I understand your reluctance to get into it. Melinda, especially in the aftermath of such a loss.
Take some time and google Venezuela inflation and imagine that Boulivars are the Dollar in a few years. We have borrowed 22 trillion dollars and our annual interest payments will be a trillion dollars a year by next year! Just paying the interest is a major burden and we can never repay the borrowed money, and inflation will happen to us just as it is to Venezuela today.
IRAs are valued in dollars and inflation will decrease their purchasing power because the number of dollars will not change while the number of dollars needed for purchasing a gallon of gas (and everything else) will skyrocket.
At least look at what happens in a hyperinflationary period.
I do follow what's going on in Venezuela, and regularly send packages of needed supplies to one of my eSteem friends there.
I can easily see hyperinflation happening here...it's tax repercussions of taking money from the IRA and then what to do with it that I have not figured out. I draw some from the IRA every month to live on...it is still making a good amount of interest, and I draw from that without touching the principal. Maybe I need to hire a financial planner? But will probably just be told about traditional investments, right? Maybe Steem will save me!
I took the hard bite on the taxes and closed my IRA a few years ago. I was concerned that a major banking or financial event would result in a larger loss than the tax man made. At least PMs are "outside" dollar-based investments and their value will appear to float with inflation and stocks etc will not.
I also said adieu to the financial adviser who firmly believes the financial system is stable and going ever upward even though all indicators dispute that. I suspect that a dollar 's purchase of Steem will be worth more than a dollar bill in the future; as will a dollar spent of the top cryptos, or ounces of silver or gold. Fiat has never survived a hyperinflationary period. Period. Fleeing anything based on the dollar seems like the only safe alternative.
Anyone - or country - holding a piece of paper that promises to pay you a million dollars or Bolivars for it is going to be miffed when a million dollars or Bolivars will not pay for a cup of coffee. That is the ONLY way the US can pay its debt!
Run, run! Flee!
Which type should I get and where could I buy silver online? How do you store it? I assume a safety deposit box is not a good idea? If Steem would just go to $300 we could all rest easy!
My first choice is always silver American Eagles. I have been using Provident Metals for years and they are very reliable; never a single order or shipment problem.
The Eagles contain one ounce of silver and are actual mint-issued coins of the US. So do Maple Leafs and Philharmonics, and they are also good choices.
https://www.providentmetals.com/silver-eagles/uncirculated-silver-eagles.html
Be sure to look at https://comparesilverprices.com/ to find the best source of silver for you. I keep that in a tab for quick reference.
Many people prefer silver bullion bars or rounds of one ounce size. They are a little cheaper than Eagles because they do not have a premium created by the expense of minting. I prefer the Eagles because they are difficult to counterfeit and you know they are a full ounce. They are also our most attractive coins, I think.
If Steem makes it to $300, the Eagles will be somewhere in that range, too, so we will both be very, very happy!
The Eagles take your money out of the financial system and unties it from the Dollar. Remember that as Important Rule Number One!
Avoid the proof coins and those of supposed "collectible" value because you are paying a heavy premium for someone's opinion of the value.
No SD box! The safest place you can find is at home with you...preferably in a hole in the ground. That is safer than a SD box and you can get to them when you need them, especially if the bank is closed. The classic answer is that "If you don't hold it, you don't own it."