Why is My IRA Losing Money in 2024?

Written By Colin Kuehn  |  Retirement 

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Worried About Your IRA Losing Money? Consider a Precious Metals IRA Rollover

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IRAs can be great investments, but they can also lose money.

When you start to notice that your IRA is losing money you need to know what to do to prevent it from losing more money.

a chart showing stock prices going down

Stock Market

Investing in the stock market is a long-term commitment, and if you lose money in the market, your IRA may be hurt. It's also important to diversify your portfolio to avoid being hit with major losses. Choosing investments based on your risk tolerance and long-term financial goals is an effective way to manage volatility.

If you are close to retirement, you may want to stick with more conservative options. Instead of making big investments in the stock market, you may want to reinvest the money in a more stable investment such as a fixed index annuity. The returns will be slower, but you can rest assured that you will be able to continue saving for your future.

It's common to have short-term hiccups in the market. This doesn't mean you have to change your investment strategy, however. Rather, you should treat your savings as an important part of your retirement plan. If you haven't already, you should discuss your situation with a financial planner.

It's a good idea to invest in a diversified portfolio that includes a variety of asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and cash. This will help you manage your risks and smooth out the portfolio's impact when the market is volatile.

Inflationary Pressures

During times of inflation, the purchasing power of your savings can be significantly affected. If you're concerned about how to protect your retirement from inflation, talk to a financial professional about your options. The most important thing to remember is that the best defense against inflation is to invest.

When it comes to investing for retirement, the best defense is to invest in equities. Over the long term, stocks have historically returned around 10%. This is less than the inflation rate, but it's better than nothing. The S&P 500 has also historically gone up at least 7% per year.

In addition to equities, real estate and annuities can help you keep up with inflation. However, you'll need to invest in a variety of investments to get the right mix of assets to protect your retirement.

As inflation grows, your savings in certificates of deposit, money market accounts and savings accounts will be negatively impacted. While the interest rates are usually low, they're not high enough to keep up with inflation. You'll have to wait for inflation to subside.

It's also important to remember that inflation may not occur every year. In fact, it's often triggered by a variety of factors. For instance, in the past 12 months, prices for all goods and services have increased a total of 8.3%. This is the highest level of inflation since 1982.

Recessionary Pressures

During a recession, it can be difficult to make the most of your investments. This is especially true if you are nearing retirement. However, you can mitigate the worst effects of a downturn by investing in the right way. For instance, you might want to buy government bonds instead of long-term debt.

The best way to do this is to diversify your investment portfolio by purchasing various asset classes. This can include stocks, real estate, and certificates of deposit. A good financial adviser can answer your questions and help you choose the right mix for your specific needs.

One thing you can't do during a recession is rely on your savings to cover all of your expenses. You can protect yourself by putting away money for at least three to six months of expenses. It's also a good idea to set a budget and stick to it. If you don't have a plan, you might find yourself in a hole later in life.

If you are going to retire, you might want to consider an Ira. This can provide you with a tax break while you are still working, and it can be used to help you cover your retirement expenses.

a yellow sign that says higher interest rates ahead

Interest Rates

Despite the many benefits of an IRA, it's still possible to lose money in one. The good news is that a diversified portfolio can mitigate some of the pitfalls associated with this type of investment.

A well-balanced IRA can help you reap the rewards of your hard-earned retirement funds. In addition to holding stocks, bonds and mutual funds, an IRA can also be set up as a fixed index annuity, which means you'll earn interest based on a popular benchmark such as the S&P 500. This is a far better option than taking on the risk of investing in the stock market on your own.

The best way to ensure your IRA is on track for a long and prosperous life is to keep a close eye on your balance. Even the smallest changes to your IRA's balance can have a huge impact on your retirement plans, so be sure to monitor your account regularly. You might also want to consider transferring your funds to a more stable IRA, such as a SIMPLE IRA, which requires only a minimal employer contribution. If you aren't ready to retire yet, you can also set up a Roth IRA. A Roth IRA is a good option for those who plan on staying in the workforce, as you won't have to worry about taxes on your earnings.

Liquidity Risk

During the 2007-2008 financial crisis, liquidity risk became an issue for many big banks. The market illiquidity caused by investors' rush to sell securities resulted in huge price drops. It also resulted in wide bid-ask spreads.

The liquidity ratios are used to assess the financial health of a company and determine if it has enough liquid assets to meet debt obligations. If a company is not able to pay its debts, it will experience a liquidity crisis. It will either need to sell assets, or it will need to create additional revenue. The company can then find a solution to its problem.

Liquidity is defined as the ability to buy and sell an asset quickly. Liquidity can be measured in two ways: accounting and market liquidity. The accounting liquidity ratio considers how liquid a company's assets are, while the market liquidity ratio considers how liquid a company's investments are.

Liquidity is usually considered to be low if the security is a U.S. Treasury bond. If the interest rate goes up, the value of a bond will decline. The value of a foreign investment can also be affected by currency risk.

The ideal Current Ratio is above 1. If a firm's liabilities are higher than its liquid assets, it has a liquidity problem. The current ratio can be calculated by subtracting the current liabilities from the liquid assets. A company with an ideal current ratio can pay its creditors with short-term assets.

What to Do to Keep Your IRA from Losing Money

Whether you're starting an IRA or have already made a decision, there are steps you can take to help keep your IRA from losing money. The first step is to make sure your balance supports your goals and your risk tolerance. If it doesn't, you may need to adjust your asset allocation.

You can invest in stocks, bonds, and mutual funds through your IRA. You can also buy exchange-traded funds. You should diversify your portfolio to reduce the risk of your investments. If you're investing in a stock fund, for example, you may want to consider a bond fund to lower your risk.

Using a diversified portfolio of assets will minimize the risk of your IRA's balance falling. It's also a good idea to diversify between different geographies and economies. If you're an investor in the technology industry, for instance, you may want to avoid investments that are too heavily concentrated in the industry.

When it comes to keeping your IRA from losing money, the rule of thumb is to revisit your asset allocation on a regular basis. This can include selling high-performing investments and buying underperforming ones. If you make the mistake of rushing to sell your investments, you could end up with a loss.

gold bars purchased using a precious metals IRA

Consider Precious Metals IRA Rollover

Investing in precious metals is an excellent way to hedge against inflation and economic uncertainty. The price of precious metals often increases when the value of paper assets decreases. This can be a good way to protect your retirement savings.

When you are saving for retirement, you want to make sure that the hard work you put in isn't wasted. A precious metals IRA rollover can be an effective way to diversify your portfolio and protect your investment. However, it's important to know what you're getting into before you start investing.

There are several ways to transfer your money into a gold IRA. The two most popular methods are direct and indirect. If you opt for the latter, you will have less paperwork to complete. You can also call or use the internet to complete the transfer.

The process is easy to follow. You'll have to choose the type of metal you'd like to purchase. The company you choose should be transparent about their fees and what they offer. They should also provide educational resources and videos about how to invest.

You can fund the IRA by either transferring cash or by using a check. The asset may send periodic checks to your checking account.

Augusta Precious Metals is Our Preferred Company

When it comes to completing a gold IRA or 401k rollover, you want to work with a reputable company who knows all the ins and outs of completing the process. APM features industry leading ratings from the top consumer protection agencies, and they are experts in helping you complete your IRA rollover and purchasing precious metals with your retirement funds - learn more below:

Last Updated: December 31, 2023