A reputable broker will help find a custodian that specializes in gold IRA investing. Once the necessary paperwork is filled out, it's just a matter of waiting for the approval process to be completed. The set up of a gold IRA typically takes 3 to 5 business days. Once approval is finished, metals can be selected for inclusion in the account. The broker should be able to define what kinds of products are legal to be included in the Gold IRA.