How It Works
How It Works
From your first question through every stage of ownership, we’re here to help.
Buying physical precious metals involves more than choosing a coin or bar—especially when retirement assets are involved. Lucent helps you understand the decisions in front of you and manages the details behind them.
Understand
Start with your goals and questions.
Decide
Review your options and understand the tradeoffs.
Execute
We coordinate the transaction and handle the details.
Own
Know what you own, how it’s held, and what comes next.
Understand
It starts with understanding why you’re considering metals.
Before we talk about specific coins, bars, or account structures, we want to understand what brought you to Lucent: your goals, account type, liquidity needs, questions, and how you expect to hold and use the metals over time.
These details matter. A Lucent consultation is designed to understand your circumstances and what you’re trying to accomplish before we begin presenting options.
We’ll help you understand the landscape, too.
If physical precious metals are new to you, you don’t need to arrive knowing the terminology. We’ll explain how metals differ from other ways of gaining exposure to gold and silver, how pricing works, what products are available, and the practical differences between buying directly and holding metals through a self-directed retirement account.
For retirement-account clients, we’ll also explain the roles of the custodian, dealer, and depository; how transfers and rollovers work; how metals are stored and insured; and what ongoing account administration looks like.
Decide
See your options clearly. Then decide what makes sense for you.
Once we understand what you’re trying to accomplish, we’ll present a focused selection of high-quality, recognizable products rather than an overwhelming catalog. Each option should have a clear reason for being there.
We’ll walk through the practical differences between coins and bars, larger and smaller denominations, lower-cost bullion and sovereign-mint products, and the considerations that may affect cost, liquidity, storage, distributions, or future use.
Understand the tradeoffs—including the price.
There isn’t one “best” precious-metals product for every buyer. We’ll explain why we’re presenting each option, where we see advantages and drawbacks, and how the pricing compares.
Before you agree to a transaction, you’ll know the current spot price per ounce, your total purchase price, the percentage you’re paying over spot, and any applicable third-party fees.
Execute
Once you decide, we handle the details.
When you’re ready to move forward, your Lucent team coordinates the transaction from purchase through fulfillment.
For a direct purchase, that means confirming your order, coordinating payment, sourcing your metals, arranging insured shipping, and making sure your purchase reaches its intended destination.
Your Metals IRA, coordinated from start to finish.
We’ll help establish your self-directed IRA and prepare the documentation needed to transfer or roll over eligible retirement funds. We coordinate with your existing institution and new custodian, manage paperwork, participate in transfer calls when needed, and track the process through funding.
- Self-directed IRA account setup
- Direct transfers and eligible rollovers
- Forms and supporting documentation
- Financial-institution coordination
- Custodian and depository communication
- Trade documentation and authorization
- Precious-metals sourcing
- Insured shipping and fulfillment
- Depository delivery
- Reconciliation of deposited holdings
Own
The purchase is complete. Our service isn’t.
Once your metals arrive, we confirm delivery and reconcile your holdings so you know the transaction was completed accurately. Then your Lucent team remains available as your circumstances and your holdings change.
Know what you own—and what your options are.
For Metals IRA clients, we’ll help you access and understand your account, know where your metals are held, and understand who to contact when you need something.
- Account access and statement support
- Written fair-market valuations
- Contributions and additional purchases
- Required minimum distributions
- Transfers and account administration
- Product exchanges
- Market and industry education
- Regular personal check-ins
- Liquidation and buyback assistance
When your plans change, your metals can change with them.
You may choose to hold your metals for years, add to them, exchange products, take physical distributions, transfer ownership as part of a legacy plan, or convert some or all of your holdings back to cash.
When you want to sell, Lucent can source bids from established wholesalers, coordinate shipment and receipt, and assist with documentation for cash or retirement-account transactions.