What Is a Gold IRA and How Does It Work?
Hold physical gold and silver in a tax-advantaged retirement account.
October 21, 2026 · 6 min read
A gold IRA is a self-directed individual retirement account that holds IRS-approved physical precious metals instead of stocks and bonds.
How it works
You open a self-directed IRA with a custodian, fund it via contribution or rollover, and your dealer purchases eligible coins and bars stored in an approved depository.
Why investors choose gold
- A hedge against inflation and currency weakness
- Diversification away from the stock market
- A tangible asset with thousands of years of history
Costs
Expect a setup fee, annual custodian fee and storage fee. Many dealers waive these for the first year or longer.