A gold IRA can give a retirement account exposure to physical precious metals. It also introduces costs and operational details that investors should understand before moving money.
Potential reasons people consider one
Physical gold behaves differently from stocks and bonds, which is why some investors consider it as one part of a diversified portfolio. An IRA structure can allow qualifying metals to be held within a retirement account when applicable rules are followed.
Tradeoffs to consider
Physical metals do not pay interest or dividends. Prices can fall. Storage and custodian costs can apply. Dealer spreads can affect the economics of buying and selling. The account also requires careful handling of eligible products, custody, and distributions.
The allocation question
The right allocation cannot be answered by a dealer or a generic article. It depends on your financial situation, time horizon, other assets, tax circumstances, and tolerance for price changes. A fiduciary financial professional who is not paid based on your metals purchase can help you evaluate that question.