three years of living expenses in guaranteed or cash-like accounts to avoid selling stocks during downturns.
- Keep that cash outside plans (like TSP) that withdraw proportionally from all funds, e.g., in a Roth or taxable money market account.
TSP Withdrawals Take Pro Rata From Funds
- Withdrawals from a Thrift Savings Plan come proportionally from each fund based on allocation, so you cannot selectively sell only safe funds.
- Plan withdrawals and cash reserves around that rule to avoid forced sales at market lows.
Clear Traditional IRAs Before Backdoor Roth
- Roll your existing traditional IRA into your employer's traditional 401(k) before using a backdoor Roth to avoid pro-rata tax issues.
- Then fund a non-deductible IRA and convert it to a Roth right away, making sure the traditional IRA is zero by year-end.