⚠️ Important Notice: The value shown on your IRA custodian statement is NOT the true market value of your precious metals. This is a limitation of how all IRA custodians — including Equity Trust — calculate and display asset values. It is not a reflection of what your metals are actually worth. Your metals are likely worth significantly more than what your statement shows.
Your account statement is provided by your IRA Custodian, Equity Trust — not American Alternative Assets. However, this issue is not unique to Equity Trust — it applies to every IRA custodian in the industry. All custodians use the same spot-price-based reporting method for precious metals. We want to make sure you understand exactly what you’re looking at.
Why Your Statement Value Looks Wrong
When you log into your Equity Trust online portal or view your account statement, you will almost certainly notice that the value shown is significantly less than what you paid — and less than what your metals are actually worth on the open market.
This is not an error with your investment. This is a limitation of how all IRA custodians report precious metals values.
IRA custodians like Equity Trust only use the spot price (also known as the melt price) to calculate your account value. Spot price is just the raw commodity price of the base metal — it completely ignores the premiums that make your specific coins and bars more valuable, including minting costs, rarity, condition, collector demand, and dealer markup.
Bottom line: The number on your custodian statement does NOT represent the true market value of your metals. No IRA custodian in the industry reports the true market value of precious metals — they all use the same spot price method. Your metals are worth more — often significantly more — than what the statement reflects.
Spot Price vs. Market Value — What’s the Difference?
There is often a difference between:
- Spot Price — The base commodity price of the raw metal (what your statement shows)
- Retail/Dealer Price — The actual price you could sell your specific coins or bars for, which includes premiums for minting, rarity, condition, and demand
Think of it this way: a 2024 American Eagle One Ounce Gold Proof Coin contains one ounce of gold, but its value to a buyer is more than just the gold spot price — it carries additional value as a minted, government-backed coin.
A Real-World Example
Let’s walk through a practical example:
- You purchase a 2024 American Eagle One Ounce Silver Proof Coin through your IRA for $80.
- On the same day, you check your Equity Trust statement.
- Your statement shows the Market Value of that coin as approximately $22.41 — not $80.
- The reason: the spot price of silver on that date was roughly $22.41 per ounce. Equity Trust only reflects the spot/melt value on your statement.
The reality: Your $80 coin is still worth approximately $80 (or more, depending on market conditions). The statement showing $22.41 is simply the standard custodian reporting method used industry-wide — it does NOT mean your coin lost value. If you were to sell that coin back to American Alternative Assets or any reputable dealer, you would receive its true market value, not the spot price.
How to Find the True Market Value of Your Metals
To determine the accurate, real-world market value of your precious metals on any given day, you have two options:
- Visit bullionvalues.org — This site provides current market values for specific coins and bars, including premiums.
- Contact American Alternative Assets directly — Our team can provide you with the current price at which you could sell your specific metals. Just call us at (800) 621-8160.
Additional Resources from Equity Trust
For more detailed information about your account statements, visit the official Equity Trust Statement FAQs page:
Equity Trust Account Statement FAQs →
Key Takeaways
- Your custodian statement uses an industry-standard (but misleading) valuation method — it shows spot/melt price only, which significantly understates your metals’ true worth
- The actual market value of your metals is almost always much higher than what any custodian statement shows
- This is an industry-wide custodian reporting limitation — not unique to Equity Trust, and not a reflection of your investment performance
- Use bullionvalues.org or call us at (800) 621-8160 for current sell-back values
- This valuation method is standard across all IRA custodians — it is not unique to Equity Trust or American Alternative Assets
Have Questions About Your Statement?
Our team is here to help. If anything on your statement is unclear or you’d like a current valuation of your precious metals, don’t hesitate to reach out.
(800) 621-8160info@americanalternativeassets.com
American Alternative Assets is your precious metals dealer. Equity Trust Company is the IRA custodian that administers your self-directed IRA. Your statement is generated by Equity Trust, not American Alternative Assets. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice.
